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Question from Beth: “I have heard the expression ’metering’ and have. watched some photographers ready to the pictures and they will. quickly hold the camera up to the sky and then. focus back on the person. can. someone explain this concept and then tell me how u do it.. …”
Jaye: Metering is a way to set exposure for your subject (usually while in manual mode). If they are aiming up at the sky it means they are exposing for the sky which is (generally) brighter than the subject. Often times people do this if they plan to do a composite image by exposing for the sky in one image and exposing for the subject in another.
I highly recommend the book “Understand Exposure”. It is very comprehensive and helpful for learning exposure and how to expose for various situations.
Jeremy: Some will also use a light meter to help them see the exposure for the atea that they ate shooting in.
Brian: Usually on dslr there are three types of metering.
Evaluative (canon)/Matrix (nikon) Metering – this is usually the default metering. the camera will use the entire frame to make everything exposed properly
partial (canon) / spot (nikon) metering – the camera will meter specifically for that spot that you are focus’ing on.
center weight metering – the camera will meter for center the spot, this is usually the middle road between evaluative and spot metering.
Using one of the above along withe your AE-Lock you can sometimes get proper exposure in some touch lighting scenerios… It will also allow you to create silhouettes, or help you expose for a subject that is in front of an extremely bright window.
Janie: They may also be metering the bright sky then locking the exposure to take a silhouette.
Mollie: When you look through your viewfinder (and it’s on your screen, but you generally use the vf one) there is a little “bar.” It’ll usually have a 0 in the middle the each side is +1 +2, -1 -2. To get proper exposure, you need to adjust your shutter speed, ISO, and aperture to reach zero (in the middle.) so when they point at the sky, they’re “metering” to get proper exposure for the sky, then shoot the subject withOUT touching those settings again. Though usually that means the subject will be under exposed. You usually want to always meter for what you want properly exposed, then re-compose.
Mollie: And I agree, “Understanding Exposure” is a very good book!
Damian: Quite simply, your camera always tries to be helpful. And like people who always try and be helpful, sometimes it’s a little TOO helpful…
If you don’t like the exposure the camera thinks is correct, you can override it yourself and get the image you want via the metering mode. Mollie and Dan explain the mechanics of it awesomely in the comments above. Basically you are cheating your way past the camera’s helpfulness…
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