I started with old cameras, graduated to these highly feature DSLRs (got a bit lax in thinking), and then moved on to the M8. Once I figured out that its still an "old school" camera with a digital personality, I started to revert to the old habits. Its like getting back on a bike after many years. If I were a professional photographer again, I might miss the high technology built into today's DSLRs but I much enjoy the basic simplicity when I shoot for enjoyment (contrasts my technology profession).
The M8 is strongly biased towards center weight metering.... just like the old days. Bright diffused skies just like snow covered ground, will fool it into bringing the exposure down. I'm sure there are dozens of ways to approach, but I generally try to figure out a "base" exposure and then work from there. Base exposure through either a handheld meter, sometimes assume sunny-16, or even simply meter something "medium". Usually, I'll meter something like the grass, palm of my hand, grey cement sidewalk.. etc. If its a darker or lighter object, add or subtract a stop from your base exposure.
Set the base exposure and leave it there.... If you combine this with hyperfocal focus, now you are doing what a lot of street photographers do for that quick shot. As you shoot, study the scene. Is the subject in the shadows? open up 1-2 stops, take the shot, and then return to base exposure. It takes practice but you get the hang of it. As the days goes on or as you move into new areas, take a new "base" exposure. Truthfully, I'm still rusty... but enjoying things that are easy to get started but difficult to completely master.
Sorry if I rambled a bit.... I just spent the last 8+ hours chatting to soul-less servers.
btw..
Diedre nice! I would love to get close to something like that....
BBW, I really dig that car.
btw... BBW, your two photos is a really good example between "preferences" chosen by different manufacturers. Leica and Canon (two systems I am very familiar with) avoid making any assumptions on the final intention of the photographer. As such, their RAW files are fairly flat and neutral..... They are intended to be "negatives" of sorts and they assumed all files will have undergone some sort of workflow to "process" them.
When I picked up my Olympus E-PL1, I was caught a bit off guard! Olympus files are in contrast very presentable as is.... as if to simplify the whole user experience. The files come out "pre-processed" like... with contrast, saturation, and even sharpness carefully applied. A very different but still rewarding experience from Olympus.
Of course... neither approach is better... both have its advantages and disadvantages.
(I'd love to contribute a photo... but yahoo/flickr is having slowness issues... grrr)