[Leica] IMG: Another Monochrome Lighthouse

[George Lottermoser]

On Oct 21, 2014, at 2:39 PM, Tina Manley wrote:

> But the Zone system is exactly what I use and always have!  With film, I
> looked for Zone 5 and metered off of something like the ground or grass and
> then recomposed.  With the Monochrome and the danger of overexposing the
> highlights, I try to find Zone 6 or 7 to meter off of.  I usually use the
> center-weighted metering but sometimes, in tricky lighting, I use the spot
> meter.  I'll admit that my normal style is documentary, not art, so I'm
> shooting very fast, handheld, and moving on.  The K2 yellow filter that I
> used this trip should just increase the contrast slightly, especially the
> sky.  I don't normally use filters at all but the Monochrome files look
> very flat just imported into LR.  I'll try running them through Silver FX.
> Suggested settings?

Metering off of Zone 5 subject placement doesn't "use the Zone System"
so much as simply locate the area where the meter puts any and everything.

And if you've set the camera to -2/3… then…?
You've actually put the subject Zone V closer to Zone IV.

Then using the camera's meter, with a yellow filter on the camera,
and pointing it at the grass… well if the grass has turned a bit yellow… 
where is your actual value in your Monochrom file… probably considerably lighter than Zone V?

In other words… way too many variables… to call it "using the Zone System"
which by definition requires controlling all the variables to render consistent and known results.

Determining precisely where a given subject value renders without detail in both the highlight and shadow
is where I start to understand the Monochrom sensor's dynamic range;
and to precisely PLACE those highlight values where I want them to be; consistently.

Regards,
George Lottermoser 

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