From: Gary Miller (gmphotos@earthlink.net)
Date: 07/18/01-07:36:51 PM Z
If you are talking zone, then a 'normal' scene means one that covers five
stops, from Zone II or III to Zone VII or VIII. This idea of five stops
being normal really helps you determine your film development compensation.
As I tell my students, read the area of shadows where you want detail and
place them in Zone III, or Zone II 1/2 or II depending on what works best
for you. Then read the highlight areas where you want detail. If they are
in Zone VII, or VII 1/2, then that is a normal scene and you would process
this at your normal development time, determined through initial film
testing. If you highlights are in Zone VIII you would have a contrasty
scene and therefore process this N-1. If your highlights with detail are in
Zone VI then you have a flat scene and would process this N+1. The key as
Jeffrey has pointed out is that it is different for each person and their
own personal shooting style. That is why everyone should do their own
development and printing tests and decide what look they like in their own
work. Depending on your particular shooting patterns you may place your
shadows with detail anywhere from Zone II to Zone IV. But there has to be
some sort of starting point here.
GM
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