'My impression of the subject is < such and such >. I will photograph it according to the impression of today -- not according to the average of the light in the picture.'

That thought is subtle. The thing the accomplished Zone System photographer is able to discuss (so-to-speak) with the viewer is the photographer's impression of a subject. The Zone System photographer is less restricted by the physical realities of a subject (the ratios of light areas to dark area, etc) than enabled by the physical realities of a subject to produce the picture that his mind's eye sees.

Each particular set of relationships of light, dark, color and contrast become the building blocks from which the photograph is assembled. These relationships do not define the exposure as though it were one unavoidable conclusion.

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