Quote:
Originally Posted by naeroscatu 
It would be wrong to use a spot meter to put shadows on zone 3 when working under this premise, correct?
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Not if that's where you want them. I put my shadows on Zone IV but I'm a contact printer. If I were making negatives for enlargement, I would probably place them on Zone III. In any case you should get a good spot meter if you don't already have one. 1º.
One of Adams' intentions in developing the Zone System was to simplify the methodology. Just put your shadows where you want them and develop so that you don't blow the highlights. You'll burn a few rolls of film figuring out the development for different +/- situations, but you only have to do that once. Easy. Match the paper contrast to that of the negative when you print and you'll have gorgeous prints.
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