Light reading?

[AMac]

I was at a work function the other day. I was watching one of the press guys taking photos of people, each time he went to take a photo he pointed the camera slightly away from the people, then went back to them to take it.
Was he taking a light reading from away form the subject, and if so why?
Thanks gmac

[ianpinion]

Was he shooting with or without a flash? Only he could have been taking a test shot just to check the exposure was correct and he would then be able to adjust the settings accordingly, if needed, to ensure he got his image spot on. Sometimes the lighting at these events can be a bit challenging, so it pays to take a few test shots and analyse the results to help you fine tune the cameras settings to get the best possible results.

[AMac]

Hi,
Thanks for coming back.

It was indoors but there was no flash so it was not a test shot, a test flash.

I guess I should have been a bit braver and gone over and asked

[ianpinion]

It probably was a test shot but he was not using a flash. Instead, a press photographer will try to use a fast prime lens, like a 50mm f/1.4 - f/1.8, which can operate in low light levels using it's wide aperture without the need for a flash.

[matt wilson]

possible he was metering off a neutral area and then recomposing to take the take the shot.

[AMac]

I think you might be correct, it might have been a light reading.

Why would you not take it off the subject, as in the person?

[matt wilson]

It's only a guess but it's not unusual to take a reding from a selected area and then recompose the shot.It's a bit like some photographers will meter off a neutral grey card and use that to set the exposure .This avoids areas of extreme highlight or shadow affecting the exposure.

[AMac]

I guess the light reading must be the answer, I guess the lesson I have learnt, is I should have gone over and asked!!