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Ansel Adam's "Zone System"
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Mar 2, 2024 11:44:28   #
A. T.
 
A. T. wrote:
LOL, I certainly know what you mean, I'm 67 and sometimes forget how old I am. Thank you for your opinion which I will certainly follow. I will read for education but will focus on enjoying this wonderful "antique" camera.


I purchased a sekonic light meter to help with spot metering for proper exposure.

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Mar 2, 2024 11:46:23   #
A. T.
 
lamiaceae wrote:
I have Ansel's books too, both the original series and the 1980s series. Do note, other authors have written new books specifically explaining how to use the Zone System for Digital Photography. Enjoy film and digital photography.


Thank you so much and I will do just that....enjoy both digital and film photography.

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Mar 2, 2024 11:49:30   #
A. T.
 
Amaize wrote:
I would recommend you add to your library Beyond the Zone System, by Phil Davis.


I will order that book today, thanks.

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Mar 2, 2024 12:05:33   #
BartHx
 
BebuLamar wrote:
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.


I learned the zone system directly from Ansel Adams. Since a major portion of his work was shot with a view camera he had no difficulty changing the film in use if he felt it necessary to do so (just carry extra film holders loaded with a different film). The variation in his development was primarily to control the tonal range of the image. He would meter several areas of the image (definitely both high and low) and kept extensive notes for each shot. When I was learning from him he was using a spot meter. He extended development to increase the contrast range and reduced development to reduce the contrast range. He would plan the development for each shot even before the film was ever exposed.

I watched Ansel set up his view camera looking at a blank white, sunlit wall and create a full ten step gray scale using Polaroid Type 55PN film simply by changing exposure settings between shots.

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Mar 2, 2024 12:25:40   #
goldstar46 Loc: Tampa, Fl
 
A. T. wrote:
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.
I recently purchased Ansel Adam's book, "The ... (show quote)

------------------------

A.T....

My second, ever camera that I own when I was going to the University of South Florida and working at John F. Kennedy space center back in the nineteen seventies

Absolutely love that camera.

Envious.. 😉 😉

Cheers
Goldstar46
George Veazey

###

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Mar 2, 2024 13:11:11   #
foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC
 
When I was first getting involved with photography I remember reading about the "Zone System". They even mentioned about you could make your own dial to help facilitate using it. Here is what I came up with. I have never even used it. But I have kept it all of those years (50).

/Users/harryrot/Desktop/IMG_1639.JPG

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Mar 2, 2024 13:34:04   #
Robert Ley
 
A. T. wrote:
Okay, thanks for the information. I'll have to look into that to see what is needed. The investment is not the issue, it's the space needed for the development.


You won't need a great deal of space to process film. You will need a changing bag or an area in your house where you can block out all light like an internal bathroom to load the film. You will need three chemicals, developer, stop bath and fixer as well as a tank and reels. The rest can be done at your kitchen sink without any problems. You will also need a place fairly dust free that you can hang your negs to dry.

If you are serious about processing your own film and if you really want to use that Blad then download an app for your phone called "the Massive Development Chart" it will give you development times for most films and developers as well as a nice timer to time your process.

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Mar 2, 2024 13:53:32   #
A. T.
 
Robert Ley wrote:
You won't need a great deal of space to process film. You will need a changing bag or an area in your house where you can block out all light like an internal bathroom to load the film. You will need three chemicals, developer, stop bath and fixer as well as a tank and reels. The rest can be done at your kitchen sink without any problems. You will also need a place fairly dust free that you can hang your negs to dry.

If you are serious about processing your own film and if you really want to use that Blad then download an app for your phone called "the Massive Development Chart" it will give you development times for most films and developers as well as a nice timer to time your process.
You won't need a great deal of space to process fi... (show quote)


I totally appreciate all of your advice and help but I think at this point, I just want to learn as much as I can about film photography and leave the developing to the professionals and just enjoy this amazing camera. Again, thank you so very much for your concern and advice.

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Mar 2, 2024 14:01:49   #
A. T.
 
goldstar46 wrote:
------------------------

A.T....

My second, ever camera that I own when I was going to the University of South Florida and working at John F. Kennedy space center back in the nineteen seventies

Absolutely love that camera.

Envious.. 😉 😉

Cheers
Goldstar46
George Veazey

###


Absolutely. I am a 67yr. old retired firefighter who was late in this wonderful adventure of photography. I have several Nikon flagship DSLRs that I simply love and they will forever be my go to cameras; however, I'm Blessed financially to have been able to afford this wonderful mint condition Hasselblad. I have had the camera about three weeks now with several rolls of 120 film and have yet to shoot with the camera. I also purchased a sekonic spot meter to aid in properly reading exposures. My plan is to shoot as much as I can whenever I can with this amazing camera and above all else, have lots of fun. I certainly understand why you love this camera....I'm in love with it and I have only had it a few weeks.

Cheers back at ya George,
A. T.

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Mar 2, 2024 14:05:00   #
goldstar46 Loc: Tampa, Fl
 
A. T. wrote:
Absolutely. I am a 67yr. old retired firefighter who was late in this wonderful adventure of photography. I have several Nikon flagship DSLRs that I simply love and they will forever be my go to cameras; however, I'm Blessed financially to have been able to afford this wonderful mint condition Hasselblad. I have had the camera about three weeks now with several rolls of 120 film and have yet to shoot with the camera. I also purchased a sekonic spot meter to aid in properly reading exposures. My plan is to shoot as much as I can whenever I can with this amazing camera and above all else, have lots of fun. I certainly understand why you love this camera....I'm in love with it and I have only had it a few weeks.

Cheers back at ya George,
A. T.
Absolutely. I am a 67yr. old retired firefighter ... (show quote)



Have fun my friend

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Mar 2, 2024 14:13:40   #
brabusa Loc: Jacksonville FL
 
I've been a sports photographer primarily, for 40 years and I just wanted you to know that film, tri-x for one were often pushed so that instead of shooting at 400ASA it could be push processed to a variety of ASAs. I often used it at 800, 1600 and 3200. The higher it was pushed the larger the grain became, but it allowed you to get the photo. I also often pushed ektachrome as high as1200ASA. Once again the grain became more obvious and often there was a color shift, but again you could capture the action. These were the days when you had to follow moving objects (athletes) and focus! There was no auto focus.

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Mar 2, 2024 14:15:22   #
A. T.
 
BartHx wrote:
I learned the zone system directly from Ansel Adams. Since a major portion of his work was shot with a view camera he had no difficulty changing the film in use if he felt it necessary to do so (just carry extra film holders loaded with a different film). The variation in his development was primarily to control the tonal range of the image. He would meter several areas of the image (definitely both high and low) and kept extensive notes for each shot. When I was learning from him he was using a spot meter. He extended development to increase the contrast range and reduced development to reduce the contrast range. He would plan the development for each shot even before the film was ever exposed.

I watched Ansel set up his view camera looking at a blank white, sunlit wall and create a full ten step gray scale using Polaroid Type 55PN film simply by changing exposure settings between shots.
I learned the zone system directly from Ansel Adam... (show quote)


Okay, what I'm doing now in my studies is learning how to use my spot meter to determine the appropriate exposure for 120 film. Now, please correct me if I'm looking at this the wrong way. In digital photography, when a DSLR is in matrix metering mode, the entire scene is averaged to determine a proper exposure. Since this Hasselblad has no exposure meter, I have to use the tool (spot meter) to take readings of different values in the scene and average them to determine an approximate correct exposure. I say approximate because I'm aware that there are other factors involved in exposure that can determine what is appropriate for the photographer.

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Mar 2, 2024 14:16:26   #
A. T.
 
goldstar46 wrote:

Have fun my friend


Absolutely, thanks so much.

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Mar 2, 2024 14:19:08   #
A. T.
 
brabusa wrote:
I've been a sports photographer primarily, for 40 years and I just wanted you to know that film, tri-x for one were often pushed so that instead of shooting at 400ASA it could be push processed to a variety of ASAs. I often used it at 800, 1600 and 3200. The higher it was pushed the larger the grain became, but it allowed you to get the photo. I also often pushed ektachrome as high as1200ASA. Once again the grain became more obvious and often there was a color shift, but again you could capture the action. These were the days when you had to follow moving objects (athletes) and focus! There was no auto focus.
I've been a sports photographer primarily, for 40 ... (show quote)


I get it. I'm so glad that we live in a time of auto focus technology. This Hasselblad is just for fun and to just look at this amazing vintage camera on the shelf.

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Mar 2, 2024 14:20:42   #
Bruce T Loc: Michigan
 
WHAT!!! There has always been ISO. Film use to be rated as ASA…same thing now just International Organization for Standards(Switzerland.)
I’m 69, I’ve been shooting since 1974.
The difference was that we changed out the film for a sunny day, cloudy day, indoors, sporting event.
All light meters use the triangle…ISO, aperture and shutter speed.
Why do you think that all flash had a GN that rated by ISO 100? The ISO is set and it gives you a usable aperture setting to select(with a shutter speed of 1/60-1/250.)

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