Do you guys always take a meter reading?

I'm wondering if you guys meter off your subject or off of a different reflective source more often? I'm new to photography and of the few exposures I've taken thus far I'm seeing more vibrant colors when I meter the sky or ground instead of what I'm shooting. I'm still experimenting with different metering modes but I'm wondering what you guys do.

I meter off the subject... and if i don't like it, i just switch to manual or change WB.

I prefer the histogram that is displayed on the LCD over the meter. That pretty well ensures proper exposure.

I don't usually bother with the meter. I take a shot, check the histogram and then add or subtract exposure compensation accordingly to get the haystack just right.. In full manual I meter on my subject and then change the aperture or exposure time as required.

I usually meter off the subject to get an idea of what setting to use, set everything, take a test pic and adjust based in histogram.

the histogram should be an even mound int he middle correct?

Mike787 wrote in post #9223986
the histogram should be an even mound int he middle correct?

No. It's looks depends on the subject matter. ie how much is dark or light

I only take separate meter readings in extreme cases, like a performer behind a dark stage, a person talking in front of a white wall, etc. because i know the meter is going to be wildly messed up. for sports I always shoot in manual with a meter reading off of the athlete.

Do a search here for ETTR or HAMSTER It will explain how you can use your histogram to some degree

I often have to meter off the sky for example to prevent blowing it out, have noticed AV mode and all metering modes aren't always that reliable in contrasty conditions.

Mike787 wrote in post #9223986
the histogram should be an even mound int he middle correct?

As said, the histogram can look like anything depending on what your shooting. It can me a mound in the middle, a mound pushed to either side, two mounds one left, one right, a plateau, just about any shape. What your looking for is that the mound is not pressed against any edge. Too far left and you'll kill details in the shadows. Too far right and you'll blow the highlights.

Luminous landscape has a great tutorial on how to read histograms.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com …standing-histograms.shtml

benesotor wrote in post #9224246
I often have to meter off the sky for example to prevent blowing it out, have noticed AV mode and all metering modes aren't always that reliable in contrasty conditions.

If the scene as metered blows out the sky it probably means the scene has too much dynamic range for the camera's sensor. Exposing for the sky will keep the sky, but at the expense of midtones and shadow areas.

i have a sekonic light meter. goes with me everyplace i shoot. i measure ambiant before i do anything, set the camera and iso to what the light meter says..then i use the histogram off the camera

gonzogolf wrote in post #9224481
If the scene as metered blows out the sky it probably means the scene has too much dynamic range for the camera's sensor. Exposing for the sky will keep the sky, but at the expense of midtones and shadow areas.

That's where bracketing comes in really handy. Meter for the subject and set AEB for a stop or two depending on the situation and blend the three together.