Hand held meter

[Travis]

But they are still useful, especially with lighting ratios in studio lighting.

really?.. i don't know much about them... thought they were from the film days..

so a light meter will suggest a key/fill ratio?

I always thought of studio lighting to be so personal with regards to the result you are looking for...

I usually just start off taking a couple of images getting the key light properly exposed, then a couple more images get the fill light where I want it, then a couple of more getting the background or accent light where I want it.

maybe tens shots within five minutes of set up, no biggie for me, but i guess if your a studio pro time is money.

i actually like the trial and error process because sometimes my test shots lead me to a new idea or style, but i'm running out of gadgets to buy so maybe i'll look into grabbing one...

[Marko]

so a light meter will suggest a key/fill ratio?

It won't suggest it but it will allow you to be SURE (by measuring the light difference between the key/fill/background) of what the ratio is for predictable results.

[Travis]

It won't suggest it but it will allow you to be SURE (by measuring the light difference between the key/fill/background) of what the ratio is for predictable results.

ahh.. okay... gotcha!

[tomorrowstreasures]

and especially when i really really struggle with light as it is and can use any and all tools availed to me!


MF - how does one use a grey card??

[tomorrowstreasures]

really?.. i don't know much about them... thought they were from the film days..

so a light meter will suggest a key/fill ratio?

I always thought of studio lighting to be so personal with regards to the result you are looking for...

I usually just start off taking a couple of images getting the key light properly exposed, then a couple more images get the fill light where I want it, then a couple of more getting the background or accent light where I want it.

maybe tens shots within five minutes of set up, no biggie for me, but i guess if your a studio pro time is money.

i actually like the trial and error process because sometimes my test shots lead me to a new idea or style, but i'm running out of gadgets to buy so maybe i'll look into grabbing one...

i want to understand what you are saying here. can you dumb it down a little bit?

[Travis]

i want to understand what you are saying here. can you dumb it down a little bit?

Sure... what part do you need help with?

[Marko]

I think I can help.
In general a lighting ratio refers to how strong the main light (key) is in relation to the fill light and other lights. Here's an easy example:

You have a model sitting on a chair and the main light (8 feet away) is at her right so she is being sidelit.
-The right side is getting 1 'unit' of light.
-Then you have a fill light lets say it's right behind the camera and shining at the model again 8 feet away. The fill and main light are putting out the same amount of light.
-The fill light hits both the right side and the left side.
- So the right side is getting 2 units of light and the left side only one unit.
-This is a 2:1 ratio

In order to measure this precisely for consistent results, you can use a light meter to measure the lights individually.
Hope that makes sense.
Thx
Marko

[tomorrowstreasures]

I think I can help.
In general a lighting ratio refers to how strong the main light (key) is in relation to the fill light and other lights. Here's an easy example:

You have a model sitting on a chair and the main light (8 feet away) is at her right so she is being sidelit.
-The right side is getting 1 'unit' of light.
-Then you have a fill light lets say it's right behind the camera and shining at the model again 8 feet away. The fill and main light are putting out the same amount of light.
-The fill light hits both the right side and the left side.
- So the right side is getting 2 units of light and the left side only one unit.
-This is a 2:1 ratio

In order to measure this precisely for consistent results, you can use a light meter to measure the lights individually.
Hope that makes sense.
Thx
Marko

well done, Marko! thanks for taking the time to do that !