Re: [Leica] Grey Zone

[Ted Grant <tedgrant@islandnet.com>]

Mark Rabiner wrote:

>8 is 5 steps (F stops) up from 3. I have a 5 stop range for black and white.
>If the 8's turn out to be more that 5 up from my 3's I've got to rethink
>my 3's.
>Clear as mud!
>You have your own names for your thresholds and you have determined where they
>are and it works for you!>>>>>>

Hi Mark,

Yep clear as mud! :)

I can honestly say with absolute truth, that all the posts pertaining to
Grey stuff, zone, thresholds, numbers, zone systems and all that stuff have
never entered my thought process when shooting. I see it as a completely
distracting element of photography, taking your attention away from what is
motivating you to press the button. And certainly by "feeling the moment."

I'm motivated by whatever the action or scene is and I shoot when the
little red lights say, "it's shoot time!" press button!:)  They always seem
to be exposed OK! And all that zone stuff has always been completely
meaningless. IMHO! :)

I realise there are others who live by that system, be that as it may, it
works for some and doesn't for others. So now when you folks hear me say
"I'm not a techie photographer", you'll understand I'm not.

I've never been a shoot by numbers kind of photographer. However, I must
have been doing something right without knowing I was doing it. The problem
with these exposure posts is, when I start reading them I wonder what the
hell have I been doing wrong all these years! :) Frankly, I don't think
anything, I just never took the time to read all that stuff because it took
away picture taking time! And all I wanted to do was take pictures! :)

I find  all this zone number technical stuff makes picture taking very
mechanical and  without feeling! But like folks say, different strokes for
different folks!

I firmly believe, if what you shoot makes you feel good, then who the hell
cares  what other people do! Sure you have to know some of the technical
stuff, but to dwell on it day after day, roll after roll, surely makes
photography a terribly technical and boring exercise, when it's supposed to
be the fun of a life time.:) For me that's the way it has always been.

ted







Ted Grant
This is Our Work. The Legacy of Sir William Osler.
http://www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant