tering the light values of the 

scene are compared to a 

built in database of images 

with similar light values and 

the exposure se ngs are 

op mized. 

None of these methods are 

foolproof or perfect. They do 

get you closer to the results 

you want without a lot of 

experimen ng and post pro-

duc on edi ng.  

Modern digital cameras 

whether point and shoot or 

DSLR have an exposure me-

ter built in. They work very 

efficiently compared to the 

separate hand held meters 

we used to carry. The read-

ings are taken right at the 

surface where the image is 

captured. In just about every 

digital camera you have the 

op on of selec ng from sev-

eral modes of meter opera-

on. The most common 

modes are these. 

Spot Metering 

This reads the light value in a 

small spot typically in the 

center of the screen. If you 

were taking a Low Key image 

and place this spot on the 

illuminated por on of the 

subject, you will get the cor-

rect balance for Low Key.  

Some cameras offer the op-

on of moving the “Spot” 

through the viewfinder area. 

Center Weighed 

Assuming the subject occu-

pies the center por on of 

the frame and it is surround-

ed by some very dark areas 

or very light areas, this is the 

mode to use. The emphasis 

of the exposure is placed on 

the subject.  

Full Frame or Matrix 

Metering 

When the subject occupies 

the full frame as in land-

scape photography and 

many travel picture taking 

situa ons, averaging all the 

areas of the scene is your 

best op on. In Matrix Me-

The Theme — Metering Modes Make Magic Moments

 

Metering Pa ern in Your  

Viewfinder

Special points of inter-est: THE MARCH THEME

PAGE 1

HISTOGRAMS

PAGE 2

THE THEME PROGRESSION

PAGE 3

HISTOGRAMS 2

LOOK IN THE MANUAL 2

THE FIELD TRIP 3

THEME PROGRESSION 3

WORDS FROM THE MAS-TERS

3

JOIN OUR CLUB 4

Inside this issue:

Volume 1, - Issue 3

Collage March 1, 2012

O T O W S H U T T E R B U G S P H O T O G R A P H Y C L U B N E W S L E T T E R

Just about every digital camera will display a histo-gram of each image you take. The histogram shows where the brightness levels are in the image. If the brightness levels are concen-trated at the low end of the dynamic range of the meter-ing, the image is a Low Key image. If the brightness levels are concentrated at the high end of the dynamic range of the metering, the image is a high key image. If the bright-ness levels are distributed throughout the dynamic range, it is neither High or Low Key.

Here is what to look for in the histogram. If the peaks are off to the left and seem cut off, the image is most likely underexposed. Even Low Key pictures can be underex-posed. If the distribution is more spread out along the dynamic range and the peaks are not jammed against the sides either left or right, the picture is more than likely exposed correctly. If the peaks are up against the right side and look cut off with very little showing on the left, the image is more than likely overexposed. A good high key picture will have some detail in the center of the histogram and even a shadow or two showing on the left.

takes made in exposure set-tings but the work involved is time consuming and some-times tedious. It is always best to start with a picture that has been exposed cor-rectly and keep the editing to a minimum.

Sometimes the terms used in the manuals will be different than those mentioned here.

Don’t be ashamed or embar-rassed to use your Owner’s manual to find out how to make these settings for me-tering or to display a histo-gram. These tools are provid-ed by the camera manufac-turer to help you take better pictures. The editing software available these days can help correct some of the mis-

Metering mode may be called Photometry. Although Auto camera settings can result in good pictures most of the time. Don’t depend solely on them. They are no replacement for human judg-ment and experience. Once you make these adjustments and see the results, you will use them as a regular part of your workflow.

Histograms are charts showing what was captured.

Look in the manual

Page 2

Collage

“IF THE

BRIGHTNESS

LEVELS ARE

DISTRIBUTED

THROUGHOUT

THE DYNAMIC

RANGE, IT IS

NEITHER HIGH OR

LOW KEY. ”

 

“THE HISTOGRAM

SHOWS WHERE

THE BRIGHTNESS

LEVELS ARE IN

THE IMAGE.”

· Mon., Tues., Wed., Fri. - 9am til 5pm · Sat., Sun. - 9am til the earlier of 7:00pm or dusk, whichever comes first* 

4700 S.W. 58th Drive Gainesville, FL 32608 Entrance on S.W. Archer

Road (State Road 24) 1 mile west of Interstate 75 (exit #384) Phone Number: (352) 372-4981 Email: kbotani-cal@gmail.com Fax Num-ber: (352) 372-5892 

Gardens always offer a number of different light-ing challenges. Use differ-ent metering modes to accommodate this. Keep in mind if you are shooting a blossom close-up, Cen-ter Weighed is probably

better than Spot metering. Spot metering in a close-up will only measure part of the subject. If you step back and shoot a bunch of blossoms and all are the same approximate colors, Spot metering is fine.  

“ Twelve significant photo-graphs in any one year is a good crop. – Ansel Adams “ It can be a trap of the pho-tographer to think that his or her best pictures were the ones that were hardest to get. – Timothy Allen

“If I saw something in my viewfinder that looked fa-miliar to me, I would do something to shake it up. – Garry Winogrand “ I always thought good photos were like good jokes. If you have to ex-plain it, it just isn’t that good. – Anonymous

Field Trip in March — Fits the Theme

Words from the Masters

The Theme Progression ma er what the subject is. 

Selec on of subjects is up to 

you.  

Good picture taking is never 

accidental. You need to make 

choices. Hopefully the Theme 

approach will help you learn 

what those choices are and 

how to implement them.  

 

Some people will tell you 

they never move the dial off 

Auto. They are guaranteed of 

one thing, they will never get 

any be er in their photo-

graphic efforts. They will 

spend their days wai ng for 

that next photo accident. It is 

their  me and if that is what 

they want, they have my 

blessing.  

You may have no ced that 

the March Theme seems to 

be related in some way to last 

month’s Theme. If you have, 

you are correct. Both have to 

do with making a correct ex-

posure and we are not done 

yet. The Themes are chosen 

to demonstrate basic picture 

taking techniques. These 

techniques can be applied no 

Page 3

Volume 1, - Issue 3

“MAKE SOME

TIME DURING

THE WEEK TO

OPEN THE USER

MANUAL FOR

YOUR CAMERA.”

 

Wai ng for a picture accident.  

Club is open to all residents of OTOW.

Our Mission is to foster growth, vision, and knowledge of photography. We encourage membership by fellow devotees from novices to pros.

Join us to learn how to:

take better photos;

organize your photos on your computer;

edit your photographs using Photoshop Ele-ments, Picasa, etc., and display your photos.

You’ll be able to participate in photography challenges, meet new neighbors, take field trips to capture exciting new places, events, and nature with your camera – and then what to do with the photos once you’ve taken them.

This club is all about the members—so come and join us. Meetings are held Tuesdays of the month at 3:00 pm in room “B” at the Arbor Club Conference Center. The third Tuesday is usually the field trip.

Membership in the Shutter-bugs-OTOW Photography

Shutterbugs travel far and wide across Florida for pho-to opportunities, including field trips to zoos, rookeries, alligator farms, horse ranch-es, butterfly farms, aquari-ums, unusual landscapes and water venues, boat trips, historical sites, etc. It’s an educational ex-perience to see how every-one’s “eye” sees something different. Plus, then we go to somewhere to eat, com-pare notes, and laugh!

If we’ve wetted your appe-tite, come share in the en-joyment of our hobby.

The Shutterbugs

Like picture taking? Join us. We will welcome you !

8835 SW 83rd Court Rd. Ocala, FL 34481

Phone: 352-237-3700 E-mail: dataimage@centurylink.net

All Photos © Robert Levin

We’re on the web

www.otowspc.com

Data Image is a full service Digital Imaging facility. www.dataimageme.com

The place where your ideas take shape. D A T A I M A G E

Published for - OTOW Shu erbugs Camera Club — Monthly  

Publisher 

OTOW Shutterbugs Photography Club