ABSTRACT
Metering allows the photographer to measure the amount of available and/or supplemental light and then calculate the proper exposure for each scene. Virtually all modern cameras have in-camera light meters. The human eye is a remarkable instrument, able to see a dynamic range that far surpasses even the most sophisticated modern camera, in part because of its iris, which automatically opens and closes to allow more or less light to strike the retina. Apertures and shutter speeds control the amount of light that strikes the sensor or film. Shutter speed also helps determine exposure by controlling how long light is allowed to strike the sensor. Handheld meters have different metering modes including ambient light and various strobe settings. The images below were taken with the same lighting. Each was shot with a normal exposure setting, but the metering modes were different.
