Protecting the highlights with spot metering

Excalibor · 08-17-2018, 07:08 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by photoptimist

The technique of spot-metering the brightest part of the scene and boosting exposure a couple of stops is an ETTR method because it ensures that the brightest part of the scene is as far to the right as it can go without saturation and loss of detail.
(snip)
.

Ah! I understand now. I have nade some tests just now, with a heavy cast sky... Spot metering to the brightest clouds (almost blindingly bright) and then +3.0 EV made a perfect exposition, from left to right, no blown up whites.

This works because the white espot becomes a 18% gray, so I have to add exposition so whites appear whites again. It's like when shooting on snow in matrix mode, but ensuring you have the right measure of the brightest zones so they are correctly exposed (or slightly underexposed, which is recoverable).

Really cool. I'll practice with this! Thanks!

stevebrot · 08-17-2018, 10:24 AM

Originally posted by Excalibor

This works because the white espot becomes a 18% gray, so I have to add exposition so whites appear whites again. It's like when shooting on snow in matrix mode, but ensuring you have the right measure of the brightest zones so they are correctly exposed (or slightly underexposed, which is recoverable).

Woo! Hoo! That is the way it works! Welcome to the spot meter club.

Steve

Excalibor · 08-17-2018, 02:24 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Woo! Hoo! That is the way it works! Welcome to the spot meter club.

Steve

Cool, thanks for your help!

Cheers!

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08-17-2018, 07:08 AM - 1 Like	#31
Excalibor Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 353 Original Poster	Originally posted by photoptimist The technique of spot-metering the brightest part of the scene and boosting exposure a couple of stops is an ETTR method because it ensures that the brightest part of the scene is as far to the right as it can go without saturation and loss of detail. (snip) . Ah! I understand now. I have nade some tests just now, with a heavy cast sky... Spot metering to the brightest clouds (almost blindingly bright) and then +3.0 EV made a perfect exposition, from left to right, no blown up whites. This works because the white espot becomes a 18% gray, so I have to add exposition so whites appear whites again. It's like when shooting on snow in matrix mode, but ensuring you have the right measure of the brightest zones so they are correctly exposed (or slightly underexposed, which is recoverable). Really cool. I'll practice with this! Thanks!

08-17-2018, 10:24 AM	#32
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Excalibor This works because the white espot becomes a 18% gray, so I have to add exposition so whites appear whites again. It's like when shooting on snow in matrix mode, but ensuring you have the right measure of the brightest zones so they are correctly exposed (or slightly underexposed, which is recoverable). Woo! Hoo! That is the way it works! Welcome to the spot meter club. Steve

08-17-2018, 02:24 PM	#33
Excalibor Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 353 Original Poster	Originally posted by stevebrot Woo! Hoo! That is the way it works! Welcome to the spot meter club. Steve Cool, thanks for your help! Cheers!