Metering with ND grads

[Janice]

Can anyone help me with metering while using an ND grad filter please?

DO you meter the sky and then put the grad on.. or put the grad on first or what?? I tend to spot meter.

 

[dazzajl]

I would meter around the scene to work out the difference between the sky and the land, then choose the grad to suit.

Actually, that's rubbish. That's what I know I should do. What I nearly always end up doing is pulling the grad out that I think is right for the shot, peeking through it and carry on if I like the look.

 

[pxl8]

What he said - you "should" take a reading for both and work out the number of stops difference and use that filter but it depends on the effect you want and having a good range of filters in the first place. Failing that meter for the ground and use the grad you think will be best, chimp and adjust is probably what most of us do tho

 

[Milestone]

But what i tend to do hold the grad up to the sky line and assess how the image looks, then place the filter on the camera, meter off the ground and start chimping.

 

[Jas]

I always guess too as on windy days, the light does change all the time quite quickly.

If in doubt, the two stop one is used as it does bring back some of the detail you would otherwise lose. I have tried the longer method and is definitely more accurate to take two readings, but most of the time it's pretty obvious after a bit of practice.