Final Exam

Q:  What zone is this?

a.  Zone VII.
b.  Zone VIII.
c.  I don’t know, it depends on how you took the picture.

If you answered c, you were correct!

If this image had been captured digitally, in .tif or .jpg format, it would probably be zone VII.  If it was shot in RAW, it might be zone VIII or even IX, depending on the capabilities of the camera and RAW processor.  In any case, due to the hard blocking of the high end of the digital curve, the next zone higher is probably pure white.

If this image had been shot using black-and-white film, it would probably be zone VIII, the classic placement of textured white.  Unless the negative had been given “minus” development, in which case it could be zone IX or X.  Or if given “plus” development, it could be zone VII, or even VI.  And due to the much smoother shoulder region of film’s response curve, the next zone higher probably still has some visible density, with little or no detail.

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