The Negative, in addition to a complete

workable exposure-development plan,

covers visualization, testing for optimum

opacity, exposure meters, pre-exposure,

compensating developers, effects of lens

flare, reciprocity departure, darkroom pro-

cedures, and many other subjects related

to this phase of photography. Many illus-

trations, simple diagrams and charts, tables

and recommended formulas, and detailed

captions all serve to make this book an

important source of useful information.

In this volume Ansel Adams intentionally

reevaluated sensitometric terms in a lan-

guage which the non-science-oriented stu-

dent will understand. He staunchly sup-

ports the determination of exposure by

reading the values of light reflected from

the subject, but not mere "average" read-

ings. He shows you how to place the sub-

ject brightnesses carefully on the exposure

scale of the negative and to develop the

negative in relation to this placement.

Adams has really restated the classic prin-

ciple of photography, "exposure for the

shadows and develop for the highlights,"

but with revealing and constructive pre-

cision.