Proper exposure

J

jkc123

Well-known member
Hi guys,
I am wondering what technique do all of you use to get the proper exposure. For example, do you expose from the LCD, use an external moniter, laptop, lightmeter, or good judgement?

In my production class we NEVER went over exposure and focused mainly on framing the image. I have been reading a few books on the subject and one of the actually says that the "image is properly exposed
when the image looks good".

Just wondering if you could share any tips and what works for each of you?
Thanks
 
Re: Proper exposure

The image is only properly exposed when it "looks good" if it's being viewed on a properly calibrated production monitor.

For exposure the most useful tool would be a waveform monitor, but that's rarely used in the field, so the zebras are the next best thing. Set your zebras to 80% and 105%. Expose your shot so it looks good in the LCD, then double-check with the zebras. At 80% you should be seeing just a small amount of zebras on your subject's face, at the specular highlight positions (usually the tip of the nose and the flat of the forehead). At 105% you shouldn't be seeing any zebras at all, except maybe if you have something like a bare bulb or the sun in the shot. If you're seeing 105% zebras everywhere, you're overexposing. If you're not seeing any 80% zebras anywhere, you're likely underexposing, depending on what's in the shot.
 
Re: Proper exposure

Barry, when you are trying to get lots of contrast between the key and fill in a scene do you just do that by eye or use a light meter to determine ratios? Is an incident light meter a useful tool for setting the lights or is it better to just experiment until you get the ratio right?
 
Re: Proper exposure

Different strokes for different folks I'd say.

You could use a light meter, but because the camera can let you see the difference in the contrast, normally I'd just check out the monitor.

Though if the camera isn't set-up yet, and you're doing preliminary lighting set ups, then it would probably help you there...
 
Re: Proper exposure

I use the monitor to judge the contrast ratio. A light meter is useful (and indispensible) for film work, but for video work it's rarely ever used. The monitor (and a waveform, if you've got it) show you everything you need to know, far more usefully than a light meter does.
 
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