Rangefinder books?

[lamemoria]

I am new to the forum and to rangefinder cameras in general. I bought a Rollei RF 35mm form a friend who just bought a Leica M7. Can anyone tell me wh at good books will help me on my rangefinder artistic endeavors/adventures?

Thank you,
JMR

 

[matti]

I like the Leica M by Günter Osterloh.

/matti

 

[traveller]

Maybe this one?

Rangefinder Photography I

John

 

[wamjam]

i hope this would be available thru amazon.com

 

[Graham Line]

The Aperture monographs on Andre Kertesz, Ruth Orkin and Henri Cartier-Bresson are full of photos in the classic RF esthetic, though only HC-B routinely used one. There are others whose names I can't dredge up at the moment.

edit: Got home to look at the bookshelf. The Ruth Orkin monograph "Above and Beyond," isn't from Aperture. It was published by her estate and the Greenberg Gallery in connection with an exhibit.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Assuming you know your shutter speeds and apertures and depth of field then go online and look at all the great images.

Either search for a photographer by name, or go to a magazine site or go to an agency.

 

[RML]

Check some website first:

- http://www.magnuminmotion.com/
- http://www.magnumphotos.com/c/Home_MAG.aspx
- http://masters-of-photography.com/
- the gallery here on RFF
- my photo portfolio 😛

etc.

If you're still interested in getting books, check amazon.com. They have a slew of books on every single big and small name in photographic history. BTW, it's no use to just focus on rangefinder shooters. Many of them also shot other kinds of cameras. Other great photogs never even used a rf camera at all. Still it's good to see their work.

 

[J. Borger]

Looking at the work of the masters is the best school i think ....

Older: HCB, Winogrand, Helen Levitt, Doisneau, Boubat, Gianni Gardin, Robert Frank, Elliot Erwitt
New(er): Tom Wood .... "Photieman" ............ a wondeful book with "right in the face" pictures ....... , Lise Sarfati .. "Acta -Est"

 

[Jocko]

A bit of a whacky choice, I know, but

"My Way with a Miniature" by Lancelot Vining
and
"35 mm Photo Technique" by H.S. Newcombe

are well worth the pennies they sell for on e-bay. The bibles of RF photography in the 40s, both are wonderful period pieces which give a great sense of rangefinder heritage and the photographic ethos behind the classic cameras.

 

[rover]

Maybe this one?

Rangefinder Photography I

John

Excellent choice, very good, two thumbs up 😎

It actually is very good.


Not specific to RFs but largely of RF style, "Bystander, the history of street photography" is excellent.

 

[taffer]

Rover got me on 'Bystander', yep, a very good one.

Another community of RFF shooters publised a book a while ago called 'Rangefinder Perspectives', I'll look for the link and post it here.

Check for cheap clerance sales, I've got some books that way that I ended loving.

 

[retrocam]

Leica M by Osterloh
HCB and the Artless Art
Pics by Andre Kertesz
LFI Magazines
Look into street photography as well.

Cheers!

-annie