new ? for the same problem: extreme highlights and shadows

[papatooth]

howdy all,

does anyone know what the zone system is for black and white photography? i cant remember how it works. could it work for color?

i love shooting storm clouds and land, but its either one or the other comes out.
i want both anyone have ideas?

 

[JerryPH]

Try doing a simple google, search, it is all there online already explained. To answer your question, it does work with digital, but there are some important differences.

In extreme dynamic conditions, it is either one or the other. There are some things that could be done like HDR or tone mapping, but one cannot bend the laws of physics and the limitations of digital cameras.

 

[blash]

One of the advantages of digital (which can technically be done on film, but it's much harder) is that if in such a lighting situation, you can put the camera on a tripod and take 2 pictures at the two exposures that match the lighter and darker areas - and then combine them in Photoshop, just cut and paste, no tonemapping or HDR work involved.