Product Description

The Practical Zone System: for Film and Digital Photography 4th edition is an updated version of what has become the classic book on the technique developed by Ansel Adams in the 1940's. The zone system was designed to provide photographers with a precise and intuitive way to control the dynamic range of their negatives to produce printable results regardless of the contrast of the subjects they are shooting.

What Chris Johnson has done in this new edition is completely update his approach to teaching the zone system with new film/developer testing data and new illustrations and examples.

Most importantly, he has added an extensive new chapter that provides a detailed explanation for how the zone system's conceptual approach and terminology can help digital photographers achieve the highest possible quality from digital image processes. The emphasis is on subjects that include: optimizing digital camera exposure, color management and a fine printing workflow.

Other important updates include:
* Workflow for fine digital printing
* Contemporary images
* Updated film/developer test data
* New film/developer tests
* Updated Appendixes

* New full color edition includes updates on workflow for fine digital printing, contemporary images, and film/developer test data
* Save time using the numerous development and film charts and easy-to-follow testing methods in the book
* New emphasis on the role that Zone System concepts can play in digital photographic processes, while keeping all information from previous edition for film shooters

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27789 in Books
• Published on: 2006-09-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780240807560
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
California photographercollege teacher Johnson was a friend and follower of the late Ansel Adams, whose development of the "zone system" for black-and-white film exposure and processing was a major contribution to American photographic art. The author here undertakes instruction in that system without "highly technical explanations that confuse." Clearly and logically, with illustrations and helpful diagrams, he tells how to "pre-visualize" a picture and explains zone system requirements of contrast control, using a zone scale of gray areas linking the subject to shutter-speed and exposure choices, and similar analysis of elements in a scene to be coordinated with later developing and printing. A basic photography primer and glossary of terms are appended for reference. This is a job well done, but as is perhaps inevitable, the subject remains complicated.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"The Practical Zone System is one of the easier books to understand on the zone system for better black-and-white photographs...It takes the complex issues of the zone system and removes the calculations and just gives you what you need to know." - The Midwest Book Review -- Review

Review
Praise for previous editions:

"The Practical Zone System is one of the easier books to understand on the zone system for better black-and-white photographs... Its takes the complex issues of the zone system and removes the calcualtions and just gives you what you need to know."--The Midwest Book Review

"I have found this new book on the zone system to be one of the best I have seen so far, and as an added bonus, it is even easy to understand. . ." - Apogee Photo Magazine Nov. 2006

Diagrams and illustrations show readers how to previsualize a picture and master the Zone System requirements of contrast control. It explores use of the system in digital photography.-PC Photo, February 2007

The book includes testing methods, test results for 10 major films in Kodak's XTOL developers, an overview of color photography, a listing of Internet resources for professional and fine art photographers, a primer on basic photography, and examples of how commercial photographers use the Zone System in their work.-Studio Photography, February 2007

Customer Reviews

Practical, useful, sound guidance on the zone system.
This is one of the easier books to understand on the zone system. It does not get too tied up in the details of the system but describes enough detail to allow the reader to understand the basics of the system. This book is really targeted to someone who is not familiar with the zone system or who has studied it in more complex books and did not really comprehend the system. For this intended audience the book is right on target. It takes the complex issues of the zone system and removes the calculations and just gives you what you need to know. Think of it like the difference between an art teacher who says "Color the grass green" versus one who says "The grass must be green because chlorophyll absorbs the green portion of the light spectrum and so reflected light appears that color". If you just want to know how to use the system without a lot of detail behind why the system works then this is a good book selection for you.

Good Text, Crappy Illustrations
This book is the current bible of the zone system. Everything you want and need to know about it for both film and digital.

But Focal Press once again comes through with crappy illustrations. The key to the zone system is being able to discriminate tones. The copy of the book I received has such muddy printing that it is impossible to see any difference between zones 0 to II and VIII and IX on the step diagrams provided. The black and white photos used for examples are equally muddy, making it difficult to follow the discussion in the text.

Text gets 5 stars, production gets 1, average = 3

The Practical Zone System makes the Zone System just that.
This book is an excellent introduction to the Zone System. If you are looking to learn about the Zone System, it is hard to go wrong with this book. However, if you are somewhat familiar with the Zone System and are looking for more advanced info, this may not be the book for you. I had read Ansel Adam's book "The Negative" (which is an excellent book if you are looking for a bit more technical and in depth study) before this book so I felt that the book was a little simple. However, the thing I love about this book are the appendixes Chris includes. In them are a wealth of info for developing times for many developers and films, as well and a plethora of additional useful information. I also found the two testing methods Chris provided to be extremely accurate and useful. In summary, this is an excellent introductory book on the Zone System, and intermediate users will find the appendixes extremely useful. However, if you consider yourself an expert in the Zone System, I would not recommend this book. However, if you consider yourself an expert, you probably won't be looking for a book anyway.