Photography

Thunderbeast

(3,549 posts) Sat Oct 28, 2023, 06:24 PM Oct 2023

Need guidance on landscape exposure settings

I inherited my father's professional Graphlex full format camera. It has not been used in 40+ years. Before I sell it, I would like to shoot a few pictures of snowcapped Mt. Hood which is spectacular this time of year.

I know I can source the 4x5 B&W film sheets. I have film holders that I can load in an improvised dark room. A local camera shop can develop the film and make prints.

I have no idea what kind of exposure setting to use. The subject will be bright with a darker foreground. With the process being kind of expensive, I would like to be in the ballpark before I waste a bunch of film.

Does anyone in the forum have guidance?

3 replies

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Need guidance on landscape exposure settings (Original Post) Thunderbeast Oct 2023 OP

I asked my husband who is a photographer BoomaofBandM Oct 2023 #1

The settings will depend on your desired results. ManiacJoe Oct 2023 #2

sunny 16 for the base exposure, subtract 3 stops for the red filter.If you want that red filter ansel look. 25a i think Blues Heron Oct 2023 #3

BoomaofBandM

(1,922 posts)

1. I asked my husband who is a photographer

Reply to Thunderbeast (Original post)

Sat Oct 28, 2023, 06:59 PM

Oct 2023

Teaches classes and sells cameras. He suggested to Google the sunny 16 rule and it might help you. He says it works on all film. He also said if you have another camera you can check those settings. Good luck.

ManiacJoe

(10,136 posts)

2. The settings will depend on your desired results.

Reply to Thunderbeast (Original post)

Sat Oct 28, 2023, 07:06 PM

Oct 2023

If the subject of the picture is the snow covered mountain, you will want to make sure you are not overexposing the snow. Easier to get right if the mountain takes up lots of space in the viewfinder.

Alternatively, if the subject is something standing on the snow, you might want to overexpose the snow just a little to get the subject properly exposed.

Of course, sunny vs cloudy will make a big difference, too.

My recommendation would be to take a digital camera with you and use it as the test bed for the exposures given the immediate feedback from the viewing screen.

Does the full format camera have a built in light meter so that it can recommend exposure settings?

Blues Heron

(6,231 posts)

3. sunny 16 for the base exposure, subtract 3 stops for the red filter.If you want that red filter ansel look. 25a i think