How useful is a light meter?

paintballkidz wrote in post #14157788
I am a strobist and often using lights to me is a guessing and trial-error game. Would a light meter take the guessing part out of it?

Depends. When it comes to portrait design and transplanting an idea that is in your head onto film, exposure is completely subjective. You can't meter creativity.
When I shoot babies I like to push the red channel as far as I can to get that soft skin look, as well as reduced blemishes in models. Can't really meter that either. The meter helps me get in the ballpark and reduce the number of chimps, but I still chimp.

However, even in those situations there are times it can be useful, especially the flash to ambient ratio.

When you're shooting commercially and doing shots for something like a company directory or yearbook and you're doing shots at different locations, then it's absolutely essential. You need for your shots to be dead consistent from location to location. Set exposure, set white balance in camera and other than conversion from RAW to JPEG you have no post work. Really handy when you're shooting a couple of thousand shots.

paintballkidz wrote in post #14157788
I am a strobist and often using lights to me is a guessing and trial-error game. Would a light meter take the guessing part out of it?

A flash meter takes a lot of guessing out of the conversation. The trail and error goes away with experience but until you have the experience a meter can help get lighting ratios correct or really close before the shutter is pushed.

I use a L-358 which provides accurate readings. No trial and error. One of the best gadgets I own!!

Csae wrote in post #14162874
Then i read this wrong:

Because thats exactly what hes doing,

"Well, they aren't using light meters, so maybe they aren't necessary for me either..."

While these were not my words, it is a decent paraphrase to what I was saying; again, this is an observation that I have made. However, there is a key word in there 'maybe'... anyone, including myself, could later find that a meter is necesary for particular shots or instances. It's all subjective to what you shoot, but they were not using a meter for what they were shooting. If anyone watches the videos, one will see that is exactly what is implied - I don't know how you take the quotes I posted from the Strobist video any differently. If anyone else did, I'd love to hear their interpretation.

Csae wrote in post #14162874
Technically to that i could say that absolutely nothing is necessary, you could be shooting at iso6400 f16 all your shots because its your artistic vision regardless of how much light is around.

I don't exactly follow how this analogy compares, but I suppose you could say that if you wanted... If you are shooting professionally, I would hope others agree with your vision and value it as such. If you are shooting for yourself, then it's monetary value is pretty much irrelevant, and if it pleases you, then what else matters?

Csae wrote in post #14162874
Pointing out that one photographer does not use a light meter in a debate about light meters is comparing yourself to that photographer. Now, if you were comparing yourself to Christa Meola for example... Then i might let it go

Again, I certainly never compared myself to any photographer. I specifically stated that I'm a lowly amatuer shooter; saying I was as good would be absurd. However, I suppose the leap could be made that if one worked hard enough, that one could achieve that quality of work, etc. I don't think that is out of the realm of possibilities.

bdillon wrote in post #14163095
Depends. When it comes to portrait design and transplanting an idea that is in your head onto film, exposure is completely subjective. You can't meter creativity.
When I shoot babies I like to push the red channel as far as I can to get that soft skin look, as well as reduced blemishes in models. Can't really meter that either. The meter helps me get in the ballpark and reduce the number of chimps, but I still chimp.

However, even in those situations there are times it can be useful, especially the flash to ambient ratio.

When you're shooting commercially and doing shots for something like a company directory or yearbook and you're doing shots at different locations, then it's absolutely essential. You need for your shots to be dead consistent from location to location. Set exposure, set white balance in camera and other than conversion from RAW to JPEG you have no post work. Really handy when you're shooting a couple of thousand shots.

+1.

Curtis N wrote in post #14162339
Whoa. Hang on there, Case.
No one compared himself to David Hobby.
To call oneself a "strobist" simply means you follow his teachings and try to take his advice, in an effort to learn.

So calling oneself a "Strobist" is like being a Baptist.

I never claimed to be a writer and I don't have an editor - sorry. What I wrote is what it is, call it stupid or ignorant garbage if you wish.

I suppose he may have been criticizing a particular type of user, but I apparnetly intrepreted it differently.

I did re-edit my post about them using light meters, because honestly, I have no idea if they do or don't. That certainly was an incorrect statement on my part - there was no intentional dishonestly. What was stated in the videos led me to believe they may or may not have them now, but rarely, if ever use them any longer.

RDKirk wrote in post #14163870
So calling oneself a "Strobist" is like being a Baptist.

Sort of like disciples of David Hobby, perhaps. Except Strobists have been known to drink, dance and play cards.

Also, methinks Adrian needs to lighten up a bit. Let's answer the OP's original question with our considered opinions and not fret so much about how somebody interpreted someone else's DVD.

I thought we did in the first two pages. yes is the answer.

Agreed. However, I would like to welcome Adrian to the forum!

I apologize for the tread jacking, also not intentional.... just trying to provide information I thought may be useful to the discussion - apparently not so much

drvnbysound wrote in post #14164564
Agreed. However, I would like to welcome Adrian to the forum!

I apologize for the tread jacking, also not intentional.... just trying to provide information I thought may be useful to the discussion - apparently not so much

This is the first time a thread has gone off course

/sarcasm

its not a big deal

Curtis N wrote in post #14164426
Sort of like disciples of David Hobby, perhaps. Except Strobists have been known to drink, dance and play cards.

Also, methinks Adrian needs to lighten up a bit. Let's answer the OP's original question with our considered opinions and not fret so much about how somebody interpreted someone else's DVD.

A light meter is only as useful as a proper exposure.

Do you find having the proper exposure without your subject being there useful? Y/N

There you go.