One of the reasons I choose to do this project/training/exercise, is that it combines nicely with another exercise set out by Mike Johnston (years) earlier: GSOTPANWASTOTZSS1. Being able to guess exposure is a skill that’s always allured to me.
This is one of those skills that I think will be incredibly useful, even if you’re using a top-of-the-line, auto-everything DSLR body. Knowing when to apply exposure compensation, selecting you base exposure when shooting TTL flash, there are plenty of aspects that will yield better results if the photographer knows what he’s doing.
It’s also an incredibly cool thing to be able to do2.
Unfortunately, this will make the exercise just a bit harder, as in addition to using a rangefinder for the first time and shooting dedicated B&W for the first time, I’ll have only the sunny sixteen rule and my knowledge of fluorescent-lit swimming pools to guide me in getting a proper exposure.
I guess Yoda was right: “You must unlearn what you have learned”.
Another rule should thus be added to the earlier post: No exposure meters of any kind.