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Spring 2006 Ð john grzywacz-gray JohnGrzz@gmail.com

Second assignment:

"Custom is our nature." Blaise Pascal

 

Photographs are made up of Shadow values (dark values) Middle Range Values and Highlight Values (brightest values) In the Zone system we give them numbers, Roman Numerals. The darkest value is Black and it is Zone 0. The pivotal value in photography is middle gray (18% reflectance) and we use the number Z V to designate it. The highest value is Zone IX and represents glaring white values.

 

There are some general rules for exposure and this assignment is designed to help you see those values and to understand them. This assignment is based on the Zone System so please read the Zone System chapter in the "Photography" London and Upton text book. If you have the eight edition of the book the Zone System Chapter begins on page 329. Another source for the zone system is http://normankoren.com/zonesystem.html In particular look at the Simplified Zone System summary.

 

You will need to take a number of pictures:

 

  1. Find a scene with substantial shadows, but a scene that includes middle values and highlight values. It could be a landscape, or city scape, or architectural photo. Don't make it too difficult ...this is not about taking a terrific photograph it is about understanding the process. If at all possible put the camera on a tripod. You can check out a tripod from the photo department. Do this assignment on campus. It would best be done on a bright sunny day...late in the day or early in the day.
  2. Meter the shadow areas  SHADOW SERIES (you will make your exposure based on this meter reading ... but ... also meter the highlight values in the same scene and write it down so that you can compare the results in the finished print.)
    1. Expose at what the meter indicates ... when you meter the shadows.
    2. Expose 1 stop less what the meter indicates.
    3. Expose two stops less than what the meter indicatess ... by exposing two stops less you are exposing for Zone III which is the darkest value that records adequate texture.
      c. Meter the palm of your hand and open up one stop ... or meter an 18% Gray card and expose.

 

3. Photograph a person with plenty of skin showing in either direct sun or diffused lighting conditions....in other words not a bearded fellow like me.  SKIN TONE SERIES

a.      Expose at what the meter indicates

b.      Expose one stop more ... this is the traditional exposure for Caucasion skin value.

c.       Expose two stops more.
d. Meter the palm of your hand and open up one stop ... or meter an 18% Gray card and expose.

 

 

4. Photograph a scene with a lot of light values. We call those highlights. A snow scene or a white building in bright sun. Anything that is very bright. HIGH LIGHT SERIES.

a.      Expose at what the meter indicates

b.      Expose one stop more

c.       Expose two stops more ... The reason you are exposing more is that you want the white value to be white on the print ... and a darker value on the negative. We can measure the density of the negative on a densitometer. We will do that this semester.

d.      Expose three stops more
e. Meter the palm of your hand and open up one stop ... or meter an 18% Gray card and expose.

 

 

Keep good notes. Process carefully. Make an uncorrected contact sheet.

All of these exposures should be made on the same roll of film.

Make your test print by exposing for the space between frames ... find the minimum time to produce the maximum black and print all 12 prints at the same exposure. Please check with me to be sure you are exposing at the right time.

MAKE 5x7 prints...one each of the 12 exposures ... you should at the end have 12 5x7 prints plus the contact sheet

The finished assignment includes those 12 prints and the uncorrected contact sheet.