Metering

making aperture & shutter speed work together

to get a well exposed photo

Film Exposure
ap

e
r
u
t
r
e

shut

ter s

Exposure

ISO (film sensitivity)

400 ISO film

p eed

f/2

most light

1
2

f/2.8

f/4

8
15

f/5.6

30

f/8

60

f/11

125
250

f/16
f/22

500
least light

1000

most light
(shallow DoF)

f/2

1
2

f/2.8

f/4
f/5.6
f/8
f/11
f/16
least light
(deep DoF)

f/22

most light
(blurred action)

8
find a
balance to
get a proper
exposure

15
30
60
125
250
500
1000

least light
(frozen action)

Think about a water faucet and a bucket. The faucet will act as the aperture and a timer for
the shutter speed. The bucket is a properly exposed photograph.
When you open the faucet all the way (f/2), water rushes out so you fill the bucket in a
very short time (1/1000 sec). This would let in a lot of light for a short time.
When you open the faucet just a little bit (f/16), water barely trickles out and takes
much more time (1/15 sec) to fill the same bucket.
It doesnt matter which combination you choose, the bucket is filled the same
amount, just like a photo can be exposed the same amount by various aperture and
shutter speed combinations while also controlling motion and depth of field.

/16

1/30

correctly exposed

/8

1/125

correctly exposed

wider aperture
less time
/16

1/125
1/30

underexposed

/8
/4

1/125

overexposed

Equivalent Exposures

/2.8 1/250

/16 1/8

Equivalent Exposures

125
f 2.8 f 4 f 5.6 f 8 f11 f 16 f 22
Point of Departure

Equivalent Exposures

equal light
1000 500 250 125 60

30

15

f 2.8 f 4 f 5.6 f 8 f11 f 16 f 22

Equivalent Exposures

1000 500 250 125 60

30

15

f 2.8 f 4 f 5.6 f 8 f11 f 16 f 22

250 125 60
bracketing:

shooting the same photo at different exposures

Equivalent Exposures
f 5.6 f 8 f 11
1000 500 250 125 60

30

15

f 2.8 f 4 f 5.6 f 8 f11 f 16 f 22

250 125 60
bracketing:

shooting the same photo at different exposures

How do I know what

settings to use?
Start at your Point of Departure
/8 & 125

Use your cameras light meter

LIGHT
(thats a light meteor)

4 Categories of LIGHT METERS:

1. Goldilocks
Goldilocks PRO
2. Aperture Priority

too much light (overexposed)

too little light (underexposed)
just right (well exposed)
too much/little... by THIS MUCH
YOU select aperture, then:
camera suggests a good shutter speed

3. Shutter Speed Priority

4. Multiple options/combination

YOU select shutter speed, then:

camera suggests a good aperture
the camera gives you a choice
(see above options)in how it
light meters

drawings or numbers in
here represent what you
actually would see in the
viewfinder
drawings or numbers out here represent what
settings you have chosen on the camera

1. Goldilocks

1. Goldilocks
1-A. Goldilocks PRO

1. Goldilocks
1-A. Goldilocks PRO
2. Aperture Priority
3. Shutter Speed Priority

GOLDILOCKS

Correctly exposed

GOLDILOCKS

Over exposed

GOLDILOCKS

Under exposed

GOLDILOCKS

Correctly exposed

GOLDILOCKS

Over exposed

GOLDILOCKS

Under exposed

GOLDILOCKS
not exposed
correctly
f/8
125

Correct exposure when needles are line up

GOLDILOCKS

f/4
60
properly exposed
Correct exposure when needles are line up

GOLDILOCKS
over exposed
f/8
+ 125

Correct exposure when needle is in the middle

GOLDILOCKS

f/4
60
properly exposed

Correct exposure when needle is in the middle

GOLDILOCKS
f/8
125

too much light

Correct exposure when green light is on

GOLDILOCKS

f/8
500

- too little light

Correct exposure when green light is on

GOLDILOCKS

f/8
250

correct exposure

X 1000 500 250 125

60

30

f 2 f 4 f 5.6 f 8 f11 f 16 f 22
Correct exposure when green light is on

GOLDILOCKS PRO

Correctly exposed

-2 1 0 1 2 +

GOLDILOCKS PRO

Over exposed

-2 1 0 1 2 +

GOLDILOCKS PRO

-2 1 0 1 2 +

Under exposed

GOLDILOCKS PRO

-2 1 0 1 2 +
Correct exposure when in middle

GOLDILOCKS PRO

One stop overexposed

8

60

-2 1 0 1 2 +
Correct exposure when in middle

GOLDILOCKS PRO

Two stops underexposed

16 125

-2 1 0 1 2 +
Correct exposure when in middle

GOLDILOCKS PRO

Properly exposed
8

125

-2 1 0 1 2 +
Correct exposure when in middle

Aperture Priority Metering

(you choose the f-stop it tells you the shutter speed)

Correctly exposed

Aperture Priority Metering

(you choose the f-stop it tells you the shutter speed)

Over exposed

Aperture Priority Metering

(you choose the f-stop it tells you the shutter speed)

Over exposed

Aperture Priority Metering

(you choose the f-stop it tells you the shutter speed)

Under exposed

Aperture Priority Metering

(you choose the f-stop it tells you the shutter speed)

Under exposed

Aperture Priority Metering

(you choose the f-stop it tells you the shutter speed)

M
1000
500
250
125
60
30
15
8
4
2
1

Correct exposure when light stays lit

Aperture Priority Metering

(you choose the f-stop it tells you the shutter speed)

M
1000
500
250
125
60
30
15
8
4
2
1

Correct exposure when light stays lit

Aperture Priority Metering

(you choose the f-stop it tells you the shutter speed)

M
1000
500
250
125
60
30
15
8
4
2
1

properly
exposed

Correct exposure when light stays lit

Shutter Speed Priority Metering

(you choose the shutter speed it tells you the aperture)

M
22
16
11
8
5.6
4
2.8
1.4

Too much
light

Correct exposure when light stays lit

Shutter Speed Priority Metering

(you choose the shutter speed it tells you the aperture)

M
22
16
11
8
5.6
4
2.8
1.4

Correct exposure when light stays lit

Shutter Speed Priority Metering

(you choose the shutter speed it tells you the aperture)

M
22
16
11
8
5.6
4
2.8
1.4

Correct
Exposure
Not enough
light

Correct exposure when light stays lit

Shutter Speed Priority Metering

(you choose the shutter speed it tells you the aperture)

Correctly exposed

Shutter Speed Priority Metering

(you choose the shutter speed it tells you the aperture)

Over/Under exposed

What to consider when

you take a photo:
What is structure of my photo?
-use the principles of composition

What do I want to focus on?

-focus my lens

What should I light meter on?

-meter off my subject

Recompose, check focus, shoot

What is the structure of my composition?

Rule of Thirds

What do I want to focus on?

What should I Light Meter on?

Recompose, check focus, shoot

Recompose, check focus, shoot

What is the structure of my composition?

Using the Edges of the Frame

What do I want to focus on?

What do I want to focus on?

What do I want to focus on?

M
1000
500
250
125
60
30
15
8
4
2
1

M
1000
500
250
125
60
30
15
8
4
2
1

Recompose, check focus, shoot

M
1000
500
250
125
60
30
15
8
4
2
1

Recompose, check focus, shoot

What is the structure of my composition?

1000
500
250
125
60
30
15
8
4
2
1

Rule of Thirds
Line
Using the Edges of the Frame

What do I want to focus on?

1000
500
250
125
60
30
15
8
4
2
1

What should I Light Meter on?

1000
500
250
125
60
30
15
8
4
2
1

What should I Light Meter on?

1000
500
250
125
60
30
15
8
4
2
1

Recompose, check focus, shoot

1000
500
250
125
60
30
15
8
4
2
1

Recompose, check focus, shoot

Your camera always measures

REFLECTED light
(light reflecting off a subject
and into the camera lens)
It cannot measure the light
ON something

Why is this correctly

exposed?

Why is this correctly

exposed?

Back light overpowers

the light meter

Why is this correctly

exposed?

Light meter for a

specific area of
your subject

Back light overpowers

the light meter

Light meter for a

specific area of
your subject

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

load film
set ISO to 400
What is the structure of my photo?
turn camera on
-use the principles of
find your subject matter
composition
consider the structure and principles
focus
What do I want to focus on?
light meter off subject
-focus my lens
recompose, focus, and shoot
advance film for next shot
What should I light meter on?
write down your settings
-meter off my subject
continue steps 4-10
turn off camera when done
DO NOT REWIND FILM
if there is any problem STOP and ask me

SHOOTING CHECKLIST:

Light Metering

#
shutter
speed
f/stop

Names of Group Members: _________________

Camera Model: ________________
Camera Name: ________________
Light Meter: _________________

Principles of Composition
Light Rule of Thirds Frame within a Frame
Line Using the Edges of the Frame Point of View
Pattern & Texture Filling the Frame & Cropping

Movement: move the subject, move the camera, freeze the action, blur the action

ideas:

description of photo

ideas:

#
f/stop

load film
set ISO to 400
What is the structure of my photo?
turn camera on
-use the principles of
find your subject matter
composition
consider the structure and principles
focus
What do I want to focus on?
light meter off subject
-focus my lens
recompose, focus, and shoot
advance film for next shot
What should I light meter on?
write down your settings
-meter off my subject
continue steps 4-10
turn off camera when done
DO NOT REWIND FILM
if there is any problem STOP and ask me

Names of Group Members: ________________

Camera Model: ________________
Camera Name: ________________
Light Meter: _________________

Principles of Composition
Light Rule of Thirds Frame within a Frame
Line Using the Edges of the Frame Point of View
Pattern & Texture Filling the Frame & Cropping

description of photo

Movement: move the subject, move the camera, freeze the action, blur the action

shutter
speed

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

Light Metering

SHOOTING CHECKLIST:

Movement: move the subject, move the camera, freeze the action, blur the action

ideas:

#
shutter
speed
f/stop
description of photo

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

load film
set ISO to 400
turn camera on
find your subject matter
consider the structure and prin
focus
light meter off subject
recompose, focus, and shoot
advance film for next shot
write down your settings
continue steps 4-10
turn off camera when done
DO NOT REWIND FILM
if there is any problem STOP an

SHOOTING CHECKLIST:

Point of View: get low, look down, look through, turn sideways, get underneath, crop, zoom
ideas:

shutter
speed

f/stop

description of photo

Focus: focus on something close, focus on something far, have a great depth of field, have a shallow
depth of field, focus on the details of something, focus on the texture of something
ideas:

shutter
speed

f/stop

description of photo

Portrait: make a figure stand out in the environment, have them lost in it, zoom in on their face, take a
portrait not of their face, shoot from a low angle, look through something to them
ideas:

shutter
speed

f/stop

description of photo

Movement:
move the subject, move the camera, freeze the action

1/30

Depth of Field:
blur the foreground, blur the background,
have great depth of field, shallow d. of field

f 5.6

Point of View:
get low, look down, turn sideways,
get underneath, crop, zoom

Portrait:

make a figure stand out in the environment,

have them lost in it, zoom in on their face, take
a portrait not of their face.