08/12/2011

Trivia

Deep in the wilderness in the late afternoon with a field camera on your back, a glorious photo opportunity in perfect golden light just over the next ridge? Whether to forge ahead while the light lasts to secure the shot or to return to base before sunset? Stretch out an arm, raise a hand with the palm toward you and fingers parallel to the horizon. Align the side of your little finger with the skyline, and see how many fingers fit between it and the sun. Each finger means 15 minutes more light. An eminent cameraman cations: err on the safe side, ten minutes per finger may be more appropriate, fewer if you have large fingers; the method only works in higher latitudes - near the equator, the sun sets too quickly for measuring.

Pring's Photography Miscellany 2011.