Good books on Black and White photo

[branki]

Hej!
I am quite a beginner in the world of photography and I was wondering
if you could suggest some good lectures on the matter.

I've done some research and read a pile of books from the local library and can't seem to find the "right" book for me, the one that gives a thorough answer to all those questions that keep coming up on the way.

If I could choose I would like a book that explained b&w film theory and techniques,
from film to light to the secrecy of the zone system...among others.
Have you read such a book lately?

thanks!

 

[markinlondon]

Hi, Branki, may I answer you with a couple of questions? First, do you intend to process and print your own photos? And, secondly, what format do you shoot? The zone system is mostly inappropriate for roll film users IMO.

 

[Magnus]

Get the Ansel Adams trilogie ..... Although I am not thrilled about about his style his books are good.

Apart from that get the (I think it's called) Darkroom Cook Book, which is a must for B&W. Between these four books you'll have all the information you need at your fingertips.

 

[drewbarb]

Check out Henry Horenstein's "Basic Photography", and "Beyond Basic Photography" as great all-around photo texts that are concise, reasonably well written, and should answer most beginner's needs. I would also pick up copies of Ansel Adam's seminal works "The Negative", "The Print", and "The Camera"- whatever you think of the man and his work, these are great basic manuals for understanding the craft of black and white photography. If you want to explore Zone System, get Minor White's book- it's a bit of a slog through the first time, but if you absorb it all over the course of time, it's all you'll ever really need on the subject.

Adams also had his hand in several basic photography texts, any of which are worth while.

 

[fraley]

brenki,

I enjoyed reading Bernard J. Seuss's books on b&w photograpy. He answered some nagging questions I had about technical matters. Here's a description of them:

cMastering Black-And-White Photography : From Camera to Darkroom by Bernhard J. Suess (April 1995)

Mastering Black-and-White Photography is an introduction to the techniques of black-and-white photography and a thoughtful exploration of how to use those techniques effectively to develop creative skills. Twenty-five illustrated chapters explain practical and artistic matters in a friendly style, from cameras, lenses, and film to developing, to printing, light, and aesthetics. This invaluable resource helps to understand the nuances surrounding the art and technique of black-and-white photography and to use that understanding to create better photographs.

Creative Black-And-White Photography : Advanced Camera and Darkroom Techniques by Bernhard J. Suess (July 1998)

The sequel to Mastering Black-and-White Photography, this unique reference tool makes complex technical and aesthetic problems easy to understand and master. Suess addresses intricate questions of film exposure and development control, camera filters, creative use of print contrast, dodging and burning, bleaching, and digital imaging. Discussing the many choices he makes in his own photography and why, Suess illustrates the decisions essential to successful b&w images. Includes more than 80 photos, tracing

 

[Trius]

The "trouble" with Ansel's books, even though they were my "bible", is that they are dated and, as mentioned, geared to the zone system. If you understand and compensate for that, they are great for teaching the principles of exposure, development and printing. I haven't delved into the books mentioned or any other more "modern" books, but having a set of Ansel's books at hand isn't a bad thing. Same for Zone VI Workshop.

 

[branki]

First of all,
thanks for the suggestions. I appreciate that.
I will (immediately) start looking around for the A.Adams trilogy. At least the "negative" and "print" parts. I do like his work.

Hi, Branki, may I answer you with a couple of questions? First, do you intend to process and print your own photos? And, secondly, what format do you shoot? The zone system is mostly inappropriate for roll film users IMO.

markinlondon:
I have been developing my own film since january 2006 and was thinking of enlarging some stuff pretty soon.
I shoot mainly 35mm but every now and then I pull out my Rolleicord for some street shots.
So it is probably 80% 35mm and the rest MF.
I develop all I shoot, which is black and white most of the time.

Magnus:
I think I got "The Darkroom Cook Book" from the library a couple of months ago, and thought it was too oriented on "soup" ingredients for my level of knowledge 😱 . (I´m quite sure it was this book, but thanks anyway for the suggestion, I might get it again and re-read it).

Fraley:
I am actually reading the "creative Black and white photography...", (again picked from the public library) and I think it is one of the best and most helpful I´ve read so far.
I haven´t stumbled upon the first one though... I´ll look around.
Thanks for the suggestion.


I am also reading a big book called "Basic Photographic Materials and Processes, Second Edition".
It is like some sort of a encyclopedia of photography, but it almost feels way too technical...



thanks again,

branki

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

See if your library has "David Bailey's Book of Photography". It's very easy-going and not at all technical.

 

[rover]

I have found this book to be an excellent resource, http://www.amazon.com/Black-White-Photography-Third-Revised/dp/0316373052/sr=1-1/qid=1164104462/ref=sr_1_1/102-4873280-5753741?ie=UTF8&s=books, Black & White Photography, a Basic Manual by Horenstein. It is less technical than Adams, he takes the "photography is simple" approach. Extremely easy to understand, very thorough from the box of film, into the camera, to the tank for processing and onto paper in a darkroom.

 

[branki]

thanks again to all for the suggestions.

I wanna make it clear that I do like the technical stuff, and I think it is an important part of the process.

 

[ddunn]

My personal favorite on B & W photography is Fred Picker's Zone VI Workshop. For a technical book, it's a fairly easy read which, for me at least, finally made the Zone System understandable. Here's a link to it on Alibris
http://www.alibris.com/search/searc...&matches=20&qsort=r&cm_re=works*listing*title