I was and had been shooting slide for over ten years. I felt that each slide was a finished photograph unless I remounted it to crop. I knew that the Zone System was for sheet film and did not work well for 35mm film, especially for 36 exposure rolls. I felt that I was never going to print photographs in a darkroom. [Next time I used a darkroom would be 30 years later.] I was so damn smart then that I choose not to join my coworkers in the class.
I've had guests come in and exclaim, "Wow! This looks like Ansel Adams" and when I tell them that two of them are his, it makes my day when I'm asked "Really? Which ones are his?" It reaffirms that I'm coming close. This is NOT all about me, folks. It's simply to convey the value of Alan's offer. He's certainly someone who is qualified to teach the subject and needs to be listened to.
I am looking forward to meeting you @Sirius Glass.
Alan often says that he is a “zone system heretic”, which he makes simple and dogma-free. For those of us who have worked with it over the years, even dabbled in sensitometry etc (plenty here on Photrio), it is then a great experience to depart from any book rules, internalise it, make it your second nature, and then treat it as another tool, and not a goal or gospel. I have seen Alan “free” many photographers from the stricture of the zone system and let them use it well, intuitively. So you have not missed out anything at all.
Thank you, @silveror0, I will pass to Alan, I am sure he will enjoy your comment!
I’ve a correction to add to my original post, which might matter to @Sirius Glass. Alan tells me that the enlarger in Ansel’s Yosemite darkroom is no longer Ansel’s. It has been replaced with an Omega LPL, and that is what Alan will use for printing. Apologies for misleading you, the fault is mine—I had my wires crossed, I suppose...
Nonetheless, I am 100% sure it will be a wonderful workshop for anyone attending, having seen Alan teach on many occassions, always amazing his students.
PS. 3 spaces left as of yesterday evening.
If he does this again next year I will do it, good time of year for me.
Maybe I should start a kickstarter so I can go.
Same time next year.
I'll chip in $100...
I don't think you learned enough, you need to do it again so we can Hassy-commiserate, LOL!
Sure, hey to minimize the hassle for you just send the $100 directly to me lol. Our Canadian peso sucks right now so paying 30% more for anything in USD just hurts. It's the Scottish Taurus in me.
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