Okay, I decided to shoot in black and white mode instead of color. This is right out of the camera. No adjusting of anything - not even a crop! All items are black including the black beads, black bracelet, black gloves trimmed in black leather, black scarf and black wool hat, the background is a black shower curtain. I did achieve a "pure" black and a "pure" white (tested with the dropper tool in Photoshop), so photo is not "flat." But there's just a huge monotone midtone of grays! Not enough difference here to suit me. Out of about 150 pics, this was about the best. Either the focus was fuzzy or there was NO pure white, only light gray shades. Still, I am determined to master zoning! It was a very popular technique in advertising some years ago. All it needs is a "Channel No. 5" perfume bottle but, that would defeat my purpose to master zoning. Will try again with the blacks tomorrow. Then move on to the white on whites.
Super!! Now I sort of "get" zoning. I have not got editing tools except the "free" picnik . . nothing like Photoshop. Is there a way to make the blacks "blacker?" Just wondering. I see that you shot it in b&w mode. Anyway, I love this look and would love to learn the technique. Looking forward to more of these. :)
@karenann To achieve zoning, you don't need software to adjust the pic. It should come right out of the camera with pure black and pure white. There is a way to make the blacks "blacker" through my camera settings. My old professor would not allow adjustments in the dark room to zoning shots. He wanted us to take "crisp" photos vs. "flat" photos. Give it a try! What can it hurt? LOL! There's no film or developing costs. =) There are several other things I could've done with this shot... created more folds in the background to give it more shadows, moved the beads away from the gloves, too. I am going to attempt a similar shot in color but, the original technique was developed for black and white photography - not color. It's fun learning to master techniques! Thank you for your comments, Karen Ann. I'm glad you "get" zoning. I'm pretty sure you know what it's all about now. =)
@meadow Thank you, Cheryllee! Aww, you recognized the technique! Good, cause folks didn't seem to know what the heck I was talking about in the discussion I started. LOL!
@shonnys I just decided to try to master all the old film photography techniques in digital. I started with "selective focus." Now I'm on to "zoning." Just pick one, Shonny, and go for it until you've mastered it! Zoning was a hard one for me back in college. "Characterization" was another! It's fun and challenging to learn how to master these techniques and styles in digital. =)
