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Mike Said:
>you want, and you *are* using the Zone system!
Then Jim Said:
> No you're not, you're looking at the scene, and determining that the
> contrast range requires modifications in the development stage so you
> get the negative that prints like you want.
Mike replys:
Of course, when I "look" at the scene, I take a couple of meter
readings and decide where I want the elements I deem important to lie on
the finished print, then I determine if normal processing will handle
this or not. If not, then I modify the processing and exposure.
Jim Said:
> The Zone System involves breaking a continuous tone process into an
> arbitrary number of "steps"
Mike replys:
What is arbitrary about an f-stop? That is the basis of the
zones. Many people get so involved in the mechanics of the process they
forget that they are trying to make an image.
Jim Said:
> There's a huge difference.
Mike says:
I really don't see much if any difference. If a person looks at
a scene and decides "I want the flesh tones to be luminous" or says "I
want the flesh tones to be between zones 6 and 7" and tailors their
exposure and processing in accordance, that is zone system to me.
I shoot and process my black and white work using the zone
system. Just about every process can be handled using the zone system.
The zone system can give us the negs that will print nicely for the
different printing methods. (tho' the negative material isn't quite what
it used to be).
later, - Mike -