AboutDave Nyce Expertise I have used SLR cameras for 30 years and have taught classes on photography at work for my co-workers. I had a darkroom for 20 years, but now am using mostly digital cameras. I can answer questions on equipment and techniques for photography, but am not an expert on specific model numbers of cameras or accessories.
Expert: Dave Nyce Date: 11/19/2004 Subject: light meter/incident light reading
Question hello,
my question is, when using a incident light meter, as i understand it, you take the reading of the light falling off the subject, in other words if you were doing a portrait, take a reading with the meter by the face of the subject in the direction of the camera, and i also wanted to ask, you don't have to have a camera "set-up" to get the reading?
for instance if you were doing the shoot by yourself and didn't have a camera at a certain spot, but knew about where you would be with the camera would that work?
Answer Your understanding is correct. You are trying to get a reading of the light that bouncing off of the subject area and is traveling in the direction toward where the camera would be set up, but the camera does not have to be set up yet. You would hold the light meter with the camera expected position directly behind you, but trying not to cast a shadow that would affect the amount of light falling on the subject.
