How I Meter for Film Photography

[@WillemVerb]

If you didn't overexpose you're Portra by 32 stops is it even worth developing??

[@grainydaysss]

No, fortune favors the bold. 32 stops or nothing

[@anotherlife3579]

@@grainydaysss COLABBBBSSSS!!!!!!!

[@Being_Joe]

Only if you plan on pushing by 10 stops.

[@shotwithchris4357]

Podcast episode with grainydays

[@chrisperceval193]

@@grainydaysss Guess you could use it a blackout material... after all every darkroom has the odd light leak!

[@thedondeluxe6941]

It's not underexposed, it's "metered for the highlights".

[@pierrezapata90]

The same thing friends say to me when they don't want to pay me for their portraits.

[@ikaros4203]

BRO, if you don't UNDERSTAND bracketing then just SAY THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@mattdayphoto]

Baxter is a true legend.

[@grainydaysss]

Yea the legend of the chupacabra

[@IainHC1]

I think he loves you too Matt!! :-D

[@durbanpoison031]

I know it and you know it

[@andrewayres9048]

If I had a dollar for every time I watched you climb that fence to take a photo of the pool...

[@-grey]

This is high quality teaching right here. I learned more about metering in the last 11 minutes than in 10 years of shooting digital.

[@theundefinedphotographer]

The content is strong in this one

[@Rob-lz5iz]

Is it cold in your house?

[@griffin.greene]

Literally today, I was trying to make sense of light metering (and how to apply it, and what the results look like) and I COULD NOT find an article or video that explained it in a way I could understand. And I thought to myself... I really wish Jason would make a video explaining light metering... and then suddenly, a notification appears, as if the film gods heard my prayers... Awesome video, thank you so much. You have no idea how much this helped me.

[@merryharry6487]

wish for superia to come back please

[@mp3remix171]

Willem is down to collab, would be fun to see you interview him in a true grainydays-fasion!

[@grainydaysss]

We will make it happen one day!

[@mastaw]

@@grainydaysss one day is how my mom says never

[@Walaby50]

@@grainydaysss One day is what I keep telling myself everytime i get beaten up by my highschool bully, now that I'm 26.

[@davidintokyo]

Use the friggin' zone system if you've got a spot meter. It's easy. Measure the part of the subject you are most interested in. Decide how many zones away from mid-gray you want to place that part of the subject. Adust exposure by that many stops.

[@VirtualS0lution]

He called us gang 🥺❤️

[@jelkafabianova2801]

i have been trying to understand this for hours, and you simply explained it in 10 mins, thank you

[@il32tu22]

nobody has explained this better than you... and i've been watching youtube videos on this trying to learn. if you could possibly do more examples the way you explained with the aperture and shutter speed explanations/ comparisons, that would be AMAZING. But for now, this has been the best! Thanks a million

[@matsukotokainn]

I thought Matt Day was cool, too. UNTIL just now I found you "emo depressed ryan gosling" lol

[@kamalufung07]

Wow, this is the best explanation of Reciprocity Failure ive ever heard or seen. Idk if it just me but i feel like i could never find a good explanation on how it works. Super helpful

[@nelsonclub7722]

Reciprocity is the interchange of shutter speed and aperture. ... Reciprocity failure happens when this relationship breaks down. This commonly occurs with long exposures color films suffer from reciprocity failure when exposed for longer than a few seconds

[@jas_bataille]

@@nelsonclub7722 Yeah we were saying that we finally got it cause of this video thanks tho

[@silbay]

@@nelsonclub7722 which we used to use to our advantage to shoot daylight film under fluorescent light. A long exposure caused Ektachrome to shit toward magenta cancelling out the green that is in fluorescent light bulbs, yes people they are green not white

[@normansteinmetz643]

People putting the thumb down have no sense of humor or feel missed a lot of information. Awesome video, I like your style of presentation! (Follower +1)

[@SamSilk]

Reciprocity curves for any given can be found in their respective film datasheets. It will spare you headaches.

[@icefox9875]

ik you probably won’t see this but thank you for these videos. they have so much value and there are so manny videos you make which help me and hundreds of thousands of people like me learn about photography in such unique ways. it is impossible to find this kind of information constructed in such a fun artistic and funny way for people to learn. thanks

[@alexandermeisel4585]

Clip of you standing outside: shirt or hoodie is warm enough clip of you standing inside spittin facts about light: 10 layers of clothing and a hat seriously, is it really that cold in your appartement?😂

[@greglamotte9407]

That's LA for you lmao

[@alexandermeisel4585]

Greg LaMotte oh boi let me tell you about weather in austria

[@freddieforshaw-ellis8509]

@@alexandermeisel4585 when

[@lucaschwitalla]

That way he doesn't need to store his color film in the fridge haha

[@alexandermeisel4585]

Luca Schwitalla hahah true

[@cknoway]

This is the best well rounded video on metering so far, thank youuu

[@juliascamp2175]

My brain doesn’t think in histograms so that was an interesting depiction to see. Thank you for making reciprocity failure easy to understand.

[@spagettysnaps]

Loved how you let it all hang out on the explanation of your how you go about shooting film. Wish to see more examples. Don't worry we will never be as good. Keep it up. Thanks

[@TheOnlyPrashant]

"Fuck digital camera" (Records with a digital camera)

[@tom_sha]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@samfrench1584]

Literally so happy you explained stops

[@AndrewLowphoto]

I just bought my first medium format mamiya 645 and wondered this, perfect timing man!! huge fan

[@JustStayPositive27]

same boat here bro, have run 5 rolls through it so far and only now just starting to get the hang of it

[@pilsplease7561]

Watch out you need to check the shutter and check the foam you might get bad light leaks and the shutters are starting to fall apart now and chances are your camera wont work right. My mamiya just went bunk.

[@pilsplease7561]

@@JustStayPositive27 I ran 10 rolls through mine and it worked fine now all the rolls come out blank because the shutter broke.

[@RoryGamble]

@grainydays For the part where you discuss sunsets, you switch from adding your exposure compensation by adjusting the meter iso (overexpose by 1.5 stops, set iso 400 ->160 etc) to saying the number of stops to overexpose by in addition to setting your meter to half a stop brighter. Any reason to mix the two approaches?

[@MJA012-]

Humour, design, education. You got all these covered in your videos. I applaude, don't stop, ly, bye

[@SergejKarssen]

Trying to learn something here. Keep having to rewind because of funny. Worth it.

[@simonlynchsae]

Glad to see others are using that app! I usually take a reading in the highlights, in the shadows, and select the exposure in the middle. So far so good, although I feel like you'll be judging me for it.... ;)

[@jordanhayes7348]

App name please?

[@colmorley]

@@jordanhayes7348 play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.willblaschko.android.lightmeterv2.free&hl=en_GB

[@andystrong9564]

Love that swimming pool shot. This was a big help, thank you.

[@tombrooks5933]

pulled out my nikon FA that i used in the 80s because of you. fortunately it was like riding a bike after 30 years of inactivity although a few knee scrapes here and there. fun times.

[@Cookerab]

I was shooting Mamiya 6X7 in the late 90s. Old school meter. Phones are amazing.

[@maxcalifornia94]

This video is badass dude. I know it’s an older video but I just found it today. Thanks. I love film.

[@sednoid]

very good info but no sample shots with the shrek barbie, 2/10

[@nickharp7726]

What's the light meter app by chance, the one I use right now is rather rudimentary.

[@Jorge-125]

Did you ever find out what light meter app he's using?

[@Unsanctioned_wa]

@@Jorge-125 looking for my self right now can’t seam to find it though :/

[@aadityasharma206]

Its light meter free by wbphoto only for android though

[@tauriscruggs2085]

I thought you were a sort of pretentious KZbin film photo guy but the more I watched you the more I liked you haha. I really laughed out loud several times you’re pretty entertaining. I’m having issues with my light meter that I’ve been using for 5+ years not changing the iso all of a sudden and I’ve been looking for someone who can help me figure out why. You didn’t answer any of my questions but i enjoyed this video and am going to subscribe.

[@kevincalletor]

Been reading about metering at night these past few days and this definitely was the nail in the coffin!

[@paulinamolinari4099]

That metering for the sunset shot ufffff

[@Yannick_84]

so cool, this zeppelin started from a small sportsairport near our home when i was a child!

[@christiankollo]

the funniest creator i ever seen!

[@elizastephens]

clearest and simplest explanation of the zone system and reciprocity..you made it seem so simple and logical. best metering video , thanks a lot

[@dfphotovideo]

One of the best useful videos that I watched from beginning till the end. Thank you for this it helps a lot 😊

[@buttonspam]

This video is amazing for understanding metering. I’m going to try my best to share this info(and video) w all my photo friends

[@talkmeoutofit1]

A very clear and informative demonstration, one of the best explanations I have come across.

[@ChaChaDiaries]

if this video reaches 15k views by next, half of it might be me watching. i’ve been looking for a video like this since i started film last year and this one is by far my favorite and find very helpful.

[@ChaChaDiaries]

i take that back. by tomorrow not next week. lol

[@eyesonly4451]

Great video and 100% correct advice! Grainydays is one of my favorite channels. But, I'd add two things here: (1) When shooting chromes (i.e. slide film like Provia, E100, etc.) remember to straight up lie to your meter in the other direction. Better to nail exposure on chromes, or maybe cheat 1/3 stop *_under_* exposed when in doubt. You can set your compensation dial to -1/3 for this. If there's significant bright sky, white caps/sand, etc. in your scene, an alternate technique is to meter that area with +2 on the compensation dial. Doing so will print that area 2 stops above midtone--the upper limit for chromes. I usually keep my Mamiya 7's shutter dial on AEL, adjusting only the compensation dial for what area I'm metering. When shooting chromes, avoid metering areas that might be on the dark-ish side of midtone. (2) Finally, there is a little known factoid for chrome shooters using the Mamiya 7/7II. When set to A/AEL mode, the internal meter will fire the shutter in 1/6 stop increments rather than only the full stop increments allowed by the dial.

[@bhmcgeehan]

when shooting chrome wouldnt i want to meter the sky underexposed vs the meter? in order to get more of an average for the scene exposure setting. having trouble understanding why i would want to do 2 stops addl. on the compensation

[@eyesonly4451]

@@bhmcgeehan (1) If the sky is significant in your scene, you must be sure to NOT over expose it. With chromes, over exposure is bad just like under exposure is bad for negatives. Both over exposure in chromes and under exposure in negs will result in thin (i.e. low density, near transparent) areas on the film. It's almost impossible for your scanner to recover any detail in these thin areas. (2) Think about what your in-camera meter is telling your camera to do. It's telling your camera to expose the metered area as "mid-tone". Period. That's it. Period. But we don't want our sky at mid-tone. We want our sky to be some amount of stops ABOVE mid-tone. So set your comp dial to +2 (or 1.8, 2.1, or whatever you wish) when exposing bright sky or beach sand with chromes. If my choice of chrome film has 5-stops of range, and the sky is now at +2, then you've got all 5 stops below the sky for before the deepest shadows go fully black. On the other extreme, if there are deep shadows that make up your scene, then meter a dark shadow, but now compensate it -2 stops, then you've got all 5 stops above that shadow before the highlights go totally white. It's all about using the comp dial to shift the 5-stops of your film's limited range either up or down within the larger strop range of the scene. However, if the scene is within the stop range of the film, then just just average meter with 0 on the comp dial and you're good. NOTE: You can test this out with a digital camera that can do spot metering and aperture priority mode. Just set it to aperture priority, spot meter, and set the comp dial to 0. Now aim at the sky, hold exposure recompose and take a shot. It will be too dark. Now do the same, but with +2 (or thereabouts) on the comp dial. Expose, recompose, shoot. It will be almost perfect. Shooting chromes is virtually the same as shooting digital, but with less dynamic range and no chimping. (3) With negatives, you can generally just average meter the scene with 0 comp and you're good. This is why center-weighted metering in most cameras works well with negatives. This can be done because neg film has much greater dynamic range than does chrome film. But the price paid for all that dynamic range is a lower contrast, less punchy image--no free lunch. (4) Also be aware that film doesn't have a linear response like a digital sensor does. Film approaches either end of the density scale in an asymptotic, s-curve fashion, and never gets fully there in either direction. So a given film's dynamic range limits are somewhat subjective as to where in the s-curve one considers the limit to be. You may be good with using 6-stops of range for the same film that someone else would say is only 5 stops. Hope this helps.

[@DavidGarcia-sb9kc]

bro, this the best metering video

[@ViktorVaughan]

That Mamiya 7 is a beauty!

[@xMadelaineS]

Thank you! This has helped me understand metering so much better. I have many missed images and I've always wondered what I should do in order to get a better result. I'll give all of these tips a try.

[@themightychippy3756]

I didn't know how much I needed this😂 Although probably not early in the morning, I might have to rewatch a few times to digest. Reciprocity failure just messes me up.

[@edmundology6304]

I was searching for this the other day. You and Willem needed a video on this

[@TheMoscowPanda]

hey! what FONTs do u use for "1 STOP" description peace?

[@grainydaysss]

Wingdings

[@TheMoscowPanda]

grainydays 🔥🔥🔥

[@lunakaster615]

grainydays ABAHAHA

[@jongreene4309]

@grainydays What about using your meter, shaking your head (knowing full well you are a smarter because you have thumbs), picking differently(correctly), then 4 weeks later looking at your magnificent photos(they're all blown), and reflecting on how much smarter you are than the meter (silly meter).

[@davidbanwell7728]

Very informative and humorous references I learn something thank you. For sharing this information.

[@victorchico7768]

This is how I shoot (portra 400) Sunny - f16 Sunny but in the woods - f11 Inside w/ lights - f4 Dark - either don’t shoot or with flash

[@claudiaypaz]

you are very funny; great timing, and your self-deprecating is a great contrast to how much you actually know.

[@rhyswebster]

Ive watched 1 minute of you and I already love your dry humour, subbed lmao

[@btrdangerdan2010]

I’m surprised the legends Willem and Matt haven’t commented on your video yet!

[@eekostar]

ive been waiting for a video FOR SO LONG

[@StephenMilner]

Hi, what a wonderful video. Keep up the amazing work! I look forward to your next video.

[@piketubeman]

Excellent video discount Ryan Gosling. You're super chill and dryer than cider.

[@markgoostree6334]

I have had a Konica autoreflex T since 1971. Batteries changed to very slightly more voltage... and I never realized it. That degraded the electronics in the meter. I took it to my camera guy. Yep, the replacement parts were nowhere to be had. He reset what he could, the voltage is OK now, the meter sort of works... if I load 400 speed and tell the camera it has 200 speed. I just use the camera outside almost all the time now.

[@elk7809]

Hi! What App do you use/ recommend for metering?

[@ariyakaratas5773]

While many try to be fun and it just doesn't work,you my man got my attention immediately with those dark jokes ! :D worth the subscribe!

[@aniKoboi]

I love you and your videos man, super informative and easy to understand. BIG FAN!

[@rileyobrien3455]

You may be able to claim that you're not a professional photographer. But there's no way you're not at least on track to be a professional KZbinr. Awesome heckin video my dude. Excuse my language

[@carlysic3]

Might be a dumb question but what scanner do you use with Negative Lab pro? Can I use a Plustek 8200i ? Thank you!

[@7head7metal7]

Watched for the information, subbed for the deadpan humor. One question: I read that Kodak Portra tends to go a bit orange when overexposed. Do you compensate for that with filters, in post or is it not something you observe in your pictures?

[@Mav540i]

Love the comedy and the content...great work.👏🗣

[@IlBella_]

Gold of the week,holy Sheep .Thanks i learned a lot! Hope to see a video with Willieam

[@durango-CODEBUILDER]

Dude you should check out the dx1000. A small plastic point and shoot novelty camera, 4 settings and fixed 50mm. No batteries needed. And colourful.

[@travelphotofilm]

How many pictures have you taken of that pool while standing up at that fence? Is that your next book project?

[@chrisstaniforth5629]

Enjoyed this pal, cheers

[@superyuyo4060]

I just got a M7II with a dead cable release input. Hopefully will be able to take a few night shots not so blurry.

[@danarapagna4392]

Fantastic video, thanks for sharing.

[@FabrizioZago]

Enjoyable video, informative and clear.

[@BlackOrdinance]

Brilliant video. Question: When I watch Willem shoot, he uses incident metering (even when he's not in range) for his subject/area that he is shooting. He'll just hold the meter facing upwards and get a reading, then shoot. I know how to use a meter, but get thrown off how he uses it, and some others...whats your take on using general incident readings while taking a stroll down the street?

[@BlackOrdinance]

@Miguel Isidro Not sure of the model; I would have to look back it his videos. But yes, you are right about his metering style!

[@KennethHOlsen]

Clearly, I should have watched this video first before any others. I have wondered how it was possible to beat the contrast flat and wash the colors out of all the films you review and the majority of the shots you take. Maybe this 70's faded slide look is a thing but IMHO it's harder to put contrast and natural color back into a photograph than wash it out in post in photoshop for display. You can't put detail back into washed out highlights on film because the silver/data just isn't there to enhance.

[@dustyunderscore6085]

Hahaha. “Ba-ha blasting out.” Niiice!

[@chir0pter]

What lens and settings did you use for 5:22? Pretty cool pic

[@NoosaHeads]

I've been taking fun for a very, very long time. (I'm pretty old) and I world love to join you in saying "**** digital. I have a Western Euromaster, a Pentax 5 hand held spot exposure meter and a Gossen Lunasix/F.

[@brunoeiler8192]

Brother .... Your depressive jokes are awesome .... Love them .....where the dog has more character than the host .... :-) ) )

[@jankubat2694]

Oh well, lemme use my "just shoot it and hope it works" technique for a little longer. Sometimes, it works (usually when I accidentaly do the opposite of what I wanted to do).

[@irynastasiuk9184]

Super useful. How about "an overly technical" films comparison / scanning process video?

[@tobiasx8312]

Wow thank you so much. Perfect Video for a beginner.

[@Oxydus1]

Agreed, the dog has Charisma!

[@wahyuprasojo5148]

you lighten my day

[@Paramocinema]

I enjoy your videos and specially your photography.

[@MaliciousLobster]

Does changing the ISO setting on my camera actually affect how much light it lets in or does it merely just affect how the camera meters? Say for example I'm shooting on 400ISO but I've set the camera to 800, will the camera now let in less light despite being at the same shutter speed/aperture?

[@BNJMN-1]

Nate Munsell iso is light sensitivity of the film or in your case the sensor of the camera so yes it does affect how much light is on your photo. iso must be the same as what you’re metering for.

[@MaliciousLobster]

@@SubwayDynamite Thanks, that's what I was asking. Essentially nothing mechanically is happening in the camera (if im not changing the ISO of the film, my shutter speed, or aperture) if i change the ISO setting on my camera. It's merely just saying "if you had this ISO, you'd be over/under exposed"

[@insurrectus]

glad this video was on my recommended list

[@SamSilk]

Thanks for this video by the way. Very instructive.

[@theharveydean]

I subbed back when you had less than 200 for the Shrek content. Still haven’t failed to disappoint 😂

[@MrLolotrololo]

I think i like the most metering for shadows, its in betwen and for me looks best.

[@AMTunLimited]

Pedantic math note: 150 is not a half stop between 100 and 200, that would be 140 (actually 141.blah but you get the idea) 125 and 160 are one third and two thirds of a stop above 100 respectively. I'd be happy to explain the math if anyone actually cares In reality it doesn't matter too much given how wishy washy film exposure and reality are, but math is what it is.

[@aristoioannidis7490]

Top of the class.

[@THEEkidskid]

This DUDDDEEE is the perfect balance of personality and information. Thank you for not just spewing info at the camera. Subscriber earned.

[@timcornish7682]

There’s a great app for reciprocity failure called reciprocity timer FYI

[@greg.marchand]

yo jeeves is free.

[@kathrynwhitehead9503]

"Seems brighter because I'm hungover" hahah

[@alexandermeisel4585]

a new video? finally some good news

[@lostinspacestudio]

witty and informative. where did you get your SHrek barbie doll?