How do you meter?

[Sirius Glass]

So...after you meter...you consider the light of the subject.?
If it is kind of full of different Colors/Light Values, that seem "average"...you maybe go with the meter...but if there is a whole bunch of Light/White or a lot of Shadow/Black you adjust a stop either way maybe.?

If the composition is either mostly white or mostly black I use an incident meter.

 

[CMoore]

If the composition is either mostly white or mostly black I use an incident meter.

Ah...OK....and then you pretty much go with what the meter suggests.?
Thanks

 

[Sirius Glass]

Ah...OK....and then you pretty much go with what the meter suggests.?
Thanks

Yes

 

[Chan Tran]

Incident meter works best when the entire scene is illuminated evenly and the subject doesn't emit its own light or have specular reflection of any important.

 

[CMoore]

Incident meter works best when the entire scene is illuminated evenly and the subject doesn't emit its own light or have specular reflection of any important.

OK...Great.
I know, to Older/More Experienced Members, it seems like this stuff has been talked to Death.
But when you are New/Still learning, there are always questions about Detail/Nuance...if you know what i mean.
So Anyway......in the above example, if i were outside, with Family/Relatives against a brick wall (like a firing squad) and they are all in "normal" clothing, ready for the family photo album snapshot.....That would be a good place for me to take my Seconic 308 and use the Incident Dome.?
Thank You

 

[MattKing]

That would be a good place for me to take my Seconic 308 and use the Incident Dome.?

Yes, and it doesn't really matter if they are in normal clothes. The only time I would worry about the clothing would be if they are all in white wedding dresses or black suits and I really cared about how the clothing looked, at which time you should probably adjust the exposure slightly.
But if they are squinting as they stare into the hot sun, do them a favour and move them into the open shade under the trees. You can use the meter the same way - at the subject, pointing back to the camera.

 

[Sirius Glass]

OK...Great.
I know, to Older/More Experienced Members, it seems like this stuff has been talked to Death.
But when you are New/Still learning, there are always questions about Detail/Nuance...if you know what i mean.
So Anyway......in the above example, if i were outside, with Family/Relatives against a brick wall (like a firing squad) and they are all in "normal" clothing, ready for the family photo album snapshot.....That would be a good place for me to take my Seconic 308 and use the Incident Dome.?
Thank You

Yes an incident meter will work in that situation. FYI, The technical term for such a scene is "Ducks in a line."

 

[CMoore]

Matt -
Yes...makes sense...i follow what you are saying. Thank You

Sirius -
Oh...OK...i will give the relatives the good news.

 

[esearing]

I've read about the zone system but I haven't taken the plunge into large format yet. It seems like it would be very rewarding but I don't have the technical skills or knowledge for it. .

It isn't that hard technically, but there are just a ton of ways to screw up and many avenues to explore in the full analog workflow. the reward is in the creative process no matter which methodology you choose.