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Join Lee Varis for part 2 of the free webcast April 26th, 2011.
The New Digital Zone System, a 21st Century re-imagining of a classic methodology for enhancing photographic quality
The original Zone System was developed by Ansel Adams and Fred Archer in 1939-1940 and for 65 years it represented the pinnacle of photographic craft. Today, digital technology has made much of the methods of the Zone System obsolete, however, the conceptual foundation of the Zone System can still be applied to digital photography.
Photography has always been a "technical" art. Since its inception photography has relied on the leading technology of its day to capture and present images of the world around us. Much effort has been applied to photography to enhance the precision with which we record images as a way of sharing a visual experience as accurately as possible. Of course, artists have always extended this visual experience into the realm of the imagination, but to this day, photography has excelled in presenting a vision of the world that resonates with truth.
As a result of these efforts, photography has become the domain of science and technology. The progression of photography into the world of computers is a natural extension of the desire for precision and control over the image presentation. Digital photography has evolved to give us a range of control over the captured and presented image that far exceeds anything that Ansel Adams ever dreamed of.
However, this promise of precision and control is often hidden behind a trend in U.I. design that invites a more casual, touchy-feely, intuitive involvement in the image making process. Everything is automated - auto-focus, auto-exposure, auto color adjustments, one-click this and one-click that. Almost all feedback data is confined to what the image looks like on screen and we are led to believe that "color management" will take care of everything. The professional image maker needs something more... well... professional. It is to this end that the "Digital Zone System" is devoted. We are going to dust off the traditional Ansel Adams Zone System and re-tool it for the digital age. In the process, we will pull back the veil that obscurs the true precision afforded by digital capture. The serious photographer should gain some new insight into the way his tools work and will be able to reclaim a more precise control over the photo making process.
The Digital Zone System offers a step-by-step method for learning exactly how your camera performs, the true dynamic range of your captures and calibrates for the specific color bias of your image sensor. The System applies this knowledge to an approach to exposure that maximizes the quality of your captures and gives you a strategy for post-process enhancement in Photoshop.
PART 2 on April 26th 11am-1:30pm PST
• Basic RAW processing for best quality in Photoshop
• Basic Curves editing
• Advanced concepts in tone control
Lee Varis Lee Varis, the owner and founder of Varis PhotoMedia, is a photo-illustrator working in Hollywood. He has been involved in commercial photography for the last 30 years. He started working with computer imaging about 20 years ago after being introduced to the Quantel Paintbox system. Lee currently works with digital as well as conventional photography in conjunction with computer graphics to create images for use in advertising, commercial graphics and multimedia.
His work has been featured on movie posters, video box covers, CD covers, and numerous brochures, catalogs and magazine articles. Lee´s creative imaging has been featured in National Geographic and Fortune magazines as well as numerous trade publications including: Photo-Electronic Imaging, Studio Photography, PC Photo, Rangefinder Magazine, Photo District News and Mac Art & Design.
Lee has also been involved with consulting and training activities for numerous corporate clients. He conducted a series of imaging seminars for Apple Computers that took him around the country to most of the major metropolitan areas and is currently active in local seminar programs in Los Angeles. He maintains close relationships with numerous hardware and software companies and is involved in various beta testing programs.
Besides "Skin", Lee's latest book is "Mastering Exposure and the Zone System for Digital Photographers" a complete guide to both the technical and creative aspects of exposure in digital photography. This guide uses a combination of discussion, examples, and hands-on exercises that lead the reader through a progression of skills development covering the full range of photographic lighting situations. Topics covered include basic metering, outdoor and indoor available light photography, studio lighting, night, and low-light conditions, as well as advanced topics like high-key and low-key lighting, multiple light sources and HDR. In conclusion, the author shows how to use the Zone System, developed by Ansel Adams for film, with today's digital cameras to achieve stunning results with exceptional tonal range and clarity.
As a fine artist, Lee has been working on a series of images based on the Tarot. Current progress on this project is on display at:
http://www.newmillenniumtarot.com
Lee maintains websites for both his books which can be accessed through his main website at: http://www.varis.com