Darkroom books

rusty71 said:

Lots of very good recommendations. Just wanted to add a book someone recommended to me many years ago and I still have it. Monochrome Darkroom Practice by Jack H Coote. Published by Focal Press and Ilford.
It is out of print, but you can find it used in many places.
I wonder if Mr Hoote is still around? He used to work at Ilford. Perhaps Simon has some info to share. I realize he'd be quite old by now.

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The preface to the third edition, which I have, states that Mr Coote died in 1993 whilst in the process of revising "Ilford Monochrome Darkroom Practice".

Reticenti said:

How much help would AA's book, "The Making of 40 Prints" be to my new darkroom technique?

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That would fit more in the category of the advanced stuff for when you've mastered the basics, but it is a very good book.

Kevin Caulfield said:

That would fit more in the category of the advanced stuff for when you've mastered the basics, but it is a very good book.

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Hmm.. I dunno - I think adams is actually pretty readable. I read all four books (it WAS four in the series - right? or 3? - I remember the Negative, the Camera and the Print for sure) in the series before I even picked up my first camera. Maybe it depends on how receptive you are to it, though... (?)

As a relative beginner, I was recommended and bought a couple of books. Horenstein's book was good, if a little basic - would make a great book for a first photography class - a little too much on the camera side of things for me. I found Vestal's 2 books to be a little more geared towards darkroom matters and got the the most out of them. They are a little outdated in some respects, but he explains the basic process, gives a couple nice tips, and also shows the way for testing methodology if you choose to go down that road. You can get them off of Amazon used for a couple bucks. Tom Grimm's book was decent too.

I used a combination of Roger Hicks and Frances Shultz's "Darkroom Basics and Beyond" and the previously mentioned Tim Rudman's "Photographer's Master Printing Course." Roger and Frances' book has fantastic step by step illustrations and is VERY easy to follow if you have never printed before.

Peter

I'd add to the above:
John Blakemore's Black and White Photogaphy Workshop
Elements and Edge of Darkness by Barry Thornton
Darkroom 1 and 2 published by Lustrum Press in the 70s
The Master printer's Handbook by Steve Macleod

Peter Williams said:

I used a combination of Roger Hicks and Frances Shultz's "Darkroom Basics and Beyond" and the previously mentioned Tim Rudman's "Photographer's Master Printing Course." Roger and Frances' book has fantastic step by step illustrations and is VERY easy to follow if you have never printed before.

Peter

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Thanks, Peter.

R.

Horenstein's Book

All I know is that another of Horenstein's books "Beyond Basic Photography" is a waste of money - needless to say I didn't find it helpful