Sunny 16/exposure in a foggy day

Thrain · Jul 25, 2018

Hello analog enthusiastics!
Since i live in a very foggy area, and because i have and want to take pictures with my leica m4 without a lying exposemeter, i'd like to know any tip to take pictures in a foggy day, like the typical one in San Francisco where you can't see beyond 20-30 meters. Thus involving the sunny 16 rule. So, for example, if i have 400 iso film, and wanting to shoot at 1/500s, what aperture should i set?
The problem is that even if it may seem that the aperture you need is the same as the one needed in a heavy overcast day, the foreground is grey, which means is lighter than the aformentioned day.
Any tip to get the right exposure during fog without a meter?
Thanks in advance

Rick A · Jul 25, 2018

There really is no "one trick" when photographing fog, too many variables. It depends on time of day, sky conditions (overcast or clear), orientation of light source, etc. Buy a good quality incidence meter and learn to use it. I rely on my Sekonic L-398 for those shots.

Kino · Jul 25, 2018

Assuming b&w negative film, I'd try f5.6 and use a "soft developer" like Xtol and bracket. Be prepared to fail and learn.

As Rick says, there are too many variables to just give a standard response to your question.

What film are you using?

guangong · Jul 25, 2018

Depends on what you want. More fog? Blue filter. Less fog? Yellow filter. As is? No liter. I wear yellow tinted shooting glasses when driving in fifth to improve vision.
Use an incident meter, bracket shots and decide what you like best.
Congratulations on M4, the best Leica ever made in terms of build quality and handling.

Kino · Jul 25, 2018

Also, if you don't have anything in the frame (as in Rick's shot above) to give you a solid dmax or shadow, your eye will not have a reference point from which to comprehend the fog and it will just look washed-out and low contrast.

rpavich · Jul 25, 2018

Thrain said:
Hello analog enthusiastics!
Since i live in a very foggy area, and because i have and want to take pictures with my leica m4 without a lying exposemeter, i'd like to know any tip to take pictures in a foggy day, like the typical one in San Francisco where you can't see beyond 20-30 meters. Thus involving the sunny 16 rule. So, for example, if i have 400 iso film, and wanting to shoot at 1/500s, what aperture should i set?
The problem is that even if it may seem that the aperture you need is the same as the one needed in a heavy overcast day, the foreground is grey, which means is lighter than the aformentioned day.
Any tip to get the right exposure during fog without a meter?
Thanks in advance

The problem with fog is that it changes unlike the sunny 16 being based on a constant light source (the sun not burning out unexpectedly )

You can take guesses (stop down 3 stops from sunny 16) but that's not the way to go about it.

I agree with the other commenters; buy an incident meter and use it. Try a used Sekonic 308S. There are also a lot of earlier analogue ones from different manufacturers that are very cool and affordable.

Like this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Gossen-Sixtar-Light-Meter-Classic-analog-meter-at-a-good-price/122500218242?hash=item1c8594fd82:g:T8kAAOSwcgNZG5hr&_sacat=0&_nkw=analogue+light+meter&_from=R40&rt=nc&_trksid=m570.l1313

Not only will you expose well, you'll be the envy of your camera-toting friends!

rpavich · Jul 25, 2018

If you are bound and determined to use a "rule" here is a chart that will help.
http://www.fredparker.com/ultexp1.htm

Thrain · Jul 25, 2018

Thank you very much guys!

Kino said:
Assuming b&w negative film, I'd try f5.6 and use a "soft developer" like Xtol and bracket. Be prepared to fail and learn.
As Rick says, there are too many variables to just give a standard response to your question.
What film are you using?

Usually I use Tri-x 400 and hc110 as a developer.

guangong said:
Congratulations on M4, the best Leica ever made in terms of build quality and handling.

I love it (and is cheaper than the m6, which has a meter)

rpavich said:
I agree with the other commenters; buy an incident meter and use it. Try a used Sekonic 308S. There are also a lot of earlier analogue ones from different manufacturers that are very cool and affordable.
Like this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Gossen-Sixtar-Light-Meter-Classic-analog-meter-at-a-good-price/122500218242?hash=item1c8594fd82:g:T8kAAOSwcgNZG5hr&_sacat=0&_nkw=analogue+light+meter&_from=R40&rt=nc&_trksid=m570.l1313
Not only will you expose well, you'll be the envy of your camera-toting friends!

Thanks for the advice on something i might strongly consider buying

rpavich said:
If you are bound and determined to use a "rule" here is a chart that will help.
http://www.fredparker.com/ultexp1.htm

Yesss alreasy saw that but i have an even better one w/ few more cases! (i'd send you a link but is in italian) But since there's no clue for fog, i thought i might need to know that, assuming that i will face it in the near future

Thanks for all the nice answers!
I am thinking of a foggy day in bright autumn in the early morning (something like during October/november),
Sooo opening 3 stops? In any case, I will bracket of course

rpavich · Jul 25, 2018

Thrain said:
Thank you very much guys!

Usually I use Tri-x 400 and hc110 as a developer.

I love it (and is cheaper than the m6, which has a meter)

Thanks for the advice on something i might strongly consider buying

Yesss alreasy saw that but i have an even better one w/ few more cases! (i'd send you a link but is in italian) But since there's no clue for fog, i thought i might need to know that, assuming that i will face it in the near future

Thanks for all the nice answers!
I am thinking of a foggy day in bright autumn in the early morning (something like during October/november),
Sooo opening 3 stops? In any case, I will bracket of course

They also make phone apps that measure exposure. They seem to work ok from what I can tell.

tedr1 · Jul 25, 2018

In between making pictures in the fog you might perhaps consider study of the subject of exposure meters, their design, function, and use. The internet is a very good source of this kind of technical information.

Sunny 16/exposure in a foggy day

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