Books on printing

lgrabun · Dec 18, 2008

I've just started doing my own printing but even now I can notice there's a lots of things to improve. I've came up with an idea to buy a book. After some google'ing I run into this site:

http://camerabooks.com/Departments/...e-see-Digital-Photography-Books-Category.aspx

Do you know and would recommend any of these books? Or should I buy myself Adam's trilogy and just let it go?

optique · Dec 18, 2008

I would buy The Negative and The Print no matter what else you buy. They are available cheap on Amazon Used books.

Someone else can answer on other books.
Steve.

Dan Henderson · Dec 18, 2008

I think that the Adams' books mentioned above are good darkroom references. But for pure printing (and developing and exposing) information, I would recommend Lambrecht's "Way Beyond Monochrome" and McLean's "Creative Black and White Photography" ahead of the Adams books.

lgrabun · Dec 18, 2008

McLeans's book - bought from ebay, thank you. Looking for a good price on Ansel books.

Jon Shiu · Dec 18, 2008

Hi, I recommend Henry Horensteins books as well as Tim Rudman's Master Printing Course.

Jon

Christopher Walrath · Dec 18, 2008

Check out Adams' books on Amazon.com.

jp80874 · Dec 19, 2008

Jon Shiu said:
Hi, I recommend Henry Horensteins books ............
Jon

These are: "Black & White Photography, a Basic Manual" and "A Technical Manual, Beyond Basic Photography." They are the texts for High School and College Photo I and Photo II courses so they are available very cheaply on eBay or in fleamarkets. I think I bought the second one for $3 on eBay four years ago. It was not the current edition but the instructor said there was little difference between the editions.

The books are just a guide line. Advancement comes from practice and a critical eye. The advantage of a class is that the teacher is hopefully a better printer and can help you understand the errors and ways to improve your work, both creatively and technically. Another advantage I found was that there was a class critique at assigned intervals which motivated me to keep doing the work.

John Powers

Christopher Walrath · Dec 19, 2008

Yeah, Horenstein's books are a good choice as well.

Hey, John. Howzit?

naaldvoerder · Dec 19, 2008

Tim Rudman's Master Printing Course And "Way beyond monochrome". You don't need anything else...

Jaap jan

mooseontheloose · Dec 19, 2008

Tim Rudman's Master Printing Course And "Way beyond monochrome". You don't need anything else...

What he said.

I have St. Ansel, I have never referenced him. I have, however, gone over the above mentioned books dozens and dozens of times... I have found them very useful for practical darkroom use, and Mr. Rudman's book is one of the most user-friendly books I've come across on the subject.

thomsonrc · Dec 19, 2008

Tim Rudman's books are excellent. I have all of them and re-read them and refer to them all the time. I have other books, but they dont get looked at anything like as often.

lgrabun · Dec 20, 2008

Thanks, I've purchased most of titles you mentioned, including Les's and HH's books. Rudman seems to be pretty scarce on both ebay and amazon. Had some luck, however, hope all the books will get here in two-three week time.

thefizz · Dec 20, 2008

I'll second any of Tim Rudman's books and Les McLean's is a must have. Also John Blakemore's book, Black & White Photography Workshop, is great.

AlanC · Dec 29, 2008

For practical information and an inspired approach to the aesthetics of interpreting negatives, few books can match Larry Bartlett's Black& White Photographic Printing Workshop. It's a must have for beginner and expert alike.

Alan Clark

Chazzy · Dec 29, 2008

Is the Les McLean title people are referring to _Creative Black & White Photography_, or is there something else more specifically on printing?

lgrabun · Dec 29, 2008

The book I got is "Creative Black & White Photography". It is good but not as good as I expected.

vanimal · Jan 7, 2009

AlanC said:
For practical information and an inspired approach to the aesthetics of interpreting negatives, few books can match Larry Bartlett's Black& White Photographic Printing Workshop. It's a must have for beginner and expert alike.

Alan Clark

Excellent, excellent book.

luxikon · Jan 9, 2009

I read the Adams trilogy once. But since I discovered Tim Rudman's and the Lamprecht/Woodhouse book I referred to them a hundred of times.

stradibarrius · Jan 23, 2009

This discussion has answered the same question for me. I found the McLean book for $.75 and $4 shipping on ebay and the Rudman book used for $19 + $4 shipping!

nocrop · Jun 25, 2009

Late to this thread, I know, but the OP seemed to be new to the game. I would recommend a really basic and easy-to-understand book like Mastering Black-and-White Photography: From Camera to Darkroom by Bernhard Suess. Lots of relevant, solid facts, that cover much of what most people need to know to get a solid foundation.

RalphLambrecht · Jun 26, 2009

FirePhoto said:
I think that the Adams' books mentioned above are good darkroom references. But for pure printing (and developing and exposing) information, I would recommend Lambrecht's "Way Beyond Monochrome" and McLean's "Creative Black and White Photography" ahead of the Adams books.

Unfortunately, 'Way Beyond Monochrome' is sold out and won't be reprinted until Edition2 in Spring 2010. However, in the meantime, I recommend the three Ansel Adams' books. No serious printer should be without them.

Books on printing

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