Depends...
For bugs: Manual setting of the aperture and shutter, TTL flash (which is sort of it's own exposure mode.)
For closeups of flowers etc: Aperture priority as a starter. This is one area where digital makes a huge difference - I do a test shot, look at the histogram, and adjust. Back in film days I would spot meter off the main subject, make an adjustment depending on its tonal value, would also use a hand held incident meter, and _still_ sometimes bracket.
For Landscapes: Usually aperture priority. If it is a contrasty scene I spot meter off the lightest and darkest areas and count off the zones to put the shutter speed where I want it. With the 6x7 I use a handheld spot meter.
For birds - full manual. I use the "IF" button or green button a lot, which pretty much takes it to the program mode. I have the cameras programmed to change shutter only, leave AV as is. I use flash with birds and Pentax has no auto provision for slow shutter synch fill flash. The bodies assume that the flash is the main light source and stop down / speed up the shutter and blast out the flash. I like to expose for the ambient light and then just put fill flash (usually at -1 to -1.5 ev) on the bird to lighten the shadows, add a catchlight to the eye, and set the bird off from the background a bit.
For sports I use either shutter priority or program mode.
- MCC
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Mark Cassino Photography
Kalamazoo, MI
www.markcassino.com
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----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005 11:15 AM
Subject: Survey: How do you do exposure?
Okay, people like surveys and I've never done one.
At the recent John Shaw Photography weekend I went to I was surprised to
learn he now shoots all the time with aperture priority -- since he switched to
digital. He uses a histogram to double-check metering. Evidentially a lot of
pros shooting digital now shoot aperture priority.
This felt good to know since I have changed from doing manual exposure to Av
(or Tv) since I switched to digital. Some, of course, did Av or Tv before
switching, or have always done one or the other.
So here's the survey, and to make it more accurate, sorry, there has to be two questions. Actually, three, with one optional.
I know one answer surveys are best, but I think a lot of us would be
interested in the answers. No joking, snappy, answers, please. Serious survey. ;-)
1. How do you do exposure most of the time? Av or Tv or manual (doing it yourself)?
2. Do you shoot digital or film?
Optional --
3. If you shoot digital, have you changed how you do exposure since switching
from film?
