[Leica] WAS: Exposure and Development ZONE SYSTEM ;-)

[walt at waltjohnson.com (Walt Johnson)]

Dammit Ted, It's back to Photo 101 for you. :-)  Actually, the Zone 
system is kinda fun and always felt it gave me a decent understanding of 
what was going on. Bottom line though, f8 and be there.

Ted Grant wrote:
> I have to confess, well Ok tomorrow is Sunday. ;-) So I figure that's 
> OK. ;-)
>
> The Zone system? Never understood it simply because I've always been a 
> 35mm kind of guy with a few years of Hassi and TLRollies all tied 
> together with the 35's..
>
> It seemed to me the Zone system was really of great use to folks 
> shooting rocks, ferns and non-breathing things. One sheet at a time.
>
> The rest of us it's been pretty well real life and breathing.
>
> Like I always figured if one were into the zone sytem while walking 
> down the street it could be very interesting. Suddenly there's a 
> scream from the 52nd floor of a high building. You look up and there's 
> a person on the way to the ground. I the 35mm shooter start shooting 
> the action tickey tickey all the way to the big splash. :-)
>
> The ZONE FOLK look up, the body is hurtling though a number of shades 
> of light. Now they decide what "zone the falling body is in." Of 
> course very adapt at this kind of estimating they quickly decide on 
> ZONE 1!
>
> Remember I'm using a number system merely to explain and has nothing 
> to do with real ZONE numbers, because I don't have a clue what the 
> heck they are anyway." :-)
>
> Unfortunately the ZONE shooter realizes the falling body has now moved 
> into ZONE 3 and quickly makes camera adjustment for 3. Shooter looks 
> up from camera and it's "damn! Now the body is in a ZONE  6!" 
> !!!!!!!!!  Back to camera!
>
> Now remember the body is "free falling from the 52nd floor and nearing 
> ground level!"
>
> ZONE shooter's head is back to camera, another fast adjustment for 
> ZONE 6!
>
> Looks back for the picture and it's WHAM BAM, BLOOD AND GUTS ALL OVER 
> THE PLACE! Waits a moment, decides the stuff looks really cool in a 
> ZONE 4.5 makes adjustment, looks back as the paramedics are clearing 
> up the mess........ oops!!
> TOO LATE! ;-) Again! ;-)
>
> Packs camera and moves down the street to the cemetary because it's 
> sure as heck nothing is moving nor breathing there! ;-) And without 
> question the ZONE system is the absolute ideal perfect answer for this 
> type of scene....... the cemetary "ONE SHEET OF FILM AT A TIME!" :-)
>
> There you go, and I bet you thought I didn't know when and where to 
> use the ZONE system. ;-)
>
> Oh, then there's the other zone.... jeesh nearly forgot about this 
> one. You really don't want to go there with a camera any 
> time...........THE DE-MILITARIZED ZONE!" ;-)
>
> Actually that's the only real ZONE I have any experince with. :-) And 
> did go with a camera, several actually, created a little bit of 
> concern with the 400mm! ;-) It was interesting. :-)
> I just smiled at the other guys and waved! :-)
>
> ted
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