This sixth edition of The Practical Zone System for Film and Digital Photography: Classic Tool, Universal Applications by Chris Johnson from Focal Press updates the classic manual on Ansel Adams's landmark technique for the digital age. For photographers working digitally or with film, in color or black and white, in the studio or on the go, this simple visual language helps to control contrast and, through a process called Previsualization, provides photographers with the power of free creative expression.
This new edition discusses recent advances in technology and potentials for their use in zone photography, including HDR, smartphone cameras that shoot in raw format, and smartphone light meters. Johnson demonstrates how the Zone System is a universal visual and conceptual language that dramatically simplifies the problem of creating and rendering complex lighting setups.
- 1. "Will It Come Out?"
- 2. Print Quality, Negative Contrast, and Dynamic Range
- 3. The Control of Negative Contrast
- 4. The Zone
- 5. Exposure
- 6. Development
- 7. An Overview of the Zone System
- 8. Zone System Testing: Method 1
- 9. Zone System Testing: Method 2
- 10. The Zone System and Digital Photography
- 11. The Zone System and Studio Photography
- Appendix A. Color Management, Profiles, and Color Spaces
- Appendix B. A Primer on Studio Lighting Photography
- Appendix C. What is a Pixel?
- Appendix D. Bit Depth
- Appendix E. Exposure and the Digital Linear Effect
- Appendix F. Digital Light Meters and the Zone System
- Appendix G. A Primer on Basic Film Photography
- Appendix H. Films, Developers, and Processing
- Appendix I. The Practical Zone System Film and Developer Testing Method
- Appendix J. Film and Developer Commentary by Iris Davis
- Appendix K. Alternative Methods for Extreme Expansion and Contraction Development
- Appendix L. Contrast Control with Paper Grades
- Appendix M. Developer Dilution
- Appendix N. Compensating Developers
- Appendix O. Inspection Development
- Appendix P. Condenser and Diffusion Enlargers
- Appendix Q. ASA/ISO Numbers
- Appendix R. Filter Factors, the Reciprocity Effect, and Bellows Extension Factors
- Appendix S. A Compensation Method for Inaccurate Meters
- Appendix T. Zone System Metering Form
- Appendix U. Exposure Record and Checklist for Zone System Testing
- Appendix V. Examples: Zone System Applications
- Appendix W. Suggested Reading
- Appendix X. A Brief Directory of Online Digital and Photography-Related Resources
- Appendix Y. A Brief Glossary of Zone System and Digital Terminology.