Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

To effectively utilize an incident light meter, you must start in which metering mode?

1. Spot

2. Ambient

3. Reflected

4. Matrix

The correct answer is: Ambient

Using an incident light meter is primarily focused on measuring the actual light falling on a subject rather than the light reflecting off of it. This method is crucial for accurately determining exposure settings in photography. When you select ambient metering mode, you are aligning the meter's function with its ability to gauge the light conditions in the environment directly impacting your subject. Incident light metering provides a reading based on the intensity of light arriving at the meter's position, which is typically placed in the same light path as the subject. This ensures a more consistent and reliable exposure setting than other metering modes, which might be influenced by elements such as the color or reflectivity of the subject. In summary, starting with ambient metering allows photographers to make informed decisions based on the actual lighting conditions, facilitating accurate exposure across various photography scenarios.