John, your comments are so very welcome. You validate what I have been feeling for so long. Although some folks seem to this knack for just doing it, for some reason I need to understand some logic to take control. (By the way, I love the way you peek through your avatar...with such a wonderfully exposed picture...or did you just crop out the blown highlights?
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What you have written resonates with what Meadhra and I believe Michael have said. So, if I metered someones face in the mid range, away from the highlights and shadows, I would open up a stop...let's just say at ISO 100, f/4.0, the mid tone in the face metered 1/250. Opening it up a stop, I would set the shutter at 1/125. That seems like the highlights would totally blow.