It's Pretty Insane How Accurate Some of These Shoe-Mounted Selenium Meters Can Be

[ranger9]

Indeed, Ansel used no light meter for Moonrise over Hernendez. He did not use Sunny 16, but rather the known intensity of the moon.
That is worth knowing if you are Ansel or if you run across great images with the moon in them.

Didn't he also admit that he underexposed it and had to resort to chemical intensification to make it printable?

 

[steveyork]

I shot slide film once on an old Contaflex using its' selenium meter. Exposures came out fine, though I seen more of those meters kaput.

 

[Rob-F]

Didn't he also admit that he underexposed it and had to resort to chemical intensification to make it printable?

I'm not sure about the chemical intensification, but I have read that he underexposed and had a very difficult time printing it! Maybe he should have bracketed the exposure.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

I'm not sure about the chemical intensification, but I have read that he underexposed and had a very difficult time printing it! Maybe he should have bracketed the exposure.

No time to bracket: "I could not find my Weston exposure meter! The situation was desperate: the low sun was trailing the edge of clouds in the west, and shadow would soon dim the white crosses ... I suddenly realized that I knew the luminance of the Moon – 250 cd/ft2. Using the Exposure Formula, I placed this value on Zone VII ... Realizing as I released the shutter that I had an unusual photograph which deserved a duplicate negative, I quickly reversed the film holder, but as I pulled the darkslide, the sunlight passed from the white crosses; I was a few seconds too late! The lone negative suddenly became precious."

 

[CMur12]

No time to bracket: "I could not find my Weston exposure meter! The situation was desperate: the low sun was trailing the edge of clouds in the west, and shadow would soon dim the white crosses ... I suddenly realized that I knew the luminance of the Moon – 250 cd/ft2. Using the Exposure Formula, I placed this value on Zone VII ... Realizing as I released the shutter that I had an unusual photograph which deserved a duplicate negative, I quickly reversed the film holder, but as I pulled the darkslide, the sunlight passed from the white crosses; I was a few seconds too late! The lone negative suddenly became precious."

As I recall, he also said that this was done with an 8 x 10" view camera on a platform on the top of his car (an International Harvester Travelall or the like). So he had to see the scene and the special lighting, pull over and stop the vehicle, break out a heavy camera, get it onto the top of his vehicle, aim it, adjust focus and perspective, load it, determine exposure, and shoot. All of this was done very quickly.

- Murray

 

[Deleted member 65559]

As I recall, he also said that this was done with an 8 x 10" view camera on a platform on the top of his car (an International Harvester Travelall or the like). So he had to see the scene and the special lighting, pull over and stop the vehicle, break out a heavy camera, get it onto the top of his vehicle, aim it, adjust focus and perspective, load it, determine exposure, and shoot. All of this was done very quickly.

- Murray

Yes, image made with 8x10" view camera

 

[raydm6]

Interesting back story on exactly when it was shot:

"November 1st, 1941 at exactly 4:49:20 pm Mountain Standard Time"

Unearthing the Enigma of Moonrise Hernandez Murals - AAG

Ansel Adams’ “Moonrise, Hernandez” stands as one of the most famous and iconic photographic images in history.

www.anseladams.com

 

[Retro-Grouch]

As I recall, he also said that this was done with an 8 x 10" view camera on a platform on the top of his car (an International Harvester Travelall or the like). So he had to see the scene and the special lighting, pull over and stop the vehicle, break out a heavy camera, get it onto the top of his vehicle, aim it, adjust focus and perspective, load it, determine exposure, and shoot. All of this was done very quickly.

- Murray

A lot of fuss is often made about the lightning reflexes of HCB, Winogrand, and other street shooters. It's seldom acknowledged that landscape shooters are often pressed to make equally fast judgements in framing, exposure, and general equipment management. On many occasions I've waited for more than an hour to get that little 10-second window when the light is just perfect, all the while shifting my tripod a foot this way or that as a shadow moves, and adjusting everything each time. It's a different dance from that of a street shooter, but equally demanding in its requirement for quick reflexes and intimate knowledge of one's equipment. It's one of the reasons I'm a sucker for any camera that will auto-bracket! 😉

 

[Deleted member 65559]

At the other end of the spectrum once worked as a mountain guide in the Canadian Rockies for the well-known Japanese mountain photographer Shiro Shirahata. We'd wait for hours sometimes even a day or two for the light that suited him.

 

[Shafovaloff]

I have in the past bought several of these and fixed them up for gifts. There is a nice case and "incident" light attachment. At the moment I am down to one. It is my go to meter but also I have a nicely working Sekonic and Luna Pro with the "spot" attachment that operates quite accurately.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

I have in the past bought several of these and fixed them up for gifts.View attachment 4821413 There is a nice case and "incident" light attachment. At the moment I am down to one. It is my go to meter but also I have a nicely working Sekonic and Luna Pro with the "spot" attachment that operates quite accurately.

I'd love to be on your Christmas list!