essential skills: digital photography in available light
Interpreting the meter reading
The information given by the light meter after taking a reading is referred to as the ‘meter indicated
exposure’ (MIE). This is a guide to exposure only. The light meter should not be perceived as
having any intelligence or creative sensibilities. The light meter cannot distinguish between tones
or subjects of interest or disinterest to the photographer. It is up to the photographer to decide on
the most appropriate exposure to achieve the result required. A photographer with a different idea
and outcome may choose to vary the exposure. It is the photographer’s ability to interpret and vary
the meter indicated exposure to suit the mood and communication of the image that separates
their creative abilities from others.
If light or dark tones dominate, the indicated exposure will be greatly infl uenced by these
dominant tones. Using the MIE will expose these dominant dark or light tones as midtones, whilst
other tones may become overexposed or underexposed. If you consider that interest and visual
impact within a photograph are created by the use of lighting and subject contrast (amongst
many other things), the chances of all the elements within the frame being midtones are remote.
The information, mood and communication of the fi nal image can be altered through adjusting
exposure from MIE.
Average tones
If a subject of average refl ectance (a midtone) is framed together with dark and light tones in equal
proportions (and all of the tones are lit equally by the same diffuse light source) the resulting meter
reading will give correct exposure, i.e. the midtone will record as a midtone. If however a reading
is taken from only the dark tones this exposure will render these dark tones as midtones and
overexpose the mid- and light tones. An exposure using the refl ected reading off only the lighter
tones will render these lighter tones as midtones and underexpose the midtones and dark tones.
Indian Market (average tones) MIE