What is spot metering in photography?

What is spot metering? Whereas multi-segment or multi-zone metering takes exposure readings from across the whole image frame, in spot metering mode the camera takes a measurement from a single point or spot. This area is often at the centre of the frame, but it may be linked to the active AF point.

Should I use spot metering for portraits?

Spot metering is best for correcting exposure in high-contrast situations. Using this mode ensures your camera correctly exposes the subject and not the background. Portrait photography is an excellent area for this to work.

Should I use spot metering all the time?

So, because such a small part of the scene is the most important part to be correctly exposed, spot metering is ideally suited to portrait photography. As a portrait photographer I use spot metering at least 90% of the time. However, sometimes the other metering modes are better.

What is spot weighted metering?

Spot Metering It measures a single, small zone and calculates the correct exposure measured on this area and nothing else. If your subject doesn’t take up much space in the frame, and is back-lit, spot metering is the best mode to choose for this scenario.

What ire should skin tone be?

Dark grey (IRE 24-42) signifies you’re leaving (or entering) an area that is underexposed. Once you hit green (IRE 43-47), you’re reaching light grey (IRE 47-77), which is usually best for human skin tone (usually IRE 70).

How do you make a mixed skin tone with a picture?

Go for the Mid-Range: Photographing Mixed Skin Tones in the Same Image. If you are photographing people of different skin tones in the same image, go for the mid-range; the rest can be adjusted in post-processing. I always make sure that the lightest person is not too light, while the darkest person is not too dark.

Is Middle GREY 50 ire?

A Kodak Standard Grey Card has a reflectance of 18% which renders as a “normal” mid grey exposure density on film. In video terms this equates to 50% or 0.5 volts IRE.

When and why should the photographer use a spot meter?

Spot metering allows the camera to measure the light reflected from the person’s face and expose properly for that, instead of adjusting exposure for the much brighter light around the hairline. With the face properly exposed, the area around the back and hairline will become over-exposed.

What type of metering is used in photography?

Centre-weighted metering is best suited for any image where your subject is in the centre of the frame, or even where the subject fills the majority of the scene. A typical example of this would be portrait photography or macro photography.

What are the 3 metering modes?

Most of today’s modern cameras have at least three different metering modes to choose from; matrix (evaluative), center-weighted, and spot.

What ire should skin tones be?

What are some examples of spot metering in photography?

Let’s look at a couple of examples where spot metering is extremely helpful: Example 1. Let’s say you are photographing someone who is brightly backlit. If you let your camera auto-expose, most likely, the camera will make the correct exposure on the backlighting, leaving your subject underexposed.

What is spot metering and how precise is it?

Spot metering is quite precise – between 1 and 5% of the image. As a side note, don’t get spot metering confused with ‘spot light meters’ which are separate pieces of equipment – they are a completely different thing!

Should you use spot metering for bird photos?

Here are some examples of bird photos taken with spot metering. Experienced bird photographers switch to spot metering for either very dark or very light colored birds. I’m not too fussed on the surroundings or the background being properly exposed, it’s the details in the birds feathers I’m wanting to capture.

How do I set up spot metering on my camera?

With higher end cameras you can select spot metering using buttons and dials on your camera, but with entry level cameras you’d need to use the menu system on your camera. Either way though it’s easy to do.