STEP 1: Choose a good photograph to analyse that really represents the theme or the photographers key work, or the best of your own photo shoots.
STEP 2: Make the photograph black and white. This will allow you to focus on the details, shapes and lighting. Paste the photograph into the InDesign document. Include the photographers name and title of the piece and the web address for the source image.
STEP 3: Copy and paste one of the Ansel Adams Tonal Zone guides and paste it beside the photograph.
STEP 4: Start drawing lines connecting different tones on the zone guide to the tone in the photograph. Go for the major tones.
STEP 5: Describe what type of photograph this is based on the range of zones and frequency of the tones.
High key photographs - A style of lighting that is bright, even, and produces little contrast between light and dark areas of the scene. A high key photograph has chiefly light tones, usually with little tonal contrast.
Low key photographs - of reduced intensity; restrained; understated. A low key photograph has chiefly dark tones, usually with little tonal contrast.
Full contrast - where there is difference between the light and dark tones across all the zones.
Mid Contrast -where there is a range of zones mostly 3 - 8 with little or no highlights or blacks.