There are different ways of measuring light with your camera. I had a questions in the comment section on my recent YouTube video about natural light for Portrait Photography on how I measure the light. If I use a light meter or not? I don’t, so here is my method explained a little deeper.

Feel free to comment below the post too if you like to share or have any questions.

For your information I will have a workshop for Leica in Copenhagen in January, and we will practise this in real life. More information later so you can join.

I actually never used a handheld exposure meter. I have always relied on a measurement in the camera (centre-weighted metering), adjusting accordingly depending on the situation with manual settings. This method I have practised for years and it works for me. It demands some practice but is far quicker. With digital cameras, one or two test shots of a scene can quickly hint if you are on the right page.

When it comes to capturing the perfect shot, understanding your camera’s metering modes can make a significant difference. One such mode, center-weighted metering, is particularly useful for photographers who often find their subjects in the center of the frame. But also when you just measure the light, freezing the measure  by either using manual setting or hold the AE lock (Hold) – exposure locks at the half press of the shutter button and remains locked even if you take multiple shots, and this way getting the selected exposure. The lock releases after the camera is inactive for a time or releases when the AE-L/AF-L button is pressed again for most cameras.

Let’s dive into what center-weighted metering is and how to use it effectively.

What is Center-Weighted Metering?

Center-weighted metering is a method of measuring the light in a scene to determine the optimal exposure. Unlike other metering modes that consider the entire frame or specific focus points, center-weighted metering prioritizes the central area of the frame. This means that the camera evaluates the light primarily from the middle portion of the image, giving less importance to the edges.

When to Use Center-Weighted Metering

This metering mode is particularly useful in situations where your main subject is in the center of the frame, and you want to ensure it is properly exposed.

When taking portraits, the subject’s face is usually in the center, or you measure and reframes. Center-weighted metering ensures the face is well-exposed, even if the background is significantly lighter or darker. This method is valid for a lot of my photography and can be adjustred up and down according to the scenery.

How to Use Center-Weighted Metering

Using center-weighted metering is straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Select Center-Weighted Metering Mode: On most cameras, you can select the metering mode through the menu or a dedicated button. Look for an icon that represents center-weighted metering, often depicted as a dot within a rectangle.
2. Compose Your Shot: Position your subject in the center of the frame. Remember, the camera will prioritize this area for exposure calculation.
3. Lock Exposure (Optional): If you need to recompose your shot after metering, use the exposure lock feature (AE-L) to maintain the exposure settings while you adjust the composition.
4. Take the Shot: With the exposure set, press the shutter button to capture your image.
5. Use the exposure settings from the camera, but go manual so it’s all the same throughout the scene until you choose to shift.

Tips for Effective Use

• Understand Your Camera: Different cameras may have varying implementations of center-weighted metering. Familiarize yourself with how your specific model handles this mode.
• Experiment with Exposure Compensation: In tricky lighting situations, you might need to use exposure compensation to fine-tune the exposure or go manual and have full control.
• Practice: Like any photography technique, practice makes perfect. Experiment with different subjects and lighting conditions to see how center-weighted metering affects your images.

Center-weighted metering is a valuable tool. By understanding and utilizing this metering mode, you can achieve better-exposed images and enhance your overall photography skills. So next time you’re out with your camera, give center-weighted metering a try and see the difference it makes and take part in a workshop to learn more and practise with my guidance.