How to Use an Incident Light Meter

When lighting a scene for a film or a photograph, there is no one and only correct exposure. There are infinite ways to create an image that is appealing and interesting. The exposure of an object on film is related to the amount of light falling on the object, or incident light. Incident light can be measured with a light meter.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A light meter

1. Hold the meter in the position of the subject (or in the same light) and point it at the camera. The light meter has a translucent plastic hemisphere which simulates the light-gathering ability of a typical three-dimensional object. This is the part to point at the camera or hold in the light.

2. Hold the button on the side of the light meter down for several seconds while pointing it at the light.

3. Look at the reading on the meter. The light meter should give you a reading in f-stop measurement. This will tell you at what f-stop your camera should be set. Some light meters will also display the amount of light falling on the subject in foot candles.

Tips & Warnings

• Many people use their hand to shield the back light off the reading and may also separately read the key, fill, side lights and back lights.
• Most incident light meters also have a flat disk as well as the hemispherical collector. Some people prefer this flat disk for measuring individual lights. To access the flat disk simply unscrew the hemispherical collector and screw the flat disk on to the meter in the same spot.
• An incident light meter will not be influenced by the background. For example, when filming outdoors in the shade, an over-bright background may ruin the shot. In cases such as this, one might adjust the reading by a half to three-quarters of a stop to allow for an over-bright or over-dark background.