Get accurate exposure every time

[akhater]

Here is a quick trick to get the correct exposure even in the most challenging light conditions, like the presence snow or other reflecting material in the scene you want to shoot.
These kind of elements can very easily fool our camera’s light meter and most people will use a gray / white card in these situations.
So what is the trick?
The trick is to calibrate the palm of your hand
Here is how to do it.

First get your hands on a gray/white meter only once
1. Meter the gray card: Let’s assume that the camera’s light meter gave ISO 100, f/4, 1/60 when metering on the gray card.


2. Meter the palm of your hand: Let’s assume that the camera’s light meter gave ISO 100, f/4, 1/100 as reading when meter on the palm of your hand


3. Calculate the exposure difference: It is easy to notice that there is a 2/3 f-stop difference between the two readings.


Congratulations, you have now a well calibrated grey card that you don’t risk to forget at home. Whenever you need it just meter of the palm of your hand and dial in the correct Exposure Compensation calculated in step 3.

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This post was originaly written and published on adidap.com

[Wedding Artistry]

You're saying to meter your hand. That will be 2/3 of a stop difference. However depending on the light & you're still saying to meter your hand.

Confused...

[akhater]

You're saying to meter your hand. That will be 2/3 of a stop difference. However depending on the light & you're still saying to meter your hand.

Confused...

First you should calibrate your hand to know the difference in reading between the gray card and your hand, the 2/3 was just an example.

Then in every situation, you just meter for you hand and compensate according to the previous metering to get the exposure the gray card would have given you

I hope it helps

[Desmond]

That is a very handy trick to know...

I cheated and got a soft case which is known 18% grey to calibrate my camera with, so I get the subject to hold and calibrate to that, drop the case and start shooting!