Scenario -Incident light meter for a portrait - Tungsten light -Shooting slides so that we can not change the result in printing -Highlights are at f11 -Shadows are measured at f4 i.e a 8:1 ratio -It is then suggested that the shooting f stop should be 1/2 way between the highlights and the shadows i.e. f 5.6 plus 1/2 stop Yet when learning about incident light metering, we learned that when the subject is brighter than average we are supposed to close down the f stop some ( the opposite of a reflective meter, where you would open up in that situation). I understand that the caucasian face is not all that brighter than a grey card and we might not change the metered reading, but I do not understand opening up (overexposing the highlights) I do not understand doubly because with a 8:1 ratio, the mid point betwen highlights and shadows is 1 and 1/2 stops. but for a 4:1 ratio it would be only 1 stop and for a 2:1 ratio it would be only 1/2 stop. There is no consistency with the amount we overexpose the Highlights. Then we light and meter the white background to be 1 stop more than the shooting f stop i.e. f8 and 1/2 stops. If you say that's just the way its done O.K. But if you can help me with a rational that would be great
