Back in 2011, SM Booth shared Gem Singer's simple explanation of the use of expansion and contraction in practice, which was the best I've ever read. Impressed me so much I printed it out and carried it around for years. The link to the original is here, at post #5 (and Gem's response at #6):
https://www.largeformatphotography.i...for-Landscapes
Here is the relevant text:
Aim the one degree spot at the darkest area in the scene where you still want to see some detail. Close down two stops. You have just placed the shadow area in Zone III. That's usually the proper exposure for the scene.
Now, aim the spot at the brightest area in the scene. If it's a five stop range between the darkest and brightest reading, use normal development. Less than five, increase development. More than five, decrease development.
No need to take a whole series of meter readings and average them. That's defeating the purpose. Just make certain that you have given enough exposure to get some detail in the shadows. Then, develop for the highlights. That's the Zone System in a nut shell.
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