Sunny 16 – Shooting a roll of b&w film sans light meter!

Summary

In this video, Thomas explains the Sunny 16 rule, a photography method for determining exposure without a light meter. The rule suggests setting the shutter speed to match the film's ISO (e.g., 1/100 sec for ISO 100) and adjusting the aperture based on the lighting conditions. On a sunny day, use f/16, with smaller apertures for cloudy conditions or shadows. While this method isn't hyper-accurate, it's especially effective for black-and-white or negative film due to their exposure latitude. Thomas also shares insights into the rule's historical context and variations.

Takeaways

• 📸 Sunny 16 is a method for shooting photos without a light meter.
• ☀️ The rule is based on the available sunlight and involves adjusting shutter speed and aperture accordingly.
• ⏲️ Set your shutter speed to match your ISO (e.g., ISO 100 = 1/125s, ISO 200 = 1/200s).
• 🌞 On a bright sunny day, use f/16 aperture for proper exposure.
• 🌤️ For slightly overcast conditions, use f/11; for full overcast, f/8; and for dark cloudy days, f/5.6.
• 🌲 In shaded areas or dark shadows (like in a forest), use wider apertures like f/4 or even f/2.8.
• ⚙️ Adjusting depth of field allows you to tweak the aperture (e.g., f/2.8 for a shallow depth of field), but you should compensate by changing shutter speed.
• 📏 The rule is flexible and can be adjusted for different lighting conditions, such as sunny, overcast, or shadowy environments.
• 🎞️ Sunny 16 works best with negative or black-and-white film due to its high latitude, allowing for slight exposure errors.
• 🛠️ The rule dates back to times when light meters were uncommon, and most people used black-and-white film for cost reasons.

Q & A

What is the Sunny 16 rule?

The Sunny 16 rule is a simple method for determining exposure without a light meter. It suggests that on a bright sunny day, set the aperture to f/16 and adjust the shutter speed to match the ISO of the film or sensor.

How do you adjust shutter speed according to ISO in the Sunny 16 rule?

To adjust the shutter speed according to ISO in the Sunny 16 rule, match the shutter speed to the film’s ISO. For example, with ISO 100, use a shutter speed of 1/100 or 1/125, and for ISO 200, use 1/200 or 1/250.

What aperture settings should be used for different weather conditions?

For bright sunny days, use f/16. If it's slightly overcast, use f/11. For completely overcast conditions, use f/8. On very dark or cloudy days, use f/5.6.

How does the Sunny 16 rule handle shadows?

On a sunny day, if you are shooting in shaded areas, you may need to open the aperture to f/4 or lower, depending on how dark the shadow is.

Can the Sunny 16 rule be adjusted for depth of field?

Yes, the Sunny 16 rule can be adjusted if you want to achieve a shallow depth of field. For example, if you want a shallower depth of field, you can open the aperture to f/2.8 and adjust the shutter speed to maintain the correct exposure.

How is the Sunny 16 rule applied indoors?

Indoors or in darker environments, the Sunny 16 rule suggests using a wider aperture, such as f/4 or f/5.6, depending on the lighting conditions.

What does the phrase 'von elacht blender act' mean in relation to the Sunny 16 rule?

In Germany, the Sunny 16 rule is known as 'von elacht blender act,' which translates to 'the sun is laughing, the sun is shining, so take f/8.' This variation reflects older films with lower ISOs, such as ISO 25, where f/8 was commonly used.

What is 'Overcast 5.6,' and where does it originate?

'Overcast 5.6' is a variation of the Sunny 16 rule from Scotland, where it’s often overcast. In such weather, photographers would use f/5.6 instead of f/16.

How does the Sunny 16 rule perform with different types of film?

The Sunny 16 rule works well with negative and black-and-white films due to their latitude, allowing some exposure leeway. However, for color slide film, which requires more precise exposure, the rule may not be as effective.

Why was the Sunny 16 rule created, and when was it most commonly used?

The Sunny 16 rule was created during a time when cameras didn’t have built-in light meters, and it was commonly used from the 1930s to the 1950s. Photographers often used it with black-and-white film, which was cheaper and more forgiving with exposure.

Outlines

00:00

📷 Introduction to the Sunny 16 Rule

The speaker introduces themselves as Thomas and presents the topic of the video: the Sunny 16 rule. This is a photography technique that allows you to take pictures without using a light meter. It starts with selecting the appropriate shutter speed based on the ISO of your film. For example, with ISO 100, you choose a shutter speed of 1/100th or 1/125th of a second. The rule then moves on to the aperture settings, with f-16 for sunny days, f-11 for slightly overcast days, f-8 for completely overcast, and so on. The rule is designed to help photographers achieve properly exposed images.

05:02

🌤 How to Apply the Sunny 16 Rule

Thomas explains how to apply the Sunny 16 rule in various lighting conditions. For indoor settings with low light, f4 is recommended, while in shaded areas, f5.6 might be better. If you want a shallow depth of field, you can adjust the aperture to f2.8 and change the shutter speed accordingly. Thomas demonstrates by photographing objects in different lighting conditions, explaining how to adjust settings for optimal exposure.

🌞 The History of Sunny 16 and Variations

Thomas delves into the history of the Sunny 16 rule, mentioning a German version known as 'Von Elacht Blender Act,' which translates to 'the sun is laughing,' where photographers were advised to use f8. This variation was based on older film types that had much lower ISO, around ISO 25. He also references an 'Overcast 5.6' version from Scotland, where the weather is typically cloudy. Thomas emphasizes how these variations reflect local weather conditions and historical differences in film sensitivity.

👤 Capturing Unique Subjects with the Sunny 16 Rule

Thomas demonstrates how to apply the Sunny 16 rule by photographing a statue. The statue is half in shadow and half in sunlight, so he chooses f8 to balance the exposure. He reminds viewers that the shutter speed should match the film ISO, such as using 1/125th of a second for ISO 100. This section emphasizes practical applications of the rule in mixed lighting situations.

🗿 Cologne Originals and Superstitions

Thomas introduces two famous Cologne figures, Tünnes and Schäl, who represent the character of the people of Cologne. Tünnes, with his large nose, is associated with finding love, while Schäl is linked to success. According to local tradition, stepping on their feet and interacting with their statues brings good fortune. Thomas humorously engages with the statues, choosing love by standing on Tünnes's feet and touching his nose.

🎞 Limitations and Strengths of the Sunny 16 Rule

Thomas concludes by discussing the limitations of the Sunny 16 rule. He highlights that while it works well for black and white and negative film, which have a high latitude and can tolerate slight exposure errors, it is less effective for color slide film, which requires more precise exposure settings. The rule, originating in the 1930s-50s, was designed for a time when photographers did not have access to light meters, and black and white film was more common due to its lower cost.

Keywords

💡Sunny 16

The Sunny 16 rule is a photographic method used to determine exposure without a light meter. It suggests using an aperture of f/16 on a sunny day with the shutter speed set to match the ISO of the film or sensor. This method allows photographers to estimate exposure based on the available light, and it's the central theme of the video.

💡Aperture

Aperture refers to the opening in a camera lens through which light passes. It is expressed as an f-stop (e.g., f/16, f/11), and it controls the depth of field and exposure. In the Sunny 16 rule, different aperture settings (such as f/16 for sunny conditions or f/5.6 for darker conditions) are used to adapt to varying lighting situations.

💡ISO

ISO is the sensitivity of the camera's film or sensor to light. In the video, the speaker explains that the ISO value directly influences the shutter speed in the Sunny 16 rule, with examples like using 1/125th of a second for ISO 100. This relationship helps set the exposure when no light meter is available.

💡Shutter speed

Shutter speed refers to the length of time the camera's sensor or film is exposed to light. The Sunny 16 rule suggests matching the shutter speed to the ISO (e.g., 1/100th of a second for ISO 100). Adjusting shutter speed is crucial in balancing exposure, especially when varying aperture settings are used.

💡Overcast

Overcast conditions refer to cloudy or low-light situations. In the video, the speaker explains how aperture settings change based on light levels, such as using f/11 for slightly overcast conditions or f/8 for completely overcast skies. This illustrates how the Sunny 16 rule adapts to different lighting scenarios.

💡Exposure

Exposure is the amount of light that reaches the camera's sensor or film, determined by aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. The Sunny 16 rule is a simplified method to estimate exposure in natural light conditions, and the video demonstrates how adjusting these settings results in properly exposed photos.

💡Depth of field

Depth of field is the area of a photograph that appears in sharp focus. The video mentions how adjusting the aperture (e.g., using f/2.8 for a shallow depth of field) can create different artistic effects while following the Sunny 16 rule. This emphasizes the creative flexibility within the rule.

💡Negative film

Negative film refers to a type of photographic film that captures images in inverse colors, later developed into positive prints. The video explains how the Sunny 16 rule works best with negative or black-and-white film, which has a wider exposure latitude, making it more forgiving of minor exposure errors.

💡Latitude

Exposure latitude refers to a film or sensor's ability to capture detail in both the highlights and shadows even when overexposed or underexposed. In the video, the speaker points out that the Sunny 16 rule works well with negative film because of its wide latitude, allowing for more flexibility in exposure.

💡Color slide film

Color slide film is a type of film that produces positive images and requires more precise exposure compared to negative film. The video contrasts color slide film with negative film, explaining that the Sunny 16 rule is less effective with color slides due to their narrow exposure latitude, requiring more accurate light metering.

Highlights

Introduction to the Sunny 16 method, a technique for exposing photos without a light meter.

Sunny 16 is based on selecting the appropriate shutter speed according to the ISO of the film.

For ISO 100 film, choose a shutter speed of 1/100 or 1/125 of a second, and for ISO 200, choose 1/200, and so on.

On a bright sunny day, use an aperture setting of f/16, which is the core of the Sunny 16 rule.

On partly sunny or overcast days, adjust the aperture to f/11 or f/8, respectively, for proper exposure.

For dark clouds or darker environments, reduce the aperture further to f/5.6 or f/4 for shadowy scenes.

Example of adjusting aperture indoors: setting it to f/4 for lit figures when photographing indoors.

You can adjust shutter speed for creative effects, such as using a shallow depth of field at f/2.8 and increasing shutter speed to 1/500.

The Sunny 16 method is flexible and allows for adjustments based on environmental conditions, such as overcast sun using f/11.

A variation of the rule, known in Germany as 'Von Elacht Blender Acht,' recommends f/8 for sunny days due to historical use of ISO 25 films.

A Scottish variation of the method is called 'Overcast 5.6,' reflecting the common weather conditions in the region.

Example of using f/8 for subjects that are both in the shadow and the sun, such as statues in partially lit environments.

The Sunny 16 method works best with negative or black-and-white film due to their wide exposure latitude.

This rule is less effective with color slide film, which requires more precise exposure metering.

The Sunny 16 rule originated in the 1930s to 1950s when light meters were not commonly available, and most people used black-and-white film.

Transcripts

[Music]

so

[Music]

[Applause]

hey my name is thomas and today i'd like

to show you sunny 16. that's a method

how you take pictures without having a

light meter

[Music]

okay so what's the sunny 16 it's a very

simple set of

rules how you have to expose your film

or a sensor for that matter if you don't

have a light meter

so it starts with the shutter speed

if you've got an iso 100 film you will

select

one hundredth of a second or 125th

if you've got a 200 iso film the correct

shutter speed would be 1

200th of a second and so forth and so on

um once you've said that it's all about

the aperture

so sunny 16 as the name says if it's a

really bright sunny day

blue skies you select f-16

if it's uh like like today some sun but

overcast you go for f11

if it's completely overcast no sun you

select f8

if it's a very dark day very dark clouds

it's f 5.6

um the same goes uh on a sunny day for

the shadows

um and then if it's a really dark shadow

maybe inside of a forest or something

you go for

f4 so that's basically your rule

and if you if you just set your exposure

and aperture

according to that rule you always should

get a correctly exposed

photo

[Music]

so i want to take a photo of these lit

figures in there so i figure it's like

indoors i set the camera to f4

[Applause]

okay there's another motif now it's a

bit shady so i should select f 5.6

but yeah of course you can also vary

like you say

i want a shallow depth of field so i go

for 2.8

so i adjust the shutter speed to 500

then

right so i've got the same effect

[Music]

so i'm going to take a photo of that

thinner coach thing over there

uh and it's in the sun and it's overcast

sun so i'm gonna

select f11

[Music]

[Music]

this rule is called sunny 16. um in

germany i know it as von elacht blender

act

which means the sun is laughing the sun

is shining so take f8

um why is that because it's an old rule

and back then most people

they didn't have iso 100 film it was

more like iso 25 so then

sort of f6 scene at the hundredths of a

second you would say

select f8 and

i also came across a variation it was

called

overcast 5.6 and that came from scotland

because

apparently they never have sun there

so this is a statue of um out of

sculpting apparently

and i'm gonna take a photo because he's

half in the shadow and half in the sun

i'm gonna go for f8

and remember the shutter speed is set to

the

iso so iso 100 means 125th of a second

[Music]

so these are the two cologne originals

um

shell and tunas so tennis is the guy

with a good character

and a very big nose as you can see and

if you if you if you like

stand on his feet like this

and grab his nose you can choose the

love of your life

um and this guy is shell he's more the

business guy a bit two-faced maybe a

two-faced character

but nonetheless these two were always

good friends and they

stand for the character of the cologne

people

[Music]

so if you're about success you should

shake his hand and also step on his feet

but i already

selected for love so i'm not going to do

it but just shake his hand

step on his feet and think of your

success

[Music]

so it's quite obvious that this sunny 16

rule of thumb is not about hyper

accurate

metering or exposing but you know it

works best with a

negative film or a black and white film

because they just have a huge

latitude that means if you're under

overexposing by one or even two stops

results will still be very good if you

are shooting on color slide film

you have to be more precise and maybe

this rule of thumb is not really going

to work for you but

it's a rule from the 1930s 40s 50s where

people didn't have

exposure meters in their cameras and

most of those people also were just

using black and white film

for cost reasons

[Applause]

[Music]

you