The Zone System, does it matter?

[fuwen]

Football? What is that????

Oh.... A sphere with Zone II and Zone VIII patches.

A few guys in Zone IV and Zone VI skin tones kicking it on a Zone V field.

Ha ha that is a nice one and something that I can understand. Time to revise my knowledge on zone ssytem again. The rest of the thread the English is just to heavy for me but I did try very hard to digest them. But frankly the way info was organised I believe will confuse somebody who do not know anything about zone system more than educate him, except the post in Chinese!

 

[student]

The rest of the thread the English is just to heavy for me but I did try very hard to digest them. But frankly the way info was organised I believe will confuse somebody who do not know anything about zone system more than educate him, except the post in Chinese!

The "primary' objective of the "info" in this thread was not presented to explain the zone system. There are other threads that explained the ZS better.

 

[LSZ]

the zs is one of the most over-rated non-sense in my world of shooting.

i can totally ignore it and still come up with great pictures.

 

[student]

the zs is one of the most over-rated non-sense in my world of shooting.

i can totally ignore it and still come up with great pictures.

Gulp! Sputter! Sputter!

Zonies might be neurotic.

But psychotics lack insight and suffer from delusions of grandeur!!!!

Congratulations!

Among the two, it is better to be a psychotic. It is always nice to feel that one is great, you know like that father in the TV commercial who felt that his son was the greatest tennis player? Or all the wonderful American Idols wannabes who were thrown out by Simon Cowell?

But please stay there! Good to feel nice about oneself. And oh, enjoy your, er.... what you called it? Oh! "Great Pictures!"

 

[teckyy]

Funny how someone can't make a point without losing control of oneself...in every post I might add.

 

[student]

Funny how someone can't make a point without losing control of oneself...in every post I might add.

This where you are completely wrong!

Everything is in complete control. All the words, etc, are in complete control. Unlike the stupid comments you made in Zaren's thread.

 

[LSZ]

the zs is one of the most over-rated non-sense in my world of shooting.

i can totally ignore it and still come up with great pictures.

Hey you dont use my nick and post !!!

 

[teckyy]

In every single thread. It saddens me to see someone losing it, every single day..in every reply..

 

[photobum]

There are people who advocates for the Zone System and there are those who ignore (partially or totally) it. Of course, I have seen others who don't use the system and still produce "award-winning" imagines.

Then again, if you have the chance to learn a technique or skill which makes you a better photographer, will you take a miss? Bear in mind, no expensive prime lens or camera body can make you a better photographer if you lack the abilities to 'previsualize' your final image.

When I was attending a John Sexton workshop, he gave me this advice. Let me quote him directly. "A great photographer is one who inspires others, one who accepts failure and learns with an open-mind."

How many of you are learning with an open-mind?

 

[teckyy]

Elliot Erwitt, Salgado, Nacthwey , Gilden etc don't use the zone systems.

"A great photographer is one who inspires other, one who accepts failure and learns with an open-mind."

what has the above got to do with the ZS?

 

[waileong]

We must be short of great photographers here. There's not been much inspiration. Only barbs, taunts and insults.

When I was attending a John Sexton workshop, he gave me this advice. Let me quote him directly. "A great photographer is one who inspires others, one who accepts failure and learns with an open-mind."

How many of you are learning with an open-mind?

 

[LSZ]

Then again, if you have the chance to learn a technique or skill which makes you a better photographer, will you take a miss? ...............

................
How many of you are learning with an open-mind?

Does it mean that if I am not interested in the ZS which you obviously advocate, it means that I am worse off? So Zone System makes me better. Better in terms of what? Better in your world, your Zone? Your kind of photography? So if you cannot accept this, it means I am not open-minded? Thats in your closed world from as much as I can see.

 

[waileong]

Are you learning tai-chi or yoga, by any chance? Because those can improve your breathing and your concentration, and can help you become a better photog too.

My point is same as LSZ, if someone doesn't want to learn the zone system, or feels that it's impractical to use for the type of shooting he does (say sports photography, where you basically shoot at P or T mode and depend on the camera to get you the shots because you don't have time to do spot metering of highlights or shadows), does that mean he's closed minded?

Then again, if you have the chance to learn a technique or skill which makes you a better photographer, will you take a miss? Bear in mind, no expensive prime lens or camera body can make you a better photographer if you lack the abilities to 'previsualize' your final image.

 

[photobum]

An open-mind to respect other people's believe in the system rather than commenting on it being useless. This is what I meant. This is what John Sexton meant also.

I am in no mood to argue with 'closed-minded' individuals. But I have this to say. I know a lot of photographers don't use the system. At least they don't criticise others who do.

BTW, yes I learn Taichi. In fact I started learning Taichi from my first uncle since I was fifteen.

 

[teckyy]

And some rather comment on the people who don't use the system , as fools and pyschotics.

Is it better than just commenting on the system itself?

I don't see anyone criticising anyone who practices the ZS. But I see some bombarding those who don't use it/or believe in it.

 

[teckyy]

And the reason they bombard or go ballistic was because some don't believe in the system. This, my friend, is pyschotic.

 

[photobum]

.....it's impractical to use for the type of shooting he does (say sports photography, where you basically shoot at P or T mode and depend on the camera to get you the shots because you don't have time to do spot metering of highlights or shadows).....

Believe me. You can use the Zone System in sports photography. I shot sports editorials in The Rochester Chronicles for 2 years. I took up freelance assignments on weekly basis to earn pocket money while in college. I used the Zone System in most sporting events including football (American), soccer, basketball, baseball, gymnastics, rodeo, track and field, go-kart racing and motorcross. I was using digital (an old and slowwwww Kodak-Canon digital SLR which belonged to The Chronicles), and both negative and slide films.

I know another sports photographer who uses the system. His name is Walter Iooss, Jr.

Once I muster the system, it is like second nature to me. All the zones will just fall into their places. I don't even change or request for change in the developing time (however, there were some exceptional cases which I had to).

 

[teckyy]

You can doesn't mean you should/must/would like to. Some people just don't get it.

Perhaps we should all take the same healthy breakfast..

 

[teckyy]

But, please, continue to use it...

 

[photobum]

But, please, continue to use it...

Hey brother! Are you Waileong? If not, my answers were not directed to you.

When I am giving others advice, please do not interrupt. That is so rude. :nono:

Some people just don't get it even when their mothers told them a thousand times to be kind and benevolent to others. Ever heard of karma and retribution?