International photographer (Jan-Dec 1941)

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' : II Iducive to attractive pictures. It is a type lof illumination that is avoided by good photographers as being lacking in balance. Types 1 and 2 are much to be preferred for all normal pictures. Although the typical scenes described are outdoor scenes, the same principles apply to interiors. For interiors the cine[matographer will achieve a balanced illumination by arrangement of his lighting Jiinits. Then when a satisfactory lighting [arrangement has been achieved, the prevailing illumination may be measured at ■ the center of interest. The reading so obItained will be used for exposure control. In this matter of defining prevailing-illumination consider how the human eye (functions when viewing a scene. The eye (has an automatic diaphragm. Under high ■ levels of illumination this diaphragm stops >away down. Under low levels it opens up. i When viewing any given scene it recognizes the level of prevailing-illumination, land automatically adjusts itself in accordance therewith. We can very well follow the example of [the eye in this matter, because after all the ultimate product of all photographic effort lis something that is going to be viewed 'by the eye. In order to set the camera controls proplerly it is necessary to have some means sof accurately determining the level of preivailing-illumination. With an instrument fat hand which will accomplish this pur: pose it is possible to set the camera controls to correspond to the natural automatic action of the eyes. The meter used for measuring the value fof prevailing-illumination is customarily used at the position of the subject. See Figure 4. It is pointed at the camera lens. In this position it acts as a miniature subject. All light which would be effective in illuminating the subject for photographic purposes will be accepted by the meter, integrated and evaluated. Since photo subjects are usually three dimen Fie. 3 sional objects, and illumination usually comes from a three dimensional space, it follows that the light pick-up surface of the meter must be three-dimensional in design. It has been found that a hemi-spherical surface is best suited to this purpose. See Figure 5. When properly oriented it presents surfaces in planes at all angles that are visible from the camera position. These surfaces correspond to all surfaces of the subject which will be illuminated for the camera's benefit. For outdoor pictures where considerable distances are involved it is not necessary to use the meter strictlv at the subject's position. Usually the illumination under such conditions is substantially uniform over considerable areas. Under these conditions the meter may be used at any position where the illumination is comparable to that on the subject, right beside the camera if desired. It is only necessary to see that the meter is properly oriented with respect to subject and camera. The meter is universal in use, functioning equally well indoors or out, under any type of illumination. Since the principle of operation of the meter is sound, the same method of use is employed at all levels of illumination, high or low. The meter will function in exactly the same manner under very low levels of artificial illumination on interiors, and under brightest sunlight outdoors. One model of this meter was made up in triple range. The scale units were selected to tie in with the Weston system. The meter then read for full scale, 0-1000, 0-100, and 0-10. When using the 0-10 scale it is possible to read down to .05 unit. At the other extreme of illumination, the meter when pointed directly at the sun at noon on a summer day gives a needle deflection of 450. Since this type of meter measures illumination, rather than light reflected from the photo subject, it is unaffected bv such Fig. 4 matters as subject contrast, relative size of light and dark areas in a scene, chromatic variations in a scene, distance from subject, effect of haze, back lights, etc. It is excellent for black and white films and ideal for natural color, due to its high precision qualities. Since illumination is always stronger than light reflected from the subject the meter has more light to work with, and in consequence has very great sensitivity. It is easily possible to get significant readings with the meter in a living room of a home, where the only illumination is the daylight filtering in through the windows. This feature of this type of meter makes it well adapted for use in connection with the new highly sensitive emulsions which are now available. It is believed that the matter of placing Fig. 5 International Photographer for February, 1941