The Light Farm by Denise Ross. Volume 1 - the basics

[Simon Howers]

Available from Blurb.com

Denise Ross is a photographer with a wide range of industrial and practical experience. She has been making and coating emulsions for about ten years and has now launched into print to share her methodology and philosophy with us.

The book is a typical high quality Blurb product with copious illustrations. It is currently available soft cover only.

Denise writes well in a relatively non-technical and accessible style. It explains how to make basic "colourblind" and then orthochromatic emulsions using erythrosine dye. The explanations and methods are aimed at small-volume batch production using, for the most part, domestic equipment. It then explains the practical aspects of how to use the emulsion you have made by the manufacture of dryplates, sheet film, paper-backed roll film and photo paper.

The 'make it yourself' style continues with sections on dryplate holders, glass emulsion wells, anti-halation backing and even home-made gelatin filters.

Where the book does particularly well is in the explanation of how to use the emulsions you make and what it is you are actually doing with filtration and exposure - this complements the 'nuts & bolts' text (how to make emulsion, coat etc) very well and certainly raises it above other publications in this area.

The text is full of practical hints & tips for a successful foray into this fascinating and fulfilling activity.
Further books on more advanced topics are promised.

Recommended.

Simon

 

[mooseontheloose]

I just received the book myself and am looking forward to when I have some time (over the winter break) to going over the book in more detail and putting into practice what Denise has written about.

 

[JPJackson]

I am in the third reading and highly recommend this book for anyone interested in making their own emulsions. It is put together very nicely.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Denise was one of my first students when I began teaching workshops.

I hope you have all had a chance to read my own book on the same subject. I plan a second volume.

PE

 

[pschwart]

I read Denise's book cover-to-cover and I'm not even making emulsions. I think a lot of alt process printers will find the contents relevant. The book is coherent and articulate, with lot's of good tips. My only quibble: I wish some of the pictures were larger. Looking forward to volume 2.

 

[Peter Schrager]

Just ordered the book and am looking forward to trying some dry plate out...thank you denise in advance! !!

 

[Photo Engineer]

Peter, remember that you made an ISO 80 emulsion and coated plates at the workshop in NYC.

This is about a 2 x 3 inch scan of a 4x5 plate.

You took this one at ISO 40.

PE

 

[removed account4]

I am in the third reading and highly recommend this book for anyone interested in making their own emulsions. It is put together very nicely.

i've read it too, online a time or 2 and in hand 2 or 3 times ..
i made emulsion as a college student in the 1980s,
just a recipe in an old annual/manual .. this book has EVERYTHING i wish i knew back then ..
and it is written for the lay-person in mind ..

ron's book is great too, i just wish i had the $$ to buy them ALL and take a workshop ..

 

[dwross]

Hope everyone has as much fun as I've been having making emulsions.

 

[Janosch Simon]

@Photo Engineer whats the name on your book? Denise one is on my to buy list cheers janosch

 

[Photo Engineer]

Photographic Emulsion Making, Coating and Testing. Its ads appear here on APUG and redirect a click to the sites selling the book. I am looking at an ad right now at the bottom of my screen.

PE

 

[removed account4]

Available from Blurb.com

Denise Ross is a photographer with a wide range of industrial and practical experience. She has been making and coating emulsions for about ten years and has now launched into print to share her methodology and philosophy with us.

The book is a typical high quality Blurb product with copious illustrations. It is currently available soft cover only.

Denise writes well in a relatively non-technical and accessible style. It explains how to make basic "colourblind" and then orthochromatic emulsions using erythrosine dye. The explanations and methods are aimed at small-volume batch production using, for the most part, domestic equipment. It then explains the practical aspects of how to use the emulsion you have made by the manufacture of dryplates, sheet film, paper-backed roll film and photo paper.

The 'make it yourself' style continues with sections on dryplate holders, glass emulsion wells, anti-halation backing and even home-made gelatin filters.

Where the book does particularly well is in the explanation of how to use the emulsions you make and what it is you are actually doing with filtration and exposure - this complements the 'nuts & bolts' text (how to make emulsion, coat etc) very well and certainly raises it above other publications in this area.

The text is full of practical hints & tips for a successful foray into this fascinating and fulfilling activity.
Further books on more advanced topics are promised.

Recommended.

Simon

read some more of it again last night !