These emails come with the intent of helping you be a better photographer. 

And if you want more photography stuff to read, there's a place on the interwebs where past emails I wrote are stored. You'll find 'em in the "Newsletter Hub." 

Remember, I'd like to know what you want to know about photography. So, If you have any questions, ask by sending an email to me at sam@samdamico.com. And for what it's worth. When you send me an email, unless someone's lookin' over my shoulder, I'm the only one that sees it.

Hello, .

If you're a photographer who has difficulty getting the correct exposure, metering and tonal placement is the technique that'll put that behind you.  

During the Introduction to Photography class, one of the key topics we cover is metering and tonal placement.

When I was taught this technique, it was one of the most valuable techniques I learned because it taught me how to pick the exposure and ISO settings I needed to get the picture as bright or dark as I wanted before making the picture. As a photojournalist, this skill was invaluable. No more bracketing or getting the exposure wrong.

First, a  brief review: Metering uses a light meter to measure light's intensity or brightness. The light meters in our cameras measure reflective light sources. We can think of tonality as how the light intensity (brightness) of a reflective light source we see will appear as a brightness (tonality) in our picture. Additionally, we control tonality with exposure (aperture and shutter speed) and ISO (light sensitivity) settings.

While working in fully manual exposure mode, metering and tonal placement is a technique that involves using our camera's spot meter and exposure indicator to achieve a standard/average/mid-exposure to acquire a standard/average/mid tone which is a reliable and consistent starting point for our tonality. Then, before we make the picture, changing the acquired mid-tonality to get the tonality we prefer by using aperture, shutter speed, or ISO. 

We usually practice this during the third week of the Introduction to Photography course, along with equivalent tonalities.

During the first two weeks of the course, before covering metering and tonal placement, we learn to meter to achieve a mid-exposure/tonality and how to control tonality using our camera's exposure or light sensitivity settings to achieve our preferred tonality.

This is important because when we achieve a mid-exposure, we know whatever we metered will appear as a mid-tone.

For instance, when metering to achieve a mid-exposure/tonality, a black object may appear brighter in a photo than in real life. In contrast, a white object may appear darker. This also applies to colors.

Once we know how to work the meter, read the exposure indicator to achieve a mid-tone, and understand how the object we measured will appear tonally in our picture, we can make tonality corrections before making the picture.

As stated, this technique ensures we pick the exposure settings to get the tonality we want before making the picture.

Furthermore, our ability to understand and utilize the technique of metering and tonal placement enables more efficient camera operation and compositional flow.

And more efficient camera operation and compositional flow make us better photographers.

The next series of the Introduction to Photography class starts in February.

And there are other scheduled group classes below. 

Smaller classes mean better learning, so no more than five participants and me are in each class. 

But smaller classes also mean spots fill up quicker. 

And remember, we learn and improve by doing, so practice making at least one picture daily. 

That's all for now; thanks for reading! 
Sam

I'll help you be a better photographer—study and practice photography with me. 

And what if the timing doesn't work for you in any of my scheduled group classes? If that's the case, let's schedule a one-time lesson or a series of in-person or online private instruction that covers the same things as my group classes. 

Ways to work with me are listed below.