The Practical Zone System for Film and Digital Photography

Chris Johnson is a Professor of Photography at California College of the Arts. He is a photographic and video artist, curator and writer; his work has been exhibited in numerous gallery and museum shows. He is the creator of the Question Bridge video project and Co-Director with Hank Willis Thomas of Question Bridge: Black Males. This project won the 2015 ICP Infinity Award; was published as a book by Aperture, and the video installation has been inducted into the permanent collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

1. "Will It Come Out?"

2. Print Quality, Negative Contrast, and Dynamic Range

3. The Control of Negative Contrast

4. The Zone

5. Exposure

6. Development

7. An Overview of the Zone System

8. Zone System Testing: Method 1

9. Zone System Testing: Method 2

10. The Zone System and Digital Photography

11. The Zone System and Studio Photography

Appendix A. Color Management, Profiles, and Color Spaces

Appendix B. A Primer on Studio Lighting Photography

Appendix C. What is a Pixel?

Appendix D. Bit Depth

Appendix E. Exposure and the Digital Linear Effect

Appendix F. Digital Light Meters and the Zone System.

Appendix G. A Primer on Basic Film Photography

Appendix H. Films, Developers, and Processing

Appendix I. The Practical Zone System Film and Developer Testing Method

Appendix J. Film and Developer Commentary by Iris Davis

Appendix K. Alternative Methods for Extreme Expansion and Contraction Development

Appendix L. Contrast Control with Paper Grades

Appendix M. Developer Dilution

Appendix N. Compensating Developers

Appendix O. Inspection Development

Appendix P. Condenser and Diffusion Enlargers

Appendix Q. ASA/ISO Numbers

Appendix R. Filter Factors, the Reciprocity Effect, and Bellows Extension Factors

Appendix S. A Compensation Method for Inaccurate Meters

Appendix T. Zone System Metering Form

Appendix U. Exposure Record and Checklist for Zone System Testing

Appendix V. Examples: Zone System Applications

Appendix W. Suggested Reading

Appendix X. A Brief Directory of Online Digital and Photography-Related Resources

Appendix Y. A Brief Glossary of Zone System and Digital Terminology.