[Leica] Meters & Misc.

[Mike Johnston <70007.3477@compuserve.com>]

Aw shucks, Bob Rose! (Now you'll tell me you meant some other "Mike." <s>)

To Dick Hemingway: a reddish overall cast is an indication of a common
problem...trouble is, I just can't remember what da heck it is. I suggest you
call a high-volume custom lab and ask the lab manager, or call Kodak at
1-800-242-2424. Sorry for my failing memory.

A comment: gotta go with Stephen Gandy on the issue of Christian Becker. Eric's
a big boy. He can take an honest comment. And to think, some people don't like
*my* photographs, either! <*SHUDDER*>

<g>

On the other hand, it's anyone's right to censure Christian for his comment,
too, if they wish. Free speech cuts both ways.

To Francesco: don't think just because I'm *describing* various ways of
metering that I necessarily *subscribe* to that method as the One Best
True-Believer Way. I'm probably different than some photographers in that way;
in my job I have to give equal time to lots of techniques that aren't
necessarily the way I personally do things, and I don't necessarily advocate my
own preferences in talking about technique (very few people would want to
practice photography exactly as I do). As a matter of fact, personally
speaking, where metering is concerned I'm certain I'm _much_ more
seat-of-the-pants and intuitive than most photographers.

Frankly, the M6 meter is a really good little meter, and I would highly suggest
using it the way it is intended to be used--as a guide to set the camera
manually. All it is is a good handheld meter you can't forget and leave behind
in the trunk of the car <g>. It is a narrow-angle averaging meter that covers a
distinct circle that is about 2/3rds the height of the framelines in use.
Simply learn to find an "average" area of the scene, or for the light you're
photographing in, meter it, and set the camera. Is this perfectly accurate?
No--but so what? As I said in my longer post, it's a perfectly serviceable
method that works most of the time. You get a good feel for it in no time.

In fact, I'd even advocate more radically simplified metering. If you check out
an article in the English _Darkroom User_ magazine a couple of issues ago
called "Train Your Brain (To Guess Exposures)," written by a fellow named L. T.
Gray (who I happen to know quite well...grrrowl!), you'll find a tidy
explanation of how to understand _light_ better (as opposed to light _meters_).


When I'm using an M6, I'll generally take a few meter readings at leisure, note
the settings, then set the camera without referencing the meter as I shoot. For
instance, I spent the weekend at a friend's lakeside cabin last Fall. I took a
few readings and decided what I wanted my exposure to be for the bright scenes
by the water; for the sun-and-shade conditions in the trees; and for the darker
porch area. Then, as I shot, I simply opened up and closed down depending on
where I pointed the camera. Much faster than "reading" every single shot. And
it has the additional advantage that, because it was _conscious_, I still
remember to this day what exposure settings I was using.

As for John Shaw's recommendation, I agree, except I'd go just a little
further: the best exposure is not the one that yields the result you "wanted"
(do you really always know _beforehand_ exactly what you want? I don't), but
simply the one that ends up looking best. In the aforementioned L.T. Gray
article, one of the recommendations is simply to try things consciously and
study the results. Not all the time, but once in a while, to learn from. Your
brain is remarkably good at picking up visual subtleties if you give it a
chance; by paying attention to what you do and then studying the results,
you'll quickly learn what tends to yield the results you prefer. I'm a big fan
of ring-arounds as a teaching tool, for instance.

But in any case, use the M6 meter as it was intended. It's a great meter; one
of my favorites, actually.

And finally: does anyone have a nice 50mm Summicron-M they might want to sell?
I'm looking for a black one, in the latest barrel style. If anyone knows of a
good deal I'd appreciate the tip. Thanks in advance!

- --Mike