How to Meter a Photograph

Allversity Photography Course, Unit 1
Are your photos too light? Or too dark? Maybe you need a little lesson on how your camera reads light. Check out this lesson to learn more!
The playlist for this course is available at:
• Introduction to Photog...

[@troymclean9301]

I can't believe I'm finding these 10 years after their release. These are great videos! I learn more about F stops in this series compared to anything else I've found all across KZbin. To who ever is creating these, excellent illustrations...you're a great teacher!

[@robertobartosch9240]

Feel the same

[@nobodyknows5574]

It really is a shame these videos don't get more traffic. They're excellent at explaining what is actually happening.

[@RomboutVersluijs]

This a very well explanation about metering, thanks for the time taken to make!

[@m3mario]

When I look at this video, I realize how awesome modern smartphone cameras are. We are not at the beginning of computational photography as it’s often told. We have already come a long way from the beginning IMO.

[@saramain2209]

Thanks so much for taking it a step further than everyone else and explaining how to read the meter! My camera gives me the -___o___+ diagram and I wasn't sure if that was what I was supposed to be reading or if my camera was supposed to give me the best f stop and shutter speed! Big thank you!

[@smurrell89]

Another Killer Lesson, thanks Allversity! :D I've adjusted my settings on my camera and now i'm ready to shoot!

[@ShaneThomasMcMillan]

Glad we could help!

[@b.walker5955]

Thank you . Getting closer to getting a handle on the mystery of metering after watching your video.

[@tombackman1748]

GREAT TUTORIAL ON THIS SUBJECT. I USE IT FOR MY PHOTO CLASS. DON'T TAKE IT DOWN FROM YOUR SITE!

[@hurleygreen927]

GREAT INFO...THANKS!

[@Dana-iv8df]

you guys are amazing!! thank you!

[@gaurav28ch]

That center weighted snow shot looks way brighter than 18% gray, should be at least 50% gray. And the center weighted meter reading should automatically reflect that as being 2-3 stops above '0' mark.

[@rbgrafton9278]

Thank you! Very informative. One question..how do you find out the percentages of gray ?

[@JimmyZumba1]

Great job describing metering...

[@Pixie_Illusions]

Great video...learned so much

[@charlesmariadventures]

Great content explaining and I really enjoy the content of your channel 👏👍

[@Twobarpsi]

Excellent!!

[@majhoolmaroof2065]

You are amazing... THANK YOU!

[@aleks3954]

very good. thanks for the detailed explanation

[@omarfaruq9894]

I am happy to see the video cliff.

[@ShinyArjunSingh]

Nice one, Subscribed. Please keep'em comin...

[@ToXiCaLiEn204]

Nice explanation! I am still learning on how to properly use the spot metering, but i have noticed that it is not the best choice when recomposing. For example, i tried to meter on a spot, then recompose after focusing, and the image was completely underexposed. On my second attempt, i noticed that the shutter speed change even on the smallest movement (i was shooting on aperture priority), which leaded my previous shot to underexposure. Is it normal, or am I doing something wrong? Thank you.

[@19Photographer76]

Funny but my readings of the 18% gray are also 216-216-216 or D8D8D8

[@srirams6009]

hello sir I'm very confused about 18℅ gray... can u explain it plzz

[@b3t0nn88]

Why my screen is black and when i take a shot the picture is black? When i click the questionnaire button it message "exposure may not be metered correctly at current settings or under current conditions" in any mode. What can i do, can anyone help me please? Your help to me is very important? Thanks.

[@reniesboutique]

would this also be so for cinematic lighting??

[@GuitarSlinger2112]

How is a sidewalk 18 percent grey and then snow 7 percent? Snow is so much brighter than concrete that I would have assumed snow to be on the opposite end of the spectrum and would be 90-ish percent. I learned a lot but I don't understand how the grey values are interpreted. If it's snow = 7-ish and a sidwealk = 18-ish then what brightness equals 50 percent grey? 75 percent?

[@amaribrown3752]

The higher the percentage the darker, 100 percent gray would be pure black

[@kalsangtsering34]

what is called for multi zone in nikon ?

[@terenas1986]

I think you're getting the 18% gray concept wrong. When you explained the snow picture being 7% or 4% gray, I checked back at the beginning of the video, made a screenshot and checked the RGB values for your 18% gray. They turned out to be 216-216-216. Which is wrong. 18% stands for the light reflection capability of the surface that is "18% gray". The actual "colour" (or RGB code) for it is 127-127-127. That's what all gray-cards have too. It reflects 18% of the light. The snow is therefore probably around (very bright) 50-60% or maybe more. The 7-4% you're talking about should be around a very dark-grayish colour, like 40-40-40 or such. 18% gray is often referred to as "middle-gray" which is a much clearer name for it, 18%-gray is I think a fancy name that they just teach at photo-schools, but they neglect to explain why is it called that.

[@nathanbleau1106]

***** Okay, 18% gray reflects 18% of all light that hits it. 100% gray would reflect ALL light that hits it (making it white) and 0% gray wouldn't reflect ANY light that hit it (making it black.)

[@saddlebroncSilver]

***** 18% gray reflects18% of the light , what's means 18% of light reflect ??? so , 100%gray reflect all light and would be reflect the white also 0% black , so 50% gray would be reflects 50% of white and 50% of black !!! well , 18% of black plus 82% of white would be the gray color the camera sight or how much of black and white is in 18% gray ??? 36%gray would be a double light reflected ??? PS: I'm just doing a brainstorm about this issue .

[@nathanbleau1106]

Rodrigo Costa You have it pretty spot on. Without looking it up to be certain you 18% + 82% is close but I think to get an 18% gray you would want 18% white and 82% black. The way you have it would be an 82% gray.

[@saddlebroncSilver]

thanks for your advise , so I comment because I would like understand better about this issue , we have 3 basic solid color , white gray black , 50% of each BW would be gray , to be 18% gray ,I have to take 32% of white and add to 50% of black and would be 82% , this 82% would be 18% of gray . make sense or not ? at last however the camera setting , always the camera 'll be search the 18% of gray in the img view , that's right ??

[@billmerritt7199]

Great video. Thank you. Regarding the 18% gray - when photographing a bride and groom together, white dress, black tux. Which mode would you recommend and what where would you meter if other than Evaluative metering?

[@MoonshineTora]

ermahgerd. I understand, hopefully I can put it into practice.

[@saddlebroncSilver]

PS: for everyone who would like discuss about it !!! 8% gray reflects18% of the light , what's means 18% of light reflect ??? so , 100%gray reflect all light and would be reflect the white also 0% black , so 50% gray would be reflects 50% of white and 50% of black !!! well , 18% of black plus 82% of white would be the gray color the camera sight or how much of black and white is in 18% gray ??? 36%gray would be a double light reflected ??? PS: I'm just doing a brainstorm about this issue .

[@TRICK-OR-TREAT236]

Rodrigo Costa EXACTLY !

[@morningmadera]

Why do I hear all your videos only in my left side of the earphones?

[@highburian0]

Excellent and so very easy to understand but a bit basic.

[@JOHNDEEBANK]

Maher Parakh I'm glad it was basic, I am new to this and it was very informative for people like me. I'm happy that you have a better understanding than I do. Hurrah for photography. Enjoy.

[@amanteespejojr.227]

You sounded very much like a young Dick Cavett

[@Ritsjack]

Multai haha its multi

[@PremJay]

this from you!