I shot without my light meter - and survived! True Story!!

[Andrew Cotterill]

It's like the first time I rode my bicycle without stabilisers, kind of.

I shot a roll this afternoon on my Vito B using mostly f16 and occasionally f11 and no might meters. The shots mostly turned out ok, at least as well as if I'd used a meter.



It looks like they started in big capitals and realised they were going to run out of room.








I like that the headstone says 'Well' when they're obviously not.

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Brilliant!
I've just got 'light meter free' on my last roll fully manual, and surprised to see that the knowledge I've gained in my 'manual mode' has paid off and resulted in perfectly exposed shots! High five me..... And you of course! Get in!

 

[Rob MacKillop]

The quality of that first shot is really high - stunning. Well done.

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Isn't it just...

 

[Andrew Cotterill]

The quality of that first shot is really high - stunning. Well done.

Thank you Rob

 

[Andrew Cotterill]

Brilliant!
I've just got 'light meter free' on my last roll fully manual, and surprised to see that the knowledge I've gained in my 'manual mode' has paid off and resulted in perfectly exposed shots! High five me..... And you of course! Get in!

Well done! Did you find that it just required a leap at the end, as you knew how to do it but didn't trust yourself? Or is that just me?

I've got to learn to do this properly, as I'll mostly be shooting with fully manual cameras

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Well done! Did you find that it just required a leap at the end, as you knew how to do it but didn't trust yourself? Or is that just me?

No Andrew, it's not just you.... I was in that boat too. I totally understood the principal of it, but just seem to keep relying on a light meter with a manual camera for some reason.
My OM10 is semi Auto, I could go manual but haven't. Auto was like eating your Sunday roast with a knife and fork, easy, clean, and practically fed your needs with no hassle. Manual would be like using your hands like it's primitively 'meant' to be done, savagely satisfying, yet a bit unfamiliar and messy without practice.

 

[Andrew Cotterill]

Auto was like eating your Sunday roast with a knife and fork, easy, clean, and practically fed your needs with no hassle. Manual would be like using your hands like it's primitively 'meant' to be done, savagely satisfying, yet a bit unfamiliar and messy without practice.

That's IT! Or maybe like going to a fancy restaurant instead of growing all your own food (and eating it with your hands). Or something like that!

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Yeah, this could get messy!! Lol.
But I really know what you mean!
Suprisingly, it's easier to do than expected....

 

[Brian Moore]

Great set, Andrew. I like that first one especially! It's a very good shot.

I shoot "Sunny 16" quite regularly. Even if I have a camera on me that has a working meter, if it has a manual option I'll usually select the exposure for myself. I don't always get perfectly exposed pictures, but I'm happier shooting that way. I think I have learned to distrust the built-in meters.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Nice one Andrew! Glad to see you took the plunge... Easy isn't it ... Certainty nothing to worry about!
Good on you anyway, and some nice shots! What's the film? Must be fuji!

 

[Andrew Cotterill]

Nice one Andrew! Glad to see you took the plunge... Easy isn't it ... Certainty nothing to worry about!
Good on you anyway, and some nice shots! What's the film? Must be fuji!

Thanks Hamish for provoking me into taking the plunge!

The film is indeed Fuji - Superia 200. One day I will buy some 'expensive' film and see what I can do with it.

 

[Hamish Gill]

I just spent £35 on 5 rolls of film ... Madness really ...
Gonna buy Kodak gold next time I think.

 

[Pete Askew]

More than OK Andrew. Some super stuff there.

Just to make you feel better Hamish, the last company film bill was over £1K. Ex VAT!

 

[Hamish Gill]

"Company" film bill is it? ... Nice work

 

[Darren Bradley]

What's a light meter?

Seriously, though, do you normally use one? I haven't had one in ages... at least since high school (over 20 years ago). Certainly with digital, you don't need it. But even with film... back in the day, our photography professor used to make us read the light with our eyes and go on hunches. He was like a army drill instructor for that sort of thing.

 

[Andrew Cotterill]

What's a light meter?

Seriously, though, do you normally use one? I haven't had one in ages... at least since high school (over 20 years ago). Certainly with digital, you don't need it. But even with film... back in the day, our photography professor used to make us read the light with our eyes and go on hunches. He was like a army drill instructor for that sort of thing.

I have been using a meter (or a camera with built-in) but then I've only been shooting with film for 6 months. It just seemed really complicated, when of course it isn't. My meter is going in the back of the camera box and staying there.