Fred Archer (photographer)

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For the unrelated[1]19th century inventor of the photographic collodion process, see Frederick Scott Archer.

Fred Archer was a photographer best known as the co-inventor of the zone system along with Ansel Adams, circa 1939-1940.

The zone system is a technique that allows photographers to translate light into specific densities on negatives and paper, giving better control over finished photographs.[2] While the zone system is often credited to Adams, Adams always credited Archer as a co-equal in its creation.[3]

The origins of the zone system lay in a series of articles Archer wrote for U.S. Camera magazine in the late-1930s while an instructor at the Art Center College in Los Angeles. After reading the articles, Adams approached Archer and worked to formally define the process.[4]

Fred Archer should not be confused with Frederick Scott Archer, who died in 1857, long before Fred Archer was born.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "JC1220", "What's so great?" thread, www.thephotoforum.com. Comment made 2006-01-22, retrieved 2006-11-03.
  2. ^ "Ansel Adams" article, en.wikipedia.org. (No original source given). Version of article used dated 2006-11-02, retrieved 2006-11-03.
  3. ^ Ellis, Brian, Large Format Photography Forum - "If Ansel Adams Were Still Alive...", www.largeformatphotography.info. Comment dated 2005-02-23, retrieved 2006-11-03.
  4. ^ Muir, Maxim M., Zone System FAQ: Question 2, originally at thunderstorm.circada.com. Cited statement dated 1996-03-24. Article retrieved via Google cache on 2006-11-03 (original page already gone by then). Google cache itself expired on or before 2006-12-12; copied material still accessible via above link.
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