A. T.

I recently purchased Ansel Adam's book, "The Negative" specifically to understand and learn to apply the zone system of exposure. I just reached the chapter on the Zone System and though I shoot digitally, I'm finding that this system is amazing and can definitely be an added bonus. I also recently purchased a top mint condition Hasselblad 500CM that I'm over the moon excited to start using; however, there are some things that I need to learn about film photography. I've become a student once again and it's truly exciting.

BebuLamar

I had his 3 books since 1984. I like them. He talked about exposure but no triangle.

srt101fan

Back then there was no need or use for something like the "triangle" concept. ISO was a different variable, changeable only by changing film.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

Ahhhhhh, the good old days . . .

Stan

brentrh Loc: Deltona, FL

Long before I herd about the triangle I used the zone system. When I studied the triangle I realized it was the zone system

BebuLamar

I always thought the "Triangle" was invented in the 21st century but many people said it has been around forever. I wouldn't doubt Adams skill in exposure but I am sure he knew no triangle.

srt101fan

Why would he know or even think of the "triangle" when ISO was not a variable other than by film change?

BebuLamar

He didn't use the term ISO (although ISO was in use before his death) but he could and did change the film sensitvity by indicating different development for his negative. So in effect he could and did choose different ISO when he felt needed. Just that he needed no triangle.
Although he never knew the triangle he did wrote about a paragraph on the choices of aperture/film speed and shutter speed. But only 1 paragraph was enough not the entire book about it and 1 paragraph about exposure.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Yeah, if you are going to do traditional silver halide black-and-white film photography, the Zone System is very helpful.

If you do your own film developing, check this out: https://www.digitaltruth.com/devchart.php?mobile

If you want to do some serious digital work with your film images, read this white paper for the concepts involved in "Camera Scanning."

Camera Scanning.pdf opens in your favorite PDF reader.
Attached file:
(Download)

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Many years ago I had the great experience of attending an Ansel Adams workshop. I studied all his books and over the years, applied much of the Zone Syste to my commercial photography.

Congratulations on your Hasselblad purchase- I used the entire system for decades- it is a fine precision instrument.

If you have no basic knowledge of film photography you will be operating at a disadvantage as you are attempting to tackle the Zone System. Before venturing into that system, you should have a basic foundation in film process and printing techniques. If you start with an easily and currently obtainable black-and-white roll film such as (for example) Kodak Tri-X, there's a recommended, IOS rating (400), and a prescribed processing procedure as to chemistry, time, temperature, etc. The Zons system entails various changes in the standardized exposure/processig relationship dependg on the effect you are attempting to achieve in any given situation. Greyscale and gradations are another important component,

The system was originally designed to be used with SHEET film or CUT film where each sheet of film could be individually exposed and processed whereas with 120-roll film, all 12 exposures would need to be exposed and processed in the same manner.

Certin aspects of the so-called exposure triangle still apply but it is not mentioned in the original literature because the system calls for testing and establishing your own film sensitivity standards (ISO) for your gear and shootg style. The film process requires particular techniques such as pre-soaking, and extremely careful temperature control. Very basically, the is a lot of overexposure and underdevelopment to decrease contrast and underexposure and overdevelopment to increase contrast.

Makig prints on an analog enlarger is in itself an art form. There are papers of various contrast and total charistics, various developers, stop baths, fixers, hypo eliminators, and careful washing and drying procedures.

Certain Zone System principles can be applied to digital photography but the original system is film/analog, chemistry-based.

An analogy- You purchased a Hasselblad- it is like a beginning piano student purchasing a Steinway Grand Piano. The problem is, that the student can not sit down and play Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerti N0. 3 without first learning the scales, techniques, and lots of practice.

Alright! It ain't rocket science or nuclear physics- but it takes some doing!

MJPerini

If you want to understand Film Photography, you really can't do much better then Ansel Adams.
He had lots of talents, he was a concert quality pianist and lover of music, a wonderful clear writer, and a scientist by avocation. He studied sensitometry in order to understand the technical side of photography. He did so well at that , he was paid buy Eastman Kodak and Polaroid corp as a consultant. He also loved a good party.
His central thesis was that of a scientist, he learned the process and experimented to perfect it.
That is the essence of the Zone system, and while the inherent 'Tone curve' of Digital capture is different than film capture, his scientific approach always holds up. As an Artist, he believed that you needed a deep technical understanding of your medium in order to make the medium more expressive of your creative vision.
He LOVED new technology, he DOVE into Polaroid, but always technology was interesting as a means of better artistic expression. I'm certain he would have loved and mastered digital technology.
He also loved his Hasselblads in his later years.
I still have all my original Hasselblad cameras & lenses including the incomparable 903 SWC.
So, great good luck in your endeavor

therwol Loc: USA

The zone system is the beginning for serious film photography. I think that an equivalent in digital photography is using histograms to assist in capturing highlights without burning them and preserving shadow detail. Both require some work before the exposure it taken.

There are other variables that have to be corrected either in printing or in a photo editor. Contrast is adjusted with different photo papers, for instance. Exposure by the enlarger and development time can be critical and may require some experimentation. Ansel Adams spent more time "adjusting" his images in a darkroom than he ever did taking the pictures. He wrote out specific printing instructions for his photos, including how and where to use dodging and burning.

The zone system is a good beginning, but it's only that. There are other things that have to be learned in the post processing of film, particularly black and white film. You can make some of the necessary adjustments if you print color film, but it's not going to be as easy. I think the best thing to do with color is to scan it and make adjustments in a photo editor.

These are my opinions. I haven't done this in a while.

BBurns Loc: South Bay, California

Congrats on a great camera purchase. You will not be disappointed.
I was going to go into a long essay on this subject but the posts before me have said it all.

The fundamentals of photography have not changed.
It is sad that so many questions asked on the hog would be unnecessary if that basic knowledge were in place.

Us old film guys have an advantage because it is burned into our soul. We just look at a subject and shoot. We do the setup without a single thought most of the time. When you become one with your gear, it is a 6th sense.

Good luck. You will have fun.

A. T.

Thanks for the information. I have some serious learning to take on but I won't be developing my own negatives. I have a few companies that develop and scan film that I will give a try but I do plan on scanning my negatives in the future.

A. T.

Absolutely, I realized before ever considering purchasing this magnificent camera that I would have some studying and lots of practice ahead. Although I shoot digitally, I have become fascinated with old vintage camera equipment. I have a pretty good collection of old manual focus lenses that I simply love going out and shooting with. This Hasselblad is almost too beautiful to use.....it looks like it just came from the manufacturer, not one single scratch or blemish. It's amazing the build quality of these old vintage lenses and this Hasselblad....all metal, heavy and feels amazing in your hands. I'm certain in the near future I will be picking the brains of my UHH family for knowledge and information.