Meter Question?

[Nick Keller]

I was reading the book cinematography on practical meter tips. It said when your key light comes from the side most camera people angle the meter halfway between the light and the optical access, that it gives a good split for a reading. Wondering if this works well, I was told just to meter the key.

 

[David Mullen ASC]

I don't do it that way. I point the incident meter ball at the light I want to read and decide for myself how much to over or underexpose it for a look. I don't want the meter averaging things for me.