About Titus Kana Expertise Commercial photography, digital photography, fashion photography, studio management, location photography, Nikons, Hasselblads, professional strobe equipment, requirements for assistant photographers, business aspects of photography,
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Past/Present clients Saks Fifth Avenue, Sterns, J.C. Penney, Black Opal, I Natural, Sony, Consolidated Cigar Company, Cosmopolitan, Woman's Day, Woman's World Magazines
Question Hello.
I am learning photography and i just bought a light meter but i not very sure how to use it, i want to take some portrait pictures using available light that is comming from the window...how do i meter so i get a nice balance light over the face of my subject?
Answer Hi Caro,
Window light can be very flattering on your subject, but as you suggested, it is not always easy to work with. I'm assuming that the window light is indirect with no sun entering into the room. First, place your subject facing perpendicular to the window. If you have a wall next to the window that makes a good backgroung, then by all means, use it. If not, then set up a background of your choice behind the subject. I would set the model near the back edge of the window so he/she gets some rap-around light. Place a white card next to the model parallel to the window at a distance that you will choose based on whether you want a darker, contrastier mood (further away) or a more open softer look (card close to subject).
Now for the metering, your best bet is an incident reading which is taken with the dome over the sensor. An incident meter reads the light that falls on the subject (normally you read at the subject and aim the dome toward the camera), as opposed to a reflective ready, like those built into cameras that reads the like that reflects off the subject from the camera position. Now, with side light, if you read the full light that falls on the subject by aiming it toward the window you probably will get under exposures, because it is not taking into account the shadow side that is seen from the camera. Conversely, if you aim the meter toward the camera (which works in most lighting conditions), you're not taking into account the highlight area on the face toward the window. So, the best metering for side light is to take the reading at a 45 degree angle, halfway between the subject and the window. There are always some variables to add to this like dark or light skin tones and clothing which will make you bias one way or the other, for instance you should open up 1/2 stop for dark subjects from the reading. A reflected reading can really get fooled by side light and since it averages for 18% gray, if your subject is in white or black, you're sure to miss exposues. If you're using digital camera or polaroid camera for test exposures, then you should be in total control.
One last thing, window light tends to be cold light, so you may want to use a warming filter such as an 81B.
