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James Lundy | all galleries >> photoaday >> PAD 2005 >> PAD 2005 Your Favorites > Gray Card
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04-APR-2005

Gray Card

Yeah ok first off this is a cop out I know. But everone SHOULD be using one, but no one is proud enough to share their best Gray Card shots. Not me I am not skeered (skee-rr-ed)!

But proper, even exposure is sometimes SO very important, if that is what you are after.

There are many ways to meter a proper exposure, metering the palm of your hand, the green grass, a perfect blue sky. Neutral tones will give you the best metering. None better than having a gray card with you in your camera bag at ALL TIMES! Though you have your hand with you at all times and it does work no matter your ethnic make, any way carry a gray card!

How to use it? Glad you asked. Just put the gray card infront of your intended subject, move the camera till the entire field of view is filled with your gray card and shoot. Adjust your shutter speed or aperture till your histogram shows a strong narrow spike in the very center of your histogram screen. Done.

I use the Kodak Gray Cards, cuase they are gray on one side and white on the other (may cards have instructions on the reverse side), and cause they come with a 8x10 and a 4x5 precut. Or you could just cut up your 8x10 to suit your needs. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=27715&is=REG

If you thought this was a lame PAD then you REALLY GOTTA CHECK OUT MY ALTERNATE FOR TODAY! http://www.pbase.com/lundy/image/41665267

Why am I talking about this? Just trying to learn more, and then share the love. Thats all.

Canon PowerShot G5
1s f/3.2 at 25.1mm full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Guest 11-Apr-2005 03:18
Okay James, I've been thinking about getting one of these and you've talked me into it! Exposure is still a trick for me..maybe this will help.....
John S. Nasche05-Apr-2005 06:37
A good lesson James.
Cliff05-Apr-2005 05:43
The alternate is awesome too!
Cliff05-Apr-2005 05:43
Excellent! Well composed - crystal clear and perfect exposure! :o) LOL
Unexplained Bacon05-Apr-2005 04:05
ROTFL... love the alternate shot too :)
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