Light metering without a light meter

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karlwilson1986

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Karl
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Hi now sorry if this has been asked lots and I hope it's not a dumb question

If somebody says to have a background flash at f16 to blow the background and your keylighy to be at f11 then without a flashmeter how can this be done?

Is there a certain point to turn the lights to get it at f16?

Look forward to your kind help and ideas

Thanks
Karl
 
you could use the histogram on the camera.

Take some shots of the background @ f16 adjusting the lights until the histogram peaks at the right hand edge of the histogram but without too many blinkies. Then turn off those lights and using your key light light shoot the background adjusting the light until you get a peak about stop down from the background, then you need to move the light so as it is the same distance from your subject as it was to the background to get the correct result.

If known, you could use the guide numbers to calculate the exposure but this will be dependant on the modifiers used and is usually unknown for studio flash anyway.
 
forgot to add, when you take the shot the camera should be set at f11. It may need a little further adjustment to get the result you want.
 
So set the camera to F11 even when setting the F16?
sorry im still pretty new to studio stuff
Thanks
Karl
 
There's an easier way....

Start with the main light on and background lights off

Set main light to F11 by setting camera to F11, then taking shots, reviewing them then adjusting the mainlight power until you get the exposure you want of your subject.

Now turn on the backlights.

Turn on highlight warning on camera if it's not already on.

Take shot, check for blinkies if no blinkies turn up backlights, If blinkies, try turning backlight down until blinkies disappear, then go back one setting.

Takes a few moments to do in reality and once done, you're set all day.
 
Karl, it's not really necessary. Spend some time at home getting to know your lights and how much power you need from various distances. All you need to know is your background is white and you're not getting too much wrap.
 
JasonRS said:
There's an easier way....

Start with the main light on and background lights off

Set main light to F11 by setting camera to F11, then taking shots, reviewing them then adjusting the mainlight power until you get the exposure you want of your subject.

Now turn on the backlights.

Turn on highlight warning on camera if it's not already on.

Take shot, check for blinkies if no blinkies turn up backlights, If blinkies, try turning backlight down until blinkies disappear, then go back one setting.

Takes a few moments to do in reality and once done, you're set all day.
Click to expand...

Good description :thumbs:

Even when I've set everything up with a meter - because it's usually easier to set ratios that way - I always set the final exposure with the blinkies and the histogram. It's the best way to ensure the exposure is as good as you can make it, especially with the white background look where there isn't much room for error.
 
Another article written by a pro who thinks that because they don't use film then nobody else does either.
 
and another webmaster trying to fool people into clicking adsense links by making them the same design as the internal links..tut tut
 
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