Book on enlarging recommendation request

bgav · Apr 2, 2005

I am looking for a book with detailed explanations of B&W printing processes (but if possibly without entering into pseudo-science and alchemy), preferable covering problematic (for me) cases of everyday practice, such as printing of low contrast negative to obtain contrast picture and so on.

I have two books about enlarging: Michael Langford's "The Darkroom Handbook" and "Enlarging" by Jacobson and Mannheim, but both of them are sort of "opening horizons" books, i.e. briefly about everything and even more.

--
Thanks in advance,
Evgeny.

resummerfield · Apr 2, 2005

Check out "Way Beyond Monochrome" by Ralph Lambrecht and Chris Woodhouse (Fountain Press). It is the best book I've ever read on darkroom.

wiseowl · Apr 2, 2005

Have a look for Les Mcleans book "Black and White Photography".

Phillip P. Dimor · Apr 2, 2005

"Way Beyond Monochrome" is a great book! I liked that one.

Neal · Apr 2, 2005

Dear Evgeny,

Consider adding "Post Exposure" to your library. It includes clear instructions for comparing variable contrast papers and basic unsharp masking.

Neal Wydra

ann · Apr 2, 2005

try Black and white Photograhic Printing Workshop by Larry Bartlett and Jon Tarrant, along with the others already mentioned

Les McLean · Apr 2, 2005

ann said:
Black and white Photograhic Printing Workshop by Larry Bartlett and Jon Tarrant,

I'd agree with Ann I rate this as one of the best books on printing that I've seen

naaldvoerder · Apr 2, 2005

Tim Rudman's Master Printing Course is my favorite.

Jaap Jan

gareth harper · Apr 2, 2005

Tim Rudman's Master Printing Course is superb, and I understand it's readily available once more.

Steve Weston · Apr 2, 2005

Hi
Another good book is ''The Master Printers workbook'' by Steve Macleod. And one of my all time favorites is ''Elements'' by Barry Thornton.
Regards
Steve.

Jeremy · Apr 2, 2005

ann said:
try Black and white Photograhic Printing Workshop by Larry Bartlett and Jon Tarrant, along with the others already mentioned

Ann, I have long espoused this as one of the best B&W printing books as it shows you exactly what someone has done with each image as opposed to talking about a bunch of techniques with no examples. It has a special place on my bookshelf.

In addition to this book I recommend our own Les McLean's book for printing and general B&W photography.

Way Beyond Monochrome may be delving more into the sensitometric side than you seem to be looking for, based on your first post.

I have all 3 books above and can say that they are all worth having.

Photogeek · Apr 3, 2005

The two that I use and regularly dip into are

Tim Rudmans Master Printing Course, which is excellent and was my bible until
Ralph lambrecht and Chris came along with Way beyond monochrome. Very, Very, in depth technical book.

Regards

Photogeek

bgav · May 12, 2005

Well, I'm not really happy with "Way Beyond Monochrome" and "Creative BW" by Les. If I'd choose one book from these two, I'd take only "Way..." because it contains much more interesting me information, too scientific though, on my taste. But Les' book is also worth to have in library.

Anyway, I'd give last chance to Larry Bartlett and Tim Rudman books, since I order blindly from Amazon without possibility to check suitability of books in local bookstores due to complete absence of such literature there, and I cannot afford to spend so much money (especially ordering from Amazon UK, the only place where the last mentioned books are available for me).

NikoSperi · May 12, 2005

I'm a little surprised no mention is made of Saint Ansel's very own The Print

Peter Schrager · May 12, 2005

David Vestal

The Art of Black and White Enlarging by David Vestal-probably out of print but an excellant book. There are many fine used dealers on the web.
Best, Peter

bgav · May 12, 2005

NikoSperi said:
I'm a little surprised no mention is made of Saint Ansel's very own The Print

cultivating personal deification, huh?

bgav · May 12, 2005

peters said:
The Art of Black and White Enlarging by David Vestal-probably out of print but an excellant book. There are many fine used dealers on the web.
Best, Peter

Thanks Peter,
I've heard a lot about this book, it is out of print long time already, still available used, but shipment from dealers costs near to a mini-yacht cost.

bgav · Jun 8, 2005

Best advice. Thanks Ann.

Andrew Forrester · Jun 8, 2005

peters said:
The Art of Black and White Enlarging by David Vestal-probably out of print but an excellant book. There are many fine used dealers on the web.
Best, Peter

This is a great book which I can recommend & if you do a seach on http://www.abebooks.com/ you will find some copies for sale.

Andy

Ronald Moravec · Jun 10, 2005

Vestal also wrote "the book of Craft" also excellent. Go to Amazon dot com

Jim Chinn · Jun 10, 2005

Carson Graves- "The Elements of Black and White Printing" 2nd Ed.
Les McLean- "Creative Black and White Photography"

Book on enlarging recommendation request

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