Week 5

5th September 2014 (Week 5)
Amer Eizwann (0320242)

Introduction to Photography

Exercise 3: Zone System

Lecture:

Class started with Mr Vinod explaining to us about our mistakes that we kept repeating in our Eportfolio. Everyone didnt do the blog the right way. After he got us clear about the Eportfolio and kept reminding us about all the important thing that should and should not be done in the Eportfolio. After he make sure everyone understood the way the blog should be written he continue with a recap of all the pass things we have learn because he things we still have not understand the full function of Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO. We did a flashback study that Aperture controls the amount of light that enters the camera by the opening size of the aperture leaves. Shutter Speed in the other hand controls the duration of how long does light goes in and touches the camera sensor. ISO then controls the sensitivity of the sensor towards light. After all does recap lectures, Mr Vinod showed us how The Zone System works followed by showing us the Zone chart from zone 1 which is pure dark to zone 9 which is Pure white. Zone 5 is called Subjective middle-grey because different people might have different opinion on which is the middle-grey. It could be between Zone 4 to Zone 6. He also pointed point out that our camera light meter are "stupid" in a way because the camera will always find the average tonal value (Zone 5). Later on he continue by showing us the exercise we have to complete.

Instructions: Zone System
Having learned that the camera light meter is dumb, because it gives you an average or optimized (middle grey; zone 5) exposure irrespective of the subject matter, execute the plan below to prove the theory and record you thoughts on the matter in your eportfolio.

Exercise 3a: Zone System
1. Capture three subjects: one light zones, middle zones and dark zones.
2. Take two images for each subject, one exposure according to the camera's light meter and the other according to the zone you believe the image falls under.

3. Ensure that the subjects you choose for each zone area (light, middle dark) have a good range of tones within the zone's area. As an example if you are capturing a subject that falls under the light zone and the subject is a white wall, it is only going to have 1 shade of the light zone, so avoid such subject matters, choose subjects that have a healthy tonal range within the white zone. 

3a) Light, Middle & Dark Tones (5%)
Marking Criteria: The student must show evidence of using the Zone System technique to capture an ‘accurate exposure’ of a subject with light tones, a subject with middle tones and a subject with dark tones. An accurate exposure entails ‘visible tonal values and details’ in all three tonal areas.

Results of Exercise:

1

Zone 7 (ISO 200, f1.8, 1/10)

2

Zone 8 (ISO 200, f1.8, 1/2.5)

3

Zone 5 (ISO 200, f2.2, 1/50)

4

Zone 5 (ISO 200, f2.2, 1/50)

5

Zone 3 (ISO 200, f1.8, 1/5)

6

Zone 2 (ISO 200, f2.8, 1/2)

Screenshot

Feedback:

Feedback, week 5. Amer the choice of the middle tone subject was not approprite in that the background did not seem to fall within the shades that are considered to be middle. Plus the main object the iPhones were flat and did not have the required shades. Lighting was also an issue, with regards to your dark subject, was done with in door lighting ? It is best to do this work or for that matter any of the exercises using "daylight" as a source. -- Criteria for the exercise was not present under the instructions. Your reflections show an improvement from before and are better. Do look at Yong's reflection and read the feedback I gave him.- Mr Vinod.

Reflection:

Experience

From today's class, I learn that i really have to know how to manage my time to do all my assignments and nothing personal should effect my studies. From today's class also is my first time hearing about the Zone System. All this years ive never heard or studied about the zone system that was introduce to the world of photography by Ansel Adams. Before this i have not heard about Ansel Adams too because my knowings about other photographers was also around Malaysian Photographers. Ive never got to take the time to know many International photographers which i should take the time to get to know. As Mr Vinod explain what was the zone system i could not understand the whole thing but i got the main idea what the Zone system was because although i didnt watch all the videos given or read all the reading material, i ask my friend to read some of the info about Zone System in the morning while i was on my way to campus. 

Observation

From today's class I learn something new which was the zone system. i realise that it's true what Mr Vinod said that our camera light meter is dumb. I've observe that studying the topic before entering the class can be very helpful when u know the basic of the topic. I would not have to crack my head understanding if i had watches the videos materials. I only had time to go through a bit of the reading materials. Basically the zone system is about shades from light (white) to dark (black).

Findings

From today's class, Ive found out that  I have gained more knowledge in photography and about the Zone System as I understand the basic concept of it. I also noticed that i can remember things better if i wrote down short notes about the class so it can make me writing my Eportfolio easier. Also i find out that i study and remember things better when other people story me about the topic. not the explain the topic but put it like as if its a story. it helps me remember the important point and words better.