The Practical Zone System

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

California photographercollege teacher Johnson was a friend and follower of the late Ansel Adams, whose development of the ``zone system'' for black-and-white film exposure and processing was a major contribution to American photographic art. The author here undertakes instruction in that system without ``highly technical explanations that confuse.'' Clearly and logically, with illustrations and helpful diagrams, he tells how to ``pre-visualize'' a picture and explains zone system requirements of contrast control, using a zone scale of gray areas linking the subject to shutter-speed and exposure choices, and similar analysis of elements in a scene to be coordinated with later developing and printing. A basic photography primer and glossary of terms are appended for reference. This is a job well done, but as is perhaps inevitable, the subject remains complicated. (April)

Booknews

Makes the zone system for contrast control accessible to beginning, large format, 35 mm, and commercial photographers. Focus is on basic principles and applying the system in real life. A final section offers technical notes on b&w photos by seven well-known fine art photographers. Includes 13 technical appendices on films, papers, developers, equipment, and filters, as well as print and electronic sources for products. Also includes a 25-page primer on basic photography. This third edition incorporates information on new films and developers that have appeared since the last edition. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.