The Zone System

nikon90s · Mar 14, 2004

I just took a class where one of the things I learned was the zome system
http://www.srphotography.co.uk/srpzone.html
http://www.normankoren.com/zonesystem.html
It has been so much fun to take pics now that I understand that my camera exposure meters is "really dumb"
How many of you use the system?

vonnagy · Mar 14, 2004

I am reading up on the zone system as well... I don't know much about enough to vote here but it would be interesting to get some of our more experienced photographers to comment on it. Good one Nikon and thanks for the links.

ksmattfish · Mar 14, 2004

I use the zone system and the force.

markc · Mar 14, 2004

I zone out on a regular basis...

Oh, I mean I haven't looked into it much yet. I'm familiar with the basic concept, but haven't tried applying it yet. Since my camera's meter does a pretty good job, I haven't had the incentive to do so.

voodoocat · Mar 14, 2004

ksmattfish said:
I use the zone system and the force.

8)

I voted I use it all the time.

MrEd31 · Mar 14, 2004

It has been well documented the Edward Weston and Ansel Adams once had a conversation about just this topic. Adams told Weston that he would take some pretty good pictures if he used the zone system. Weston replied that he would use the zone system if Adams could show him one good picture taken using the zone system.

I would just add that the zone system isn't a precursor to taking great photographs. However, it is interesting and brings up a lot of points that learned photographer should be aware of. I don't use the zone system. I believe that it was intended to be a complete way of taking a shot. Therefore, you can't use some principles and then say it doesnt work.

markc · Mar 14, 2004

Personally, I find it easier to work on one aspect of my photography at a time. Right now I'm working on my composition and finding a "style". I'd rather have an image that did something for me emotionally and be technically off than have a technically perfect image that doesn't do anything for me. Worrying about a perfect exposure right now would be putting the cart before the horse for my particular path. That said, I know I will look into it at some point. Even if I don't use it, I'm sure I would learn something from it.

photogoddess · Mar 14, 2004

I use my camera's meter as a reference but generally shoot on gut instinct.

ksmattfish · Mar 14, 2004

In had a "Fine Art Photog" teach who said that some folks use the zone system very precisely and others use it sort of on the fly. I'm sure some people would argue that if you leave out steps then you aren't using the zone system. But my opinion is that there is a lot to learn about the zone system, and much of it can be applied in bits and pieces, with out using the system 100%.

Adams and Weston are two of my favorites. Personally I usually like Weston's images (the subject and composition) a little better than Adams'. But looking at real photographs in art museums, printed by the photographers, I've always thought that Adams' prints (darkroom finesse) were a little better.

doxx · Mar 14, 2004

I don't use the zone system, but I got pretty good at guessing exposure,
so I can work quick on the streets

mrsid99 · Mar 14, 2004

Thanks for posting those links.....much against my will I believe I've learned something.
I've also discovered I appear to live in zone II ......the twilight zone!

ksmattfish · Mar 14, 2004

A metering technique that was taught to me by an early mentor was to meter anything black (camera bag, boots, coat, etc... in the same lighting as your subject), and then under expose two stops from that reading.

When you meter the black object the camera tells you how to expose to get middle gray (zone 5). By underexposing two stops it gets dropped into zone 3, which is very dark gray with full texture. As you go below zone 3 you begin to lose texture.

This method meters for the shadows rather than the midtones, and the usual advice is to expose for the shadows.

drlynn · Mar 15, 2004

Very good tip, Matt. Thanks for sharing. I've been struggling with too much gray in my shots, so I think this will help a good deal.

I've read up on the zone system, but without a darkroom, I don't think you can fully implement the system. You can expose properly, but if you're sending your film out for seveloping, you have noe control over the 2nd half of the system.

karissa · Mar 15, 2004

Zone system? This is new to me. Anyone care to explain?

voodoocat · Mar 15, 2004

karissa said:
Zone system? This is new to me. Anyone care to explain?

I'm sure ksmattfish will offer a great explanation. But I advise you read the negative by Ansel Adams. Actually there are 3 books in that series. The camera, negative and print.