CONTRAST / EXPOSURE / LIGHTING RATIOS
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF EXPOSURE:
There is no single correct exposure for a scene. The image needs to show sufcient detail and look good, but the parameters can be subjective. Ask yourself: which elements in the scene are most important? The brightness range of the real world can often exceed the latitude /dynamic range of your recording medium. The HVX can record a brightness range of about 7 stops. What can you do if the range in your scene has more than 7 stops? Exposure is the total amount of light reected by the object in the direction of the lens related to the amount of light falling an an object / scene, i.e. the incident light also related to reectance of object: what percentage of incidend light does object reect? This is a factor of color and texture.
The goal is to expose an image in the MIDDLE OF THE RANGE. Over /underexposure appears as a shift in subject brightness range.

Using the Light Meter

A. Incident reading

B. Reected reading

Incident Reading
Useful for showing how much light is contributed by each source. Incident readings are used to calculate lighting ratio. Diffuser simulates light gathering ability of a typical 3-D object (i.e. human head). To take an incident reading, hold meter at subject position in the same light as subject; point meter towards camera. Meter averages light coming from front and sides; its a good idea to eliminate backlight when measuring.

Reected Reading

Reected reading is taken from camera position, aiming meter at subject. For anything other than exposing facial skin tone, reected reading can be more precise. It can show you the range of brightness in the scene. But reected reading always requires interpretation (placing reading on gray scale). Reected reading tells you what exposure will make object look like middle gray (18% gray). Reected reading is necessary for determining correct exposure for anything that emits or lters light (e.g. TV or shooting through a window). Your incident reading should MATCH a reected reading of an 18% gray card in the same light.

18% middle gray

The Zone System
Light Meter Angle of Acceptance
A. standard reected light meter has 40 angle of acceptance
B. spot meter has 1 angle of acceptance

Lighting Ratios

FORMULA: K[ey] + F[ill] / F K+F is incident reading taken from bright side of face (since ll is supposed to be shadowless, it wraps around both sides of face). F is incident reading taken from shadow side (with key turned off) Each stop represents an exponential increase in light, so ratios come out to powers of 2 (i.e. a 4:1 ratio -- 22---- is a difference of 2 stops)
4:1 RATIO (2 stops difference)

Shadow side: f/4

Bright side: f/8
Ratios up to 4:1 look normal
8:1 Ratio (3 stops) - Moody, shadowy, low key noir look
Using the Minolta Auto Meter III Light Meter
1. Set correct ASA number: HVX 200 is rated at ASA 320

2. Toggle ASA/ Time Button to display shutter speed. Set correct shutter speed. Default shutter speed is 1/48, which is actually in between 1/30 and 1/60, which means you should technically set your f/stop to be in between those two readings.
3. Make sure meter is displaying f/stop numbers, not EV numbers
4. Make sure to use correct attachment for the type of reading you plan to do (incident / reected). The diffuser attachment is for incident readings.
5. Hold light meter in measuring position, making sure not to cast shadows or block lights. Press measuring button to take reading.
6. Keep up to three readings in meter memory.
7. Put meter in measure lock mode when not using to conserve battery.