Archaeology Magazine - September/October 1983 - 70

Coins
Byzantine
by Philip Grierson
"A book that no student of
'the holy city of Byzantium'
can fail to consult. It will remain
the standard account for
many years, and will introduce many to the delights of
this frequently lovely coinage, and to the personality of
one of its greatest exponents."
- Times Literary Supplement
$82.50 until 12/31/83,
$95.00 thereafter
Illustrated
Introduction
to
Latin
Epigraphy
by Arthur E. Gordon
In this fascinating, lavishlyillustrated work Gordon presents 100 inscriptions arranged
in chronological order. They
range from the sixth century
B.C. to A.D. 525, and are collated with standard texts and
accompanied by translations
and full annotation. $42.95
hardcover, $19.95 paperback
London
City of the Romans
by Ralph Merrifield
Extensive excavations over
the last decade have now
made possible a remarkably
detailed picture of the changing face of London over the
centuries of Roman occupation. Merrifield's magisterial
study is the most up-to-date
and thorough survey of the
subject ever to appear. $32.00
The

of
Origins
Chinese
J Civilization
s Edited by
ì
David M.
Keightley
Here is an original
$Êk anc*significant interpretation of the
nature of Chinese
civilization. These
^ essays will appeal to
tí? all who are interested
SL in the genesis of civEl ilization and in the
£} transition from the
fc {3 Neolithic to the
Bronze Age. $45.00
irV
hardcover, $15.00
paperback
j| Jjjl
Available at
bookstores or from
University
California
Berkeley
70

of
Press
94720

Archaeology

ABOUT

PHOTOGRAPHY
by Pasquale
SLR

Photography:

Ferazzoli

The

If you want to reassess the importance
of high-quality archaeological photography, just turn to the photographs
found in this magazine. Clearly, from the
day Howard Carter walked into Tutankhamen's tomb, precise photographic documentation has become as essential an
adjunct as the venerable pick and shovel.
Yet while the fundamentals of excavation have remained in many ways similar
since Schliemann, the tools and techniques of on-site photography have
changed dramatically. In place of cumbersome plate and studio cameras, we
find the modern, system-oriented 35mm
single-lens reflex (SLR). In place of exposures lasting hours or minutes, we
record images in fractions of seconds.
The Olympus OM System of 35mm
SLR photography is exceptionally suitable for critical archaeological imagery
for many reasons: 1) Each of the six
cameras comprising the system (Olympus OM-4, OM-3, OM-2, OM-1, OM-F
and OM-G) is both smaller and lighter
than traditional high-performance instruments; 2) Each camera is designed
to expand, rather than diminish, the
photographer's control of the final image
through such integral functions as automatic and/or manual exposure controls,
unusually-brilliant viewfinder, and full
viewfinder indication of all key exposure
data; 3) Each OM System camera is
compatible with over 300 matched OM
System components, many of unique
design; 4) Every camera and component
is engineered to withstand the punishing
environment and usage often unavoidable in on-site applications.
Perhaps the most exciting SLR of all
is the new Olympus OM-4. Its ingenious
Multi-Spot meter permits the photographer to measure exposure for a pinpoint 3° spot with a 50mm lens, and
under Io with lenses over 150mm- thus
enabling precise exposure determinaPasquale Ferazzoli, a guest columnist
for About Photography, has been Training Director of the Photographic and
Electronic Division of Olympus Corporation since its inception in 1978. A
former freelance photographer, he has
lectured in 44 states and Japan and holds
Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Cine
and Still Photography from Long Island
University.

Olympus

System

tion for such subjects as inscriptions on
cliffs, which may be impossible to approach for the traditionell "close-up" exposure reading.
Even more significantly, the OM-4 is'
the world's only camera that can store
up to eight successive light measurements-the trench, the find, the camp
area, even the background and skythen automatically computer balance
the exposure to assure optimum clarity
and definition for all elements within^
the final photograph!
Because the area being measured is
indicated by a central circle on all the
OM System's quick-change focusing
screens, the photographer always knows
what part of the subject or scene the
exposure is based on. And because the
OM-4'sunique electronic LCD viewfinder
readouts show each exposure value and
the resultant shutter speed (in both
automatic and manual modes), the photographer knows in advance that the
final shutter speed will be sufficiently
fast for critically sharp, handheld shots.
And, the OM-4 offers an additional
built-in light measurement system. At
the touch of a button, it switches to
center-weighted measurement, a mode
ideal for scenes or situations where
overall density or brilliance is relatively
uniform. In automatic exposure mode,
the camera actually measures exposure
during exposure, directly Off-the-film
surface; thus, even if the most subtle
change in light occurs during exposure,
the OM-4 (as well as Olympus OM-2,
OM-F and OM-G) automatically compensates and corrects for optimal accuracy. (Conventionalautomatic SLRs lack
this critical capability because they actually "lock in" exposure before the photograph is exposed. )
Numerous other features make the
new OM-4 a potentially priceless aid to
archaeological work. For one, it permits
use of all meter and exposure modes
with all its focusing screens (including
special inscribed-line types so helpful in
recording architectural sites, or when
reference scales are included in the
picture).
Additionally, it provides automatic,
Off-the-filmexposure accuracy with one,
two or up to nine Olympus T-Series
electronic flash units, permitting the
photographer to beam separate flashes

Archaeology Magazine - September/October 1983

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Archaeology Magazine - September/October 1983