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Some Thoughts About Getting the
Best Negative
Ansel Adams was a photographer, pianist,
playwright, entertainer, mountaineer. AND teacher.
For me his Zone System provides a vocabulary and
structure which permits a discussion of
photographic principles, many of which have been
around since the beginning. I find the use of "Zone"
terminology an aid to clarity and precision.
Before beginning, it might be worthwhile to
review a bit about how photographic
emulsions record the various luminance
values,
The photographer may influence the appearance of
the negative in 3 ways.
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Film Selection
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Each film has a distinct personality.
Just as the cabinet maker selects
different woods for different
applications, the photographer can select
films which help interpret the
visualization.
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Exposure
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Establishing the Proper Exposure
- Assessing the luminance values in
the scene.
- Understanding how exposure meters
evaluate luminance,
- Establishing the effective
sensitivity of the film. The
manufacturer will give you a hint, but
you should experiment for yourself to
find the correct film
speed for your equipment and
technique.
Making Expressive Adjustments
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Development
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- Establishing the Proper Development
- Making Expressive Adjustments
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All well and good when exposing and
developing individual sheets of film, but what to
do when using Roll Film?
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