27/8/2016 - Week 4
ITP
Leanne Faye
Exercise 3a) Zone System; light, middle & dark zones
Exercise 3b) The Ansel Adam's Shot

Lecture:

Today's lecture started of with Mr. Vinod going through and giving us feedbacks on our e-portflio, as per usual. After that, Mr. Vinod gave us a recap on what we have learned for the past few weeks. He asked us a few questions to make sure we are all on the same page. Mr. Vinod also explained and corrected us our mistake we made in the forum questions. He told us to never be doubtful of the facts of the 3 components, or not, we are shooting blindly. The topic for today is the 'Zone System'. Mr. Vinod showed us slides while explaining. After the lecture, we then went on and did exercise 3a) Zone System, outside the classroom then lastly, we were briefed about exercise 3b) The Ansel Adam's Shot, which Mr. Vinod also demonstrated to us on how to do it at home.


Exercise instructions

Exercise 3: 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 3(a): Zone System; light, middle & dark zones (5%)
Capture three subjects: one light zones, middle zones and dark zones.
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.
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. An example of a suitable subject has been posted in the FB group.

All pictures must be in black and white.

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.

Learning goal: Students will be able to prove that the exposure meter isn’t always accurate. Students will be able to use the Zone System to capture an accurate exposure.
Learning outcome 1: Students will be able to use exposure settings (Aperture, Shutter Speed & ISO).
Learning outcome 3: Students will be able to distinguish a bad exposure from a good exposure.
Learning outcome 2: Students will be able to use the Zone System exposure technique to achieve desired results.


Exercise 3(b): The Ansel Adam's Shot (5%)
Choose an image worthy of being called an Ansel Adam's shot (Still Life, Landscape or Portrait).
In using the Zone System sketch and write down the perceived zones in the desired image and indicate the ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed used. Identify the point of interest and state the exposure settings recommended by the camera light meter and your improved settings upon using the zone system. The image captured must fulfill the following criteria:

Marking Criteria: Students must show evidence of using the Zone System. Student must produce 1 black & white image that captures depth and richness in tonal value by capturing light, middle and dark tones while maintaining details (texture and tone) in the dark and light areas of the image.

Learning goal: Students will be able to use the Zone System to capture an accurate and desired exposure of a real-life scene with a wide range of tonal values.
Learning outcome 1: Students will be able to use exposure settings (Aperture, Shutter Speed & ISO).
Learning outcome 3: Students will be able to distinguish a bad exposure from a good exposure.
Learning outcome 2: Students will be able to use the Zone System exposure technique to achieve desired results.
Good attempts at experimenting in exercise 3a (dark). Overall you have been able to showcase evidence in exercise 3a that the in-built exposure meter is in accurate when taking pictures of dark or light subjects. In exercise 3b, the image captured was well exposed and composed but the image in itself was rather messy. The second attempt at 3b was better in terms of subject matter. However you can do better.