The Practical Zone System, Fourth Edition
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
JohnsonChapt_Prelims.qxd 8/4/06 6:53 PM Page i THE PRACTICAL ZONE SYSTEM This page intentionally left blank JohnsonChapt_Prelims.qxd 8/4/06 6:53 PM Page iii THE PRACTICAL ZONE SYSTEM for Film and Digital Photography Fourth Edition A Simple Guide to Photographic Control CHRIS JOHNSON Amsterdam • Boston • Heidelberg • London New York • Oxford • Paris • San Diego San Francisco • Singapore • Sydney • Tokyo Focal Press is an imprint of Elsevier JohnsonChapt_Prelims.qxd 8/4/06 6:53 PM Page iv Acquisitions Editor: Diane Heppner Project Manager: Paul Gottehrer Assistant Editor: Stephanie Barrett Marketing Manager: Christine Degon Veroulis Cover Design: Alisa Andreola Interior Design: Alisa Andreola Typesetter: Charon Tec Ltd (A Macmillan Company), Chennai, India; www.charontec.com Focal Press is an imprint of Elsevier 30 Corporate Drive, Suite 400, Burlington, MA 01803, USA Linacre House, Jordan Hill, Oxford OX2 8DP, UK Copyright © 2007, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Permissions may be sought directly from Elsevier’s Science & Technology Rights Department in Oxford, UK: phone: (ϩ44) 1865 843830, fax: (ϩ44) 1865 853333, E-mail: [email protected]. You may also complete your request on-line via the Elsevier homepage (http://elsevier.com), by selecting “Support & Contact” then “Copyright and Permission” and then “Obtaining Permissions.” Recognizing the importance of preserving what has been written, Elsevier prints its books on acid-free paper whenever possible. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Application submitted British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN 13: 978-0-240-80756-0 ISBN 10: 0-240-80756-1 For information on all Focal Press publications visit our website at www.books.elsevier.com 05 06 07 08 09 10 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed in the China JohnsonChapt_Prelims.qxd 8/4/06 6:53 PM Page v CONTENTS Preface to the Fourth Edition . ix How to Read this Book . .xiii Acknowledgements . xv Chapter 1 “Will It Come Out?” . 1 Introduction . .1 Chapter 2 Print Quality and Negative Contrast . 6 Subject Contrast and Photographic Papers . .6 The Procrustean Bed of Modern Photographic Papers . .7 Working with Problem Negatives . .8 Summary . .12 Chapter 3 The Control of Negative Contrast . 13 Expose for the Shadows . .13 Develop for the Highlights . .13 Normal Development . .16 Summary . .19 Chapter 4 The Zone . 20 Print Values . .20 Texture and Detail . .23 The Zones . .23 Previsualization . .28 Measuring Zones . .31 Summary . .33 Chapter 5 Exposure . 35 Light Measurement . .37 Exposure Recommendations . .38 The Meter’s Dilemma . .38 Exercise: How Light Meters Really Work . .39 Exposure Plan . .40 Exposure Placement Demonstration with Polaroid Films . .41 Exposure Detailed . .43 Place and Fall . .43 Summary . .45 v JohnsonChapt_Prelims.qxd 8/4/06 6:53 PM Page vi vi Contents Chapter 6 Development . 47 Measuring Subject Contrast with In-Camera Meters . .52 Normal Plus Development . .55 Normal Minus Development . .59 Chapter 7 An Overview of the Zone System . .64 Expose for the Shadows and Develop for the Highlights . .67 Zone System Frequently Asked Questions . .69 Chapter 8 Zone System Testing: Method 1 . .78 Introduction . .78 Choosing a Photographic Paper . .79 The Use of Equivalent ASA Numbers . .80 Zone System Testing: Method 1 . .83 Exposure Plan A For Roll Film . .90 Exposure Plan B for Sheet Film . .90 Expansion and Contraction . .96 Chapter 9 Zone System Testing: Method 2 . 98 About the Development Time Charts . .100 Development Time Charts . .102 Film and Developer: Questions and Answers . .107 Chapter 10 The Zone System and Digital Photography . 108 Introduction . .108 A Word about Structure and Understanding . .109 Digital and Film Photography . .112 Pixels: Size, Quality, Resolution and Bit Depth . .116 The Scanning Process . .123 Summary . .127 Bit Depth and Digital Exposure . .127 The Zone System of Digital Exposure: Exposing for the Highlights . .138 A Summary of Digital Exposure Effects . .148 The Zone System and Digital Contrast Control . .148 Summary of Digital Photography Cardinal Rules . .172 Appendix A Color Management, Profiles and Color Spaces . .173 Appendix B What is a Pixel? . 189 Appendix C Bit Depth . 191 Appendix D Exposure and the Digital Linear Effect . .193 Appendix E Films, Developers, and Processing . .200 JohnsonChapt_Prelims.qxd 8/4/06 6:53 PM Page vii Contents vii Appendix F The Practical Zone System Film/Developer Testing Method . .207 Appendix G Film and Developer Commentary by Iris Davis . .211 Appendix H Alternative Methods for Extreme Expansion and Contraction Development . .214 Appendix I Contrast Control with Paper Grades . .216 Appendix J Developer Dilution . .218 Appendix K Compensating Developers . .219 Appendix L Inspection Development . .221 Appendix M Condenser and Diffusion Enlargers . .222 Appendix N ASA/ISO Numbers . .223 Appendix O Filter Factors, The Reciprocity Effect, and Bellows Extension Factors . .224 Appendix P A Compensation Method for Inaccurate Meters . .226 Appendix Q Zone System Metering Form . .227 Appendix R Exposure Record and Checklist For Zone System Testing . .230 Appendix S Suggested Reading . .233 Appendix T A Brief Directory of On-Line Digital and Photography-Related Resources . .235 Appendix U Examples: Zone System Applications . .243 A Primer on Basic Film Photography . .258 A Brief Glossary of Zone System and Digital Terminology . .271 Index . .277 This page intentionally left blank JohnsonChapt_Prelims.qxd 8/4/06 6:53 PM Page ix P REFACE TO THE F OURTH E DITION I began the Preface of the third edition of this book by writing “Much has changed in the years since 1986 when this book was first published.” Back then the arrival of a few new films and developers seemed extremely important because the essential nature of photography had remained the same for a very long time. Given the state of things now, those words seem almost comically understated. Digital technology is revolution- izing photography in ways that are so fundamental and at a pace this is so rapid that most photo- graphers are either alarmed, or feel as if they are witnessing a remarkable dream. Some photographers.