Using Zebra Stripes for Proper Exposure
By Cliff Etzel • Jan 17th, 2009 • Category: TechniquesAs I progress to become more solid in my shooting process, one area that has eluded my understanding is how to use Zebra stripes – and when to use them.
My HC7′s give me the option to set either 70 or 100 , but it’s confused me as to which one to use for a given situation – and why.
I posted my question on the ever helpful SONY Vegas Forums and requested in layman’s terms which setting to use and why.
Douglas Spotted Eagle, who is well known in the SONY Vegas community and is part of Sundance Media Group offered this very straight forward answer to my question:
Image Courtesy of The Dvshow
Image Courtesy of The Dvshow
If you’re looking at skin, then overexposure is a major concern. IRE set to 70 is a good indicator point, and commonly used. Skin falls nicely between 75/85 IRE. Seeing a tad of zebra on a balanced face isn’t an issue at all. Seeing a lot of 70IRE zebra on a balanced face is a big flag.
100 IRE displays the upper limits of exposure. If you hit 110 IRE with a camera, you’re blown out/irrecoverable, and will have white “splotches” in the video.”
I also followed up with the question around using a white card for determining max value for white and then adjusting accordingly until the Zebras just disappear off the card. It appears my thoughts around this were correct – you have a base exposure value and all other tonal values fall accordingly below the pure white of the reference white card. This would be an excellent technique in a controlled lighting situation such as when interviewing someone with a lighting kit.
It’s important to fully understand this fundamental skill for shooting video right the first time by obtaining correct exposure – and why getting a video camera with the necessary features is critically important – more so than being sold a bill of goods on a camera that is more than a solo vj needs for specific kinds of work.
Cameras like the SONY HC7/9, Canon Vixia HV20/30/40, and other cameras that provide this feature can be utilized as an entry point for shooters looking to a career working as a solo video journalist ie; self contained videographer.
My thanks to Douglas Spotted Eagle for providing a straight forward response to my question.
Cliff Etzel is a regional award winning photojournalist from the Pacific Northwest who has been a visual content creator since 15 years of age. In his past still work, he specialized in photo documentary and slice of life stories. Since discovering the new paradigm of self contained video journalism, he now focuses his energies in the Solo VJ paradigm with an emphasis on people-based stories, environmental, social justice, travel and documentary work through his company, bluprojekt
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