Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson

I was not sure where to post this so I thought I'd try here since this is wedding related. I just finished Syl Arena's Speedlighters Handbook. A very well written book. I was pleasantly surprised that there was not much I was not aware of. There are lot of descriptions of modifiers from on camera to off, flash types, stands, etc. Also a lot of great information of placement of light for effect. It will be a very good reference for me. I should have purchased it long ago. I know there is a big difference between knowledge and application.

So I'm trying to figure what else I can do arm myself to be ready for each situation I will encounter. Also I study the work of the regular wedding photog contributors here and you all have this glow to your images I can't really can't describe in any other way. That was the reason I'm thinking exposure is next to tackle.

I'm well aware that tar and snow are going to be 18% grey, placement of people on a sunny day and metering off the sky. What to do with a bright background indoors when using flash. The book has to be more than 12 pages long I have read very good things about it. I am no expert but not a novice either. I may be incorrect about that. It is not that expensive but I was just wondering if there was something else that may be more suited to what I'm looking for at this time.

digital paradise wrote in post #13534305
I'm well aware that tar and snow are going to be 18% grey

You need the book for this reason alone as you are completely incorrect.

Well let me reword that. If I take take an image of black pavement and don't compensate for what the meter tells me it ain't gonna be black. Better?

Have you checked out Joe McNally's "Hotshoe Diaries?"

No I have not. Does he get fairly deep into exposure? I'm looking for what to meter off while looking at a particular situation. This the next thing I really want to delve into.

Do some reading about the Zone System and then read this POTN (HAMSTTR) thread.

I will check it out thanks. I read all of Ansel's books and shot with a 4 by 5 field camera in the late 80's. I'll see how similar it is.

Digital Paradise, when you say "glow" do you mean things like this? (If so very happy to tell you how to get the glow, if it is what you mean):

I will probably get lit up for this but i never get why people say that petersons book is such a great book about exposure. I have it. Dont think its all that good.

Exposure is not that hard to learn. Any basic photography book telling you what happens when you go from F/2.8 to F/22 will let you know whats gonna happen when you start adjusting the F/stops.

Give someone an old rebel with a CF card, put it in Manual mode and tell them to line the needle up and watch what happens to the numbers when you move the f/stop. have them move the needle up and down and watch what happens to ther image in the viewfinder. Tell then to raise the iso and watch what happens to the numbers. Watch the viewfinder is look what is happening to your picture when you move these settings. After about 20 minutes you will have a prety good clue about what exposure is and how you might affect it with shutter speed and ISO. Im a hands on visual guy so that makes much more sense than reading a book about working bees and such.

digital paradise wrote in post #13542614
Well let me reword that. If I take take an image of black pavement and don't compensate for what the meter tells me it ain't gonna be black. Better?

Yep, much, sorry. I knew what you meant really

What is this 'Glow' of which you speak?

smorter wrote in post #13543176
Digital Paradise, when you say "glow" do you mean things like this? (If so very happy to tell you how to get the glow, if it is what you mean):

Or something like this?

Like #3

Gel wrote in post #13543459
Yep, much, sorry. I knew what you meant really

What is this 'Glow' of which you speak?

I figured you did. Not need to apologize. I'll look for some examples.

If you scroll down these images. Obviously the lighting method makes a difference but exposure is important as well. Perhaps I am over thinking it.

http://www.flickr.com …/in/set-72157623250983108

umphotography wrote in post #13543245
I will probably get lit up for this but i never get why people say that petersons book is such a great book about exposure. I have it. Dont think its all that good.

Exposure is not that hard to learn. Any basic photography book telling you what happens when you go from F/2.8 to F/22 will let you know whats gonna happen when you start adjusting the F/stops.

Give someone an old rebel with a CF card, put it in Manual mode and tell them to line the needle up and watch what happens to the numbers when you move the f/stop. have them move the needle up and down and watch what happens to ther image in the viewfinder. Tell then to raise the iso and watch what happens to the numbers. Watch the viewfinder is look what is happening to your picture when you move these settings. After about 20 minutes you will have a prety good clue about what exposure is and how you might affect it with shutter speed and ISO. Im a hands on visual guy so that makes much more sense than reading a book about working bees and such.

Thanks for the reply and your honest opinion. I'm looking for more than that. Looks like I just need to apply and practise.

I read that book and it was moderately useful, but I learned more by just going out there and shooting and understanding why things ended up looking the way they did when I either hit it out of the park or swung and whiffed.

I think the most common mistake folks initially make is thinking that getting that needle to the middle is the answer. It's not. No matter which mode you are using, if you do that, then you are shooting in Automatic mode. Also, I see a lot of people worrying too much about blowing out highlights, not shooting into the sun, and following other rules to the letter. These will only limit you. Yes, understand the rules, but also know that rules are meant to be broken.

But honestly, just go out there and shoot and learn from your mistakes. All that talk about "glow" should be secondary if you are still concerned about exposure. A lot of that would be DOF manipulation or post processing.

nicksan wrote in post #13543577
I read that book and it was moderately useful, but I learned more by just going out there and shooting and understanding why things ended up looking the way they did when I either hit it out of the park or swung and whiffed.

I think the most common mistake folks initially make is thinking that getting that needle to the middle is the answer. It's not. No matter which mode you are using, if you do that, then you are shooting in Automatic mode. Also, I see a lot of people worrying too much about blowing out highlights, not shooting into the sun, and following other rules to the letter. These will only limit you. Yes, understand the rules, but also know that rules are meant to be broken.

But honestly, just go out there and shoot and learn from your mistakes. All that talk about "glow" should be secondary if you are still concerned about exposure. A lot of that would be DOF manipulation or post processing.

That is what I'm trying to change. I rely too much on the meter in the middle in the overall exposure which I know is not the best approach. Most of the time I'm in evaluative which does OK not great for the most part and I will compensate as required to stay within the rules boundaries. Just looking to take that up a notch. I am overly concerned about blowing highlights. Seems like I just need to get a little more creative and bend those rules. I've said before first you learn the rules then you learn to break them.

Thanks.