Zone System
TechnicalA systematic method for determining optimal exposure in photography, developed by Ansel Adams.
Detailed Explanation
The Zone System, developed by Ansel Adams and Fred Archer, is a systematic approach to achieving precise exposure control. It divides the range of tones from black to white into 11 zones (0-10), with middle gray at zone V. This system helps photographers visualize how different tones will appear in the final image and make informed exposure decisions. While originally developed for black and white film photography, the principles remain valuable in digital photography for understanding tonal relationships and achieving optimal exposure.