about zone technic

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I am looking for some information about zone sytem printing .

-- umutnebioglu (umutnebioglu@hotmail.com), January 29, 2000

Answers

The Print by Ansel Adams, but I would follow up (in that order) with The Negative by the same author. I would reccommend against reading The Negative first, since The Print gets you into the basic principles a little more slowly...but both books are quite readable and even occasionally enjoyable (especially during the eureka moments).

-- shawn gibson (SeeInsideForever@yahoo.com), January 29, 2000.

There are also a number of books out dealing with the zone system for 35mm (or 120), "Beyond The Zone System'" and so one. If you have access to Amazon books (amazon.com) do a search for "zone system."

This method of photography is to vast for instructions on this forum.

-- Todd Frederick (fredrick@hotcity.com), January 30, 2000.


I would start with "The Negative" then go on to read "The Print". Both are necassary reading in order to get the most out of the zone system. There are other very valuable books out there so don't read just the Ansel Adams series alone. But the zone system is a very easy to understand system worth your while. James

-- Mr.Lumberjack (james_mickelson@hotmail.com), January 30, 2000.

Todd (And Mr Lumberjack...): Do any of the rollfilm Zone System books go beyond the "carry 3 bodies, marked N, N-, and N+" dilemma? I.e., do they show 'how to shoot a whole roll under more than one luminance"?--short of clipping, that is.

Somehow just asking that, it seems impossible, but I'll ask anyways and hope to get lucky...

I always feel guilty for citing the Adams' trilogy to those who use 35mm or 1/220, and I myself don't have any other advice to offer them or utilize myself...

-- shawn gibson (SeeInsideForever@yahoo.com), January 30, 2000.


Shawn, Adams suggested that you shoot a mixed roll all as n-1 to retain all information, then, after developement, you could cut individual frames for further darkroom control.

-- mark lindsey (lindseygraves@msn.com), February 01, 2000.


Go to the library and get a copy of The Fine Print by Fred Picker. Pat

-- pat j. krentz (krentz@cci-29palms.com), February 03, 2000.

One technique when shooting 35mm is pre-exposure. It helps shadow density which is the first thing to go south when underdeveloping. And I concur with the idea of under-developing by about 20%. You can regain the contrast with filtration. The zone system can be utilized in roll film formats with some precautions and experience. There is a book out that deals specifically with shooting roll film and using thew zone system of controls. I will endeavor to find the name and pass it on to the group. James

-- Mr.Lumberjack (james_mickelson@hotmail.com), February 04, 2000.

>>then, after developement, you could cut individual frames for further darkroom control.

I think I've been doing what you and Mr. Lumberjack are saying intuitively, since my times are usually quite a bit shorter than other times I've noticed for similar film/developer combinations. But I don't really know what you mean in the quote?

Do you mean cut the negs which need more development and then develop them more, i.e., before fixing? I've heard that pyro is OK to pull out and look under a certain light (green?) before fixing...

-- shawn gibson (SeeInsideForever@yahoo.com), February 05, 2000.


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