Douglas Slocombe: a DP who never used a lightmeter

[Chan Tran]

My brother estimating exposure in low light by checking the dof of his own eyes.

[yurisrey]

While watching this interview of Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford done after the 30th anniversary screening of "Raiders of the lost Ark", I got very surprised to hear them talk about how Douglas Slocombe, Director of Photography on the movie, never used any lightmeter but just "guessed" the right exposure. Fascinating and awe inspiring!

http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2011/...ders-lost-ark/

guess after a forty-year career it just comes to you like that. in film school, our prof always recommended to guess before looking for practice- trains the eye.

[tomalophicon]

My brother estimating exposure in low light by checking the dof of his own eyes.

I count photons, myself.



Are film speed and the lens opening the only variables when exposing film in motion picture cameras?

[couldabin]

I'm guessing it's easier to say you don't use a light meter than it is to correctly guess exposure every time.

[Markster]

Folks are saying "it's a multimillion dollar movie, they'd use a meter!" but from some of the anecdotes from the guys actually making the movie, I get the impression it was more improvised, more of an adventure to make as well as to watch. They'd take the second camera crew and rush off when on location at the last second to get some new idea shot, and so forth.

It had a lot more of a low budget feel, is what I mean. It's the kind of thing where many shots are on locations or outside, and not on a set. You look at the light you have and you can tell what you need (with practice). That, coupled with just having so many years of experience -- I can totally believe he didn't use a light meter. I hope to be that good some day.