Beyond the Zone System / Edition 4

by Phil Davis

Overview

This fourth edition of Beyond the Zone System makes the science of photographic sensitometry both accessible and useful to interested photographers. It will appeal to any serious photographer interested in knowing how the materials and processes of black-and-white photography work. Instead of describing rote procedures to be followed blindly, this book provides the basis for understanding what needs to be done and why. This book relates theory to practice in a way that promotes a true partnership of science and art.



Beyond the Zone System bridges the gap between the more theoretical aspects of the photographic process and the popular empirical procedures used by many photographers in the attempt to predict and control the quality of their photographs in practice.

This book is intended primarily for photographers who use large-format cameras and black-and-white sheet film, but the basic information about how the B&W photographic materials and processes work will be useful to users of any B&W film format.

Beyond the Zone System, 4th ed. will appeal to any serious photographer interested in knowing how the materials and processes of black-and-white photography work. Instead of describing rote procedures to be followed blindly, this book provides the basis for understanding what needs to be done and why. This book relates theory to practice in a way that promotes a true partnership of science and art.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780240803432
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	11/16/1998
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	8.25(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)

Read an Excerpt

This fourth edition of Beyond the Zone System makes the science of photographic sensitometry both accessible and useful to interested photographers. It bridges the gap between the more theoretical aspects of the photographic process and the popular empirical procedures used by many photographers in the attempt to predict and control the quality of their photographs in practice.

This book is intended primarily for photographers who use large-format cameras and black-and-white sheet film, but the basic information about how the B&W photographic materials and processes work will be useful to users of any B&W film format.

Beyond the Zone System, 4th ed. will appeal to any serious photographer interested in knowing how the materials and processes of black-and-white photography work. Instead of describing rote procedures to be followed blindly, this book provides the basis for understanding what needs to be done and why. This book relates theory to practice in a way that promotes a true partnership of science and art.

From the back cover

Table of Contents

Why Sensitometry?; Learning the Language; How To Read and Interpret Characteristic Curves; From Theory To Practice; The Densitometer Dilemma; Testing Your Materials; Interpreting Curves for Working Data; Getting To Know Your Meter; Exposure/Development Control Systems; The Systems Beyond; Image Gradation; Fine Tuning

Editorial Reviews

New edition of a text that explains the why and how of the photographic process. Davis (emeritus, art, U. of Michigan) explores reading and interpreting film and paper curves, how a computer program simplifies exposure and development control, light metering, and densitometers. He includes plans for adapting a light meter to serve as a densitometer and instructions for constructing specialized developing tubes and an exposure calculator. This edition features a new chapter on control of image gradation. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

"A really wonderful, easy to understand breakdown of the zone system for beginning photographers."
-Ruth Adams, University of Kentucky

From the Publisher