Metering for landscapes?

[totalbeginner]

I've tried lots of different techniques to meter when taking shots of landscapes, but I'd be interested to hear how other people do it.

Handheld, I find spot metering very useful, but obviously this isn't ideal if you're using tripod, whereas evaluative can be unpredictable.

So how do others do it? Do you use a handheld meter, take different readings before affixing your camera to the tripod, or simply use evaluative and chimp the histogram?

Discuss...

[PacAce]

Why wouldn't you be able to use spotmetering if you have the camera on a tripod? Doesn't your tripod allow you to adjust position and orientation of your camera?

Metering-wise, just about any method will work if you take the time to check the histogram. But if the dynamic range of the scene is greater than what the camera can handle, it won't matter what metering mode you use, something is going to be either over-exposed or under-exposed. In that case, taking several bracketed exposure shots would be an option. Or, if you have the appropriate graduated neutral density filter to narrow down the dynamic range of the scene, you could use that.

[RedHot]

If there's blue sky and my landscape is well lit with the sun, I meter off the blue sky.

[pagnamenta]

You can do a few things to get the right exposure depending on what you're shooting. When there's water in the scene, say a lake or ocean, you meter for the water, and you'll have a good balance. Or, you can use fill flash depending on the scene.

If you're metering and there's no water, or anything that can get you an exposure between sky and ground, you can take a few exposures and paste the sky in. If you're using a tripod, this is fairly simple. I took about 3-5 photos of some Mayan ruins and cropped them together. If you want good results straight out of the camera, consider getting a graduated neutral density filter.

I always use spot meter, whether it's hand held or on a tripod. Take a few reading from different parts of the scene and see if you can find a good exposure someplace in the middle.

[Glenn NK]

If there's blue sky and my landscape is well lit with the sun, I meter off the blue sky.

This is a very good starting point - often recommended by landscape photogs in their books on the topic.

[howzitboy]

usually i just look at it and say hmmm its sunny so f8 1/250 or hmm kinda overcast f8 1/125, fire test shot, look at preview, notice im perfect (like always) and shoot away.

just keep shooting lotsa pictures and you exposures will come second nature.

[John_B]

totalbeginner,
How about doing your metering before you mount the camera to the tripod? ??? Or get a better tripod or tripod/head where you can quickly adjust the camera to take multiple spot readings. I use spot only (or large spot on my 10D, partial metering), it works for me :)

[SkipD]

So how do others do it? Do you use a handheld meter, take different readings before affixing your camera to the tripod, or simply use evaluative and chimp the histogram?I will either use a handheld meter (usually in the incident mode - using the white hemispherical dome - to measure the light falling on the subject) or I may use my 20D in "partial" mode and pointing at several parts of the subject to find the mid-range setting.

I will almost always have the camera in manual exposure mode so that I can dial in what I want. That way, the camera cannot then decide something different than what I really want for exposure settings.

[PhotosGuy]

You will not have enough dynamic range to properly expose the sky & the dark areas in the foreground. This might help you to easily set the "right" exposure, which for some things, may not be the "correct" exposure, but it generally works well coupled with using a RAW negative.
Need an exposure crutch? (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=89123)

Then some PP with Layer Masks will help you to pull it all together. Post #9:
A question about sky (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=338140)

[xpsentity]

I just flip her over to 'M' and figure from there. Can screw around forever with digital. Besides, you may find the 'correct' exposure is not nearly as interesting as something you come up with.

[totalbeginner]

Yes, I definately shoot in 'M', for me this is by far the easiest option, as I can keep tack of aperture and S/S and adjust either accordingly.