Film photography book for 13 year old ?

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nightfly

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My nephew is just getting into photography and has acquired my dad's OM-2N with a nice 50 1.4 . Very excited to help teach him but wanted to get him a book to show him the basics of film photography for his birthday.

Any suggestions?
 
Keep him away from any images by HCB ... the world has enough street photographers! :angel:

Good idea though and great to see someone that age taking up a hobby with an uncertain future based around a technology that was all but defunct when they were born.

I'm mystified anyone that age would be interested to be honest ... he does realise the OM-2 can't upload images directly to facebook? 😀
 
Basic Photographic Materials and Processes, Hirsch et al. A must have, will answer most hard questions. No need for the latest edition, I have the second, it's really cheap used.
 
Basic Photographic Materials and Processes, Hirsch et al. A must have,

+1, that's a basic and great start, especially if the 13yo has any technical inclination.
I'd consider Darkroom by Gibson on Lustrum Press, might blow his mind once he starts doing darkroom work. 🙂
Doing Film is actually considered "Hipster" style culture, fer them young-in's.
 
nightfly said:
My nephew is just getting into photography and has acquired my dad's OM-2N with a nice 50 1.4 . Very excited to help teach him but wanted to get him a book to show him the basics of film photography for his birthday.

Any suggestions?
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I know a recommendation for a book is probably what you are after, but if you are open to suggestions, I would suggest perhaps something inspirational or that might show him what's out there photographically, or perhaps film or processing, or both. That an perhaps a simple primer on lining up a correct exposure, and what implications or effects aperture and shutter speed decisions will have, and I imagine he will be rearing to go 🙂
 
loquax ludens said:
The Kodak Guide to 35mm Photography was my constant companion back in the '80s.
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The above, or something very similar, would be my recommendation too. Keep theory and the past masters out of the lessons for now. Experimentation and self-discovery are what kids are so good at doing.

Also, a grocery bag full of film would always be welcome.
 
Years ago I had a book by Michael Langford on 35mm photography. I bought it as a total newbie with an SLR who was about to head to Nepal with a Canon AE-1 and a swag of Kodachrome and didn't really have a clue.

It was a small fairly basic book but I found it incredibly useful ... one thing that always stayed with me was his philosophy of framing your shot to what you thought was perfect, then take a step forward.
 
Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

I liked the idea of inspiring him so decided to give him one of my old technical books and then a copy of Fullbleed New York City Skateboard Photography since that's his other passion and will probably motivate him more than book on aperture and exposure.

And of course a few rolls of Tri-X.

And yes, I did think I was going to get the old OM-2n but I've got enough cameras. Hopefully I'll get to show him developing and printing. Although I've taken to scanning and printing digitally lately,seeing your photo appear on paper in the developer under a red light is still pretty magical. Would be a great thing to share.
 
I bought a nearly 20 year old book as a 16 year old in 1977, Jacob Deschin's '35mm Photography', 1959. It had some examples by great photographers, and descriptions of how those shots were taken and why they were good. There was a section on focal length, aperture, shutter speed. Very basic stuff and yet a very sophisticated book too. My father's friend gave me a Kodak pamphlet, 'Available Light Photography'. I still use some tables from that. It helped me manage without a meter, which I had to for a while. I have seen Freeman's books in the bookshops, and they look good. The Horenstein referred to above looks like the ticket.
 
Overly interested adults can be killing for a teenager's evolving hobby. I talk from experience. I too got into photography at 13 - the first hobby that I could explore by myself without family members constantly nagging me and pushing me in directions they personally thought was interesting.
However, I was thankful when adults would give me things I wished for for birthdays, like film, filters and money for developing etc. I seeked the information I needed from library books and archives of old photo magazines - your nephew will probably use the internet.
My advise is to support from a distance and also give color film and some mailers (if such a thing still exist). The idea of a skateboard photography book is great. you could consider adding something that exposes him to a wide range of photographers such as http://www.amazon.com/PHOTO-BOX-Rob...UTF8&qid=1346742774&sr=8-3&keywords=photo+box
It is a while back I flipped through it and it may contain some nudity and violence (but probably not more than what you see on the new and internet anyway)
 
nightfly said:
Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

I liked the idea of inspiring him so decided to give him one of my old technical books and then a copy of Fullbleed New York City Skateboard Photography since that's his other passion and will probably motivate him more than book on aperture and exposure.
Click to expand...

If he's into skateboarding maybe get a book by Ed Templeton?
 
Lflex said:
Overly interested adults can be killing for a teenager's evolving hobby. I talk from experience. I too got into photography at 13 - the first hobby that I could explore by myself without family members constantly nagging me and pushing me in directions they personally thought was interesting.
However, I was thankful when adults would give me things I wished for for birthdays, like film, filters and money for developing etc. I seeked the information I needed from library books and archives of old photo magazines - your nephew will probably use the internet.
My advise is to support from a distance and also give color film and some mailers (if such a thing still exist). The idea of a skateboard photography book is great. you could consider adding something that exposes him to a wide range of photographers such as http://www.amazon.com/PHOTO-BOX-Rob...UTF8&qid=1346742774&sr=8-3&keywords=photo+box
It is a while back I flipped through it and it may contain some nudity and violence (but probably not more than what you see on the new and internet anyway)
Click to expand...

+1 very good advice. It is very hard to find the right level of support without `taking over'. Let them discover and give support.
 
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