Black+White Photography - UK (2019-12)

51

B+W

Right
Sekonic is the leading manufacturer of photographic
lightmeters with an expansive range to choose from
depending on your needs and budget. Models range
from the self-powered analogue L-398A which can
take incident light readings without a battery, to the
flagship L-858D which includes a 1° spot meter,
flash metering and flash duration analysis among
its extensive feature list.

1 Make sure the lightmeter is set to the
ISO you are using and that the lumisphere
(white dome) is in place.
2 Hold the lightmeter in front of your
subject and aim it back toward the camera.
3 Activate the meter so that you can take
your light reading.
4 Digital lightmeters will generally
display a single shutter speed and
aperture combination, but you can alter
the pairing for different exposure options.
Analogue meters often line up a number
of shutter speeds and apertures,
allowing you to pick a pair.
5 Finally, set the exposure on your
camera using manual mode.

You might have a camera with sophisticated
TTL metering system but the ability to take
incident light readings can still be useful.
Vintage lightmeters look great and can
cost little but they can be limited: many of
them will only take reflected light readings,
they may no longer be accurate (or able

to be recalibrated), and they may rely on

a convoluted cross-referencing system to

‘translate’ the light reading they give.

If you can’t hold the lightmeter immediately

in front of your subject (if you’re shooting

a landscape, for example) just hold it in the

same light to take your reading

INCIDENT LIGHT READINGS

TIPS

Right
This version of a grey card has a
similar design to a pop-up reflector
so it can fold down to a much smaller
size, making it easier to drop in your
camera bag.
© Chris Gatcum

Perhaps one of the simplest and most
underrated exposure tools is the humble
grey card which allows photographers to
take accurate exposure reading in most
situations. Traditionally, this is a card
that reflects 18% grey which is the same
midtone that your camera or handheld
lightmeter is looking for.
All you need to do is place or hold
the card so that it’s under the same
lighting conditions as your subject
and then take a reflected light
reading from it using either
your camera’s built-in
lightmeter or a handheld
meter in reflective mode.

The exposure reading can then be set

manually and you can be confident that

you have locked in a midtone exposure

that isn’t affected by the broader scene;

no matter how bright or dark the scene

you are photographing is, the grey card

will deliver the ‘ideal’ midtone value.

GREY CARD METERING

© Chris Gatcum