Digital BW, The Print

Paul Roark said:

 >I get tired of hearing about
> the "zone system."  It was mostly developed for a time before there
was even
> graded printing paper.  As such, the negative had to be fit to the few
> printing paper contrasts that were available.

With all due respect to Paul and his many contributions here and elsewhere,
not to mention is knowledge and ability, as others have pointed out the
above statement is factually incorrect. The zone system was developed by
Adams and Fred Archer  in the 1940s, at a time when graded papers were
plentiful.

More importantly, I think it ignores the principal value of the zone system.
While the zone system could be used to squeeze the contrast of the negative
into the available contrast range of the paper, that wasn't (and isn't) its
principal value.  The real value of the zone system lies in its use as a
creative tool, to permit the photographer to decide what kind of print he or
she wishes to make and then to produce a negative (or a digital image) that
will make it possible to produce that print as easily and as closely as
possible. While we certainly have greater controls than were available in
Adams' and Archer's time, I think it's still important to begin at the best
possible starting point (negative or digital image) for the final print and
understanding the zone system will help accomplish that.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Djon" <westsidemaurice@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 8:49 AM
Subject: [Digital BW] Re: Zone system (was Annie Lennox)
 (snipped)


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