[cyclohexane]

Zone system...Michael Meadhra gave a comprehensive explanation of Ansel Adams zone system, but for the life of me, I just don't get it.

Have you read Ansel himself? Chapter 4 of The Negative, by Ansel Adams, is titled "The Zone System". I think I'll make it a goal to get to that chapter today.

Or I have heard some phtographers say they meter the brightest part of the face and the darkest part of the face and average the readings. I don't know what that means. Forgive me for being so thick.

It's just like averaging numbers. Take the different numbers, add them up, divide by how ever many numbers there were, only we're doing this with meter readings. Also, I find it easier to use the difference between the readings, and move equidistantly from either reading to one in between.

Let's say you've chosen an aperture of f/4 for your desired DOF, and you are going to meter in this method. Choose spot metering, and meter the brightest or darkest part of the face. Let's say you meter the darkest part of the face, and it's 1/250 second at the chosen aperture of f/4. Now, meter the lightest part of the face- let's say it is 1/400 second. The difference is 2/3 stop, so dividing that by two we move 1/3 stop from each reading and choose 1/320 second.

I know a few folks are probably frustrated with me because I can't seem to wrap my mind completely around this exposure thing. I am just trying to take my understanding to a higher level.

Nope, they aren't, or at least shouldn't, be frustrated with you. You should be commended for your incredible dedication. =)

Am I foolish for wanting a greater understanding? I don't know.

Of course not! I've dedicated part of this summer to redoing all the fundamentals, so I've picked up the same Petersen book, plus the first two of the three-part series by Ansel Adams. I already finished The Camera (minus some of the view camera adjustment stuff) and am about to dive deeper into The Negative; The Print was out of stock but I'll be reading that eventually.