How to shoot without a lightmeter - Simple Sunny 16 Guide
Have you ever wondered how it is possible to shoot without a light meter? Me too!
What a wonderful film photography life that would be...not having to worry about camera batteries, using a phone as a light meter, expensive external light meters, etc...
To have that know how in the brain would be very useful indeed.
So I looked into it. The basics are simple as the rule follows a math formula.
SETTINGS IF SUNNY:
Aperture = F16
ISO = Box speed of film
Shutter speed = 1/ISO speed (i.e. if 400 ISO film, shutter speed - 1/400)
SETTINGS IF PARTLY SUNNY
Aperture = F11
ISO = Box speed of film
Shutter speed = 1/ISO speed (i.e. if 400 ISO film, shutter speed - 1/400)
SETTINGS IF CLOUDY
Aperture = F8
ISO = Box speed of film
Shutter speed = 1/ISO speed (i.e. if 400 ISO film, shutter speed - 1/400)
SETTINGS IF OVERCAST
Aperture = F5.6
ISO = Box speed of film
Shutter speed = 1/ISO speed (i.e. if 400 ISO film, shutter speed - 1/400)
SETTINGS IF SHADE
Aperture = F4 (darker shade) F5.6 (shade surrounded by sun)
ISO = Box speed of film
Shutter speed = 1/ISO speed (i.e. if 400 ISO film, shutter speed - 1/400)
Ok so you can see a pattern here right? It's a formula.
So if you can start with ONE formula that you can remember, the math can easily be worked out from there. For example, if you know the settings for super sunny days and today is overcast, bring the aperture more open by a few stops (usually 3).
If you are not a math person - try this cheat sheet I made for myself (no liabilities assumed for photos that didn't come out tho!)
Said another way, imagine the following list as levels or stairs where you can go up or down:
SUNNY
PARTLY SUNNY
CLOUDY
OVERCAST
SHADE
Whenever you move a level up or down in the list, adjust by ONE stop of light. Or ONE aperture change.
F16
F11
F8
F5.6
F4
Each aperture number is a change of one level of light allowed into the camera.
I also followed the formula into night shooting if you are interested in testing this out! It's only continued math though and roughly the settings I use at night.
So that is a simple Sunny 16 guide! If you have any questions, feel free to comment below or send me a DM on Instagram :) Or leave a comment on a video I made partly about Sunny 16 here!
Cheers,
Molly
p.s. Disclaimer: I am not an expert, rather sharing my process and what I know in case it is interesting or somewhat useful :)