Using Waveform For Accurate Exposure
 

I have a Panny BT-LH1710W and have begun using its Waveform monitor to expose faces. I have read that 65-70 IRE is the best range for Caucasian faces but what about Hispanic and Mediterranean?

Just to be sure - is 65-70 the best range for white faces?

Any tips or suggestions on using Waveform?

Thanks

I expose faces anywhere from 45 to 75 IRE, depending on skin color. But I like using zebra the best.

I usually set the zebra so that the edge between the highlighted and dark part of the face is striped with a 75% zebra setting. Depending on how dramatic the lighting is this may be a wide area (soft even light) or a very narrow one (contrasty "film noir" look).

Except if you shoot stage productions with high contrast lighting. Then the zebra can get you in trouble. A well calibrated monitor (the larger the better) and my eyes seem to get me better results.

John

As a GENERAL "rule", I expose the same way as Olof - 75IRE on JUST the highlights of caucasian skin tone; if I'm forced into 70IRE (like when using a Sony PD150/170 for a client), I'll include zebra on pretty much the entire highlight side of the face (again, under "normal" lighting - if I'm going for an effect OR lighting is supposed to be dark and moody, I adjust accordingly)

On medium toned or tanned faces, I normally adjust exposure so that 75 IRE zebra JUST goes away on highlights UNLESS the skin is very specular; for example, a dark skinned athlete who is sweating profusely WILL have 75IRE zebra on his/her face in highlights.

On particularly dark skin tones, I expose to keep the skin tone from being "lost" in the shadows.