General & Miscellaneous Photography Techniques, Lighting Techniques for Photography

The Practical Zone System

Name: The Practical Zone System
Author: Chris Johnson
ISBN: 9780240803289

by Chris Johnson

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Overview

The subject of the zone system is now very much in the mainstream among amateur as well as professional photographers. This newly revised edition of a photography classic teaches photographers how to recognize the zones both on the print and in the field or studio, to pre-visualize their photograph and expose accordingly, to access their prints and negatives for contrast, and to test equipment for reliable results.
This book has been updated to include information on the latest developers and films. New illustrations have been added to reflect the most contemporary photographic styles, and information on digital imaging supplied in the second edition has been expanded into a new chapter.

The practical approach of this book, with its numerous time-saving development and film charts and easy-to-follow testing methods, is an important resource for the beginning, large-format, 35mm, and professional photographer.

Audience: Amateur and professional art photographers, students in b/w photo courses.

About the Author, Chris Johnson

Chris Johnson studied photography with Ansel Adams, Wynn Bullock, and Imogen Cunningham. His photographic and video works have been widely exhibited and he has conducted workshops and lectured on the Zone System in the United States and Japan. He is currently a Professor of Photography at the California College of Arts and Crafts and has recently served as Chair of the Cultural Arts Commission for the City of Oakland.
Chris Johnson studied photography with Ansel Adams, Wynn Bullock, and Imogen Cunningham. His photographic and video works have been widely exhibited and he has conducted workshops and lectured on the Zone System in the United States and Japan. He is currently a Professor of Photography at the California College of Arts and Crafts and has recently served as Chair of the Cultural Arts Commission for the City of Oakland.

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Editorials

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.