Metering Black Horse and Snow

[bayhli]

I want to take some pictures of a friends all-black horse which will involve varying degrees of a white snow background. I have visions of a blown-out background or a horse that is a black blob or a nice shade of grey!

I've read up again on metering but still uncertain where to start with metering. The horse will be moving so I can't see shooting in manual mode.

I do plan to try matrix metering with AV-mode and hope the black and white will average out. But since I want the horse to be properly exposed would standard practice be to spot meter the horse?

Geez I hate metering.... what advice would you offer in this situation?

Thanks.

[Whiplash-GT]

i always try to spot meter the subject...and shoot RAW so you can adjust exposure etc if need be

does the 30D bracket?
if so an option would be to shoot the metered shot plus one up and one down
also, being new to PSE, does it allow a max setting of the highs? i know PS does
you can always set it to 245 and it should pull down all of your highs so they're not so blown-out
(that's why i like Nikon's capture NX a lot..it allows so many RAW changes)

hope this helps :)

[bayhli]

Thanks Whiplash,

The 30D does indeed bracket, good idea that I didn't consider.

I'm not sure what you are referring to with regard to PS, which I do have but have not used as yet. I use Lightroom with RAW and it does have a highlite recovery to bring back detail which may be the type of thing you are referring to?

Apparently the horse is quite playful and his antics are what I'll be trying to capture. I'm thinking it could be fast moving and planned on using continuous shooting. It'll probably take some experimentation and experiencing just how active he is before I'll know exactly what I'm looking at. Would be nice to have a starting point though.

Shutter speed will be interesting as well...

[ljameso1]

I'd try metering in manual on the snow and setting the exposure at +1 1/2-+2, maybe even +2 1/2 since the horse more important than the snow. These settings will always get snow white. Once you learn that metering with snow is really easy. You do have to use manual so that the exposure doesn't change due to the meter picking up something else. If you decide to meter on the black horse go -1/2 to -2/3. Again stick with manual.

[bayhli]

Thanks Linda, I'm good with snow since we have so darn much of it - it's the addition of the black horse that is scrambling any understanding I have. The camera will want to underexpose the snow and overexpose the horse.... now why can't it be the zebra from "Understanding Exposure". :)

I just have a block when it comes to metering - I'm unable to think it through for the different scenarios even though I understand what I read.

I'll take you advice and try it all out - it just might be the experience that helps me get past this. :rolleyes:

[Not4wood]

bayhli,

Have you thought about using the built in Flash in its modeling mode?

Using this as a slight fill, will lighten up all the details and then you wont see a black blob.

If you have an external Flash I normally prefer to use this instead of the onboard built in flash. This way I can control the power from the Flash separately without changing my exposure. I will tone done the external and if it needs just a drop less I will just move the aperture one half stop.

[RobertSchuldenfrei]

Hi Bayhli,

One $10.00 trick that has helped me is an old fashioned selenium light meter. I have a Sekonic meter that must be 40 years old. I picked it up at a photo store's "junk" table. Since selenium generates its own power there is no battery to wear out or worse leak. I originally bought this meter to use with my old Nikon F when the Photonic T meter gave up the ghost and could no longer be rebuilt. But, I have found that it is perfect for measuring light when I have my DSLR camera on a tripod or I don't want to keep poking the lens around. You hold the meter quite close to the subject, like the horse, and do the averaging "by hand."

I understand that this is crude 20th century technology, but it works for me. Besides, the price is right! The suggestions of bracketing is right on. In the same vein, take lots of pictures and take careful notes. You will find some are better than others. If you can take the shot in a different setting, you might be more pleased than up against white snow. How about a clump of trees at the edge of the snow field? With a shallow depth of field, it might make a terrific image.

Just my two cents (or $10.00 and 2¢),

Bob

[TonyW]

Might want to take a read of this thread.

http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32086&page=8

In that case I found centre-weighted metering off the blue sky worked best (assuming you have a blue sky!). Might want to practice taking something dark standing in the snow and see what works best. But at least shooting RAW will give you a bit of extra leeway. Black things in the snow are a real challenge - especially moving things!

Tony

[ljameso1]

Bayhli, Consider this an opportunity to get more comfortable with manual metering. The meter is only going to be right when pointed at a midtone. Getting to know how much lighter or darker than mid-tone whatever you are metering off is really helped me with exposures.

[bayhli]

Black things in the snow are a real challenge - especially moving things!

Thanks for adding that Tony, it honestly makes me feel better about asking. I must have learned something if I knew it was going to be challenging.

Great idea to try it all out with any old thing that's black beforehand. That way I don't have to feel like an idiot in front of someone, while I'm experimenting.

Linda, it's good to know what helped you. I've come to the same conclusion, that I will use this opportunity to the fullest. It's supposed to warm up here on the weekend so there's nothing stopping me from spending all the time I need to until I get it!

I have an external flash and a light meter that I also picked up at some penny shop (needs a battery which I'll get) - may as well try it all.

Thanks again everyone - I'll post some results in a few days.

[lexcell]

Personally, I don't care for bracketing, especially of a moving subject. Invariably the best pose is the wrong exposure. If the subject will be in the same light for most of the shoot, you can meter off the snow and open up 1- 1/2 stops then double check your histogram to make sure you have detail on the horse.
The horse is the most important part of the exposure so make sure the histogram does not bunch up against the left side. If it does, open up the exposure a little bit more.
Once you have the exposure dialed in you can concentrate on shooting and composition, etc. If the light changes you will have to make some adjustments.

[bayhli]

Thanks for confirming how to meter this Laurie. I didn't think bracketing would work in this instance as the horse will be constantly moving.

Unfortunately the temps dropped here again but I'm hoping I can finally try this out next week. Will hopefully have something decent to post...