I am sure you've at least a time or two seen a light meter. I am also sure you went..."what in the world?
I had an interesting chat with a European photographer who has tons of experience and is very good. He claimed with out a shred of doubt that he doesn't use a light meter, and doesn't think anyone else should either. You know like...go on a road trip and paint your windshield black and leave your map or smart phone at home
He claims that the meter gets in the way of his creativity and that he can measure the light better on his computer than anyone with a meter. Of course this fellow shoots mostly in studio but my point is...how do you KNOW what your strobe is outputting unless you measure it? All he's done is exchange the meter for measuring it in the computer to 1/255 th of a stop. Never mind that science has proven that humans can almost never see a 1/10 of a stop difference much less 1/255
This is silly of course but the point is knowing what your light is doing is critical to getting the exposure right...or at least getting it where you want it. A meter does not tell you what to do. It tells you what is and as such is merely a guide...not a God.
Obviously I vote for using a meter. More so if you are just starting out. One thing I know frustrates new shooters is understanding light and if you have no idea what it's doing, how can you progress when exposures are all over the lot. Use a meter. Don't guess
~Chuck St John
Chuck St John Photography
Birmingham / Atlanta
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