Sunny 16 – Shooting a roll of b&w film sans light meter!
Summary
TLDRIn 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
📷 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.
🌤 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Sunny 16
💡Aperture
💡ISO
💡Shutter speed
💡Overcast
💡Exposure
💡Depth of field
💡Negative film
💡Latitude
💡Color slide film
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
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