Bill M wrote:
> > again i sure dont know really what the AA look is, but it cant be
> > so simple, all it would take then is to have a pic with a good
> > range of tonality and then use levels or curves to clip the ends of
> > the histogram to assure complete black and whites
> >
> > feivel
> That's right, feivel, it's as easy as taking the perfect photo ;-).
> AA was first and foremost the great photographer, with all that
> that entails. Even we could probably do a decent conversion if he
> gave us a color original! I'd shoot for something more like this:
> Warm regards, Bill
> http://www.pbase.com/image/20512888/original.jpg
that's not a direct quote because I don't remember what book I read that in, but that was AA's feeling--and his images are as Bill says. He did a great deal of burning and dodging--and reworked a lot of his negs over the years.

Here are some links to some of his images, etc.
http://www.zpub.com/sf/history/adams.html
http://www.sunrisemuseum.org/anseladams.htm
The zone system was one of his (and another man's) formulations and if you look at it and his idea of previsualization, it helps you to understand his photographs also I think.
This is a pretty good explanation of both.
http://www.photoworkshop.com/double_exposure/publish/article_391.shtml

--
Diane B
http://www.pbase.com/picnic/galleries
B/W lover, but color is seducing me