Amadou -

I really enjoyed your book and learned a lot from my first read of it. I know there's more for me to absorb on a second (and third?) reading. It's a great resource.

But I have some fundamental questions regarding black and white photography that I hope you (or others in the forum) can help me with. Basically, I need more education on visualizing scenes in B&W. (I shoot mainly landscapes.) I'm only slightly familiar with the Zone system, so there's room for improvement there. I wondered which books you might recommend for exercises in visualizing in B&W and for learning the Zone system.

Many thanks,
Dave

Dave,
Apart from the ususal suspects on Zone System books (A Adams, Carson Graves, Phil Davis, etc) it's also important (and much more fun) to familiarize yourself with as much bw imagery as possible. Whether its going to galleries or scouring the aisles of used bookstores there is no shortage of opportunities to see great images and/or reproductions. Once you identify a style or look you wish to incorporate into your own work it becomes easier to hone in on the relevant techniques/processes required.

Dave,

You might try a filter designed for this purpose. I purchased one made by Tiffen (#1 B&W Viewing Filter) that helps me see the variations in luminance without the distraction of color.

As for the Zone System, Ansel Adam's books are the standard reference, but I (among many others) found them hard to read. My favorite is "John Blakemore's Black and White Photography Workshop." However, it focuses solely on film. Chris Johnson has a book, "The Practical Zone System," that has a good chapter on adapting the zone system to digital. But his basic explanation is not as good as Blakemore's.

Good luck, and best wishes,

Thank you all -- I'll look into the viewing filter and the books. I have been viewing some B&W images from others, at galleries when I can, and in books otherwise. Just need to rampit up a bit more ...

Thanks,
Dave