Best darkroom & photo processing books according to redditors
We found 38 Reddit comments discussing the best darkroom & photo processing books. We ranked the 13 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 38 Reddit comments discussing the best darkroom & photo processing books. We ranked the 13 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
Photography is not about lenses and expensive equipment. It's about light and composition. You can take good pictures with a phone camera and lousy ones with an SLR.
Please read this book written 150 years ago, and still holding true.
First few lines in the preface outline what I mean:
> ... Nine out of ten photographers are, unfortunately, quite ignorant of art; some think manipulation all-sufficient, others are too much absorbed in the scientific principles involved to think of making pictures; while comparatively a few only have regarded the science as a means of giving pictorial embodiment to their ideas. ...
Improve your photographic skill before you think about dumping a whole lot of money into it.
For something more recent I recommend The Art of Photography.
I highly recommend The Art of Photography by Bruce Barnbaum.
Bostick and Sullivan is a good resource for chemistry.
For learning technique, it really depends on what processes you are interested in. I would recommend this book for learning about a lot of different processes.
Most processes are contact-printing processes, so a lot of your results will also be 4x5. There are some exceptions, such as Bromoil and Mordançage, however, that work on enlarged silver gelatin prints. Most of the contact-printing processes require ultraviolet light sources.
Edit: For something like wet plate collodion, you're looking at a very particular set of esoteric practices and variables that will affect your success rate. Since the materials themselves are expensive, you may find it very beneficial to attend a workshop hosted by a professional wet plate shooter if you wish to be successful.
Although not a book about composition, I would highly recommend "The Art of Photography - An approach to Personal Expression".
I too, like to read before going to sleep and this book will definitely do the trick for you, since you are looking for inspiration and not for technical advice. I believe you won't regret reading it :)
It's $2.99 on Kindle and free with "kindle unlimited: https://www.amazon.com/PHOTOSHOP-Beginners-Mastering-Photoshop-Photography-ebook/dp/B00YKPEZ1G/.
Otherwise rule #2,
> Nothing illegal (by US laws at least) - including requests for pirated materials (movies/books/music)
George Barr - Take Your Photography to the Next Level: From Inspiration to Image
If you have an inkjet printer you can print your own enlarged negatives for contact printing. Get your negatives scanned, adjust the tone curves in the scans for cyanotype printing, invert the positive scans to negatives again, then print the adjusted negatives onto transparency film.
GIMP is a great free image manipulation tool. Here is how to create a digital negative in GIMP, with wild-guess contrast adjustments.
Here are concise instructions specifically for cyanotype with better info on tweaking contrast.
Freestyle has more comprehensive instructions for developing a custom contrast curve for your setup.
Coming into Focus, edited by John Barnier, is a guide to many alternative printing processes and has a couple of chapters on making digital negatives for alternative processes.
If you want to dive deep, there is Making Digital Negatives for Contact Printing by Dan Burkholder and his newer eBook Inkjet Negative Companion
EDIT: Forgot a link
More generally, look into something called "Zone System". The rules of thumb I gave you assume your thermometer, light meter, and shutter are all reasonably close to correct. Zone System can handle it if they are not, but it's too hard to explain how it done in a Reddit post.
Zone System can be a bit complex if you read the full Ansel Adams approach. A good simpler starting point is:
http://www.amazon.com/Zone-VI-Workshop-Fred-Picker/dp/0817405747
Anything by John Hedgecoe. While they may be old, they are still usefull.
Also this book is good.
https://www.amazon.com/Art-Photography-Approach-Personal-Expression/dp/1933952687
I looked at the handful of images on flickr. The images there are snapshots; possibly interesting to the people in them, but not bearing critical analysis. This is "someone with a camera," not a photographer. If he were 8 years old, it'd be more important to be encouraging. He appears to be in his 20s. He needs to spend 6 months learning about composition, lighting, and exposure, and then hit people up for critique.
If this simply sounds bitchy and negative to you, we're talking about very different things. If this guy wants to be a photographer, he needs to put in some learning time. This isn't arbitrary elitist nonsense, it's the difference between intelligently comparing Italian restaurants versus discussing the pros and cons of the menu at The Olive Garden.
At absolute minimum, beginning digital photographers should read, digest, and internalize a handful of basic books on the subject. Books like:
And if he wants to get more serious, he should study books like:
He should go and see museum and gallery showings of great photographic work, and should study the work of at least 20 or so master photographers to the point of familiarity. (Seeing Robert Polidori's actual prints are completely different than looking at his shots on the web/in a book!) He should get his hands on magazines like B&W, Aperture, The British Journal of Photography, Focus, Blind Spot, 8, .. He needs to travel. He needs to shoot every day. He needs some understanding of darkroom work or digital postprocessing.
Very infrequently does one become a really good photographer without studying fundamental design principles. Most great photographers are artists in several mediums. I've been shooting and developing/postprocessing since Gerald Ford was in office, and I consider myself a middling, journeyman photographer. Maybe in another five years I'll be A Good Photographer. The OP is at square one, which is fine. That's where everyone starts.
Coworker: I immediately thought she should get a really graphic Batman poster. You could even get it framed if you have enough left over. Here are some from Etsy: 1, 2, 3, 4, this one's a little different.. but it's video game related so.. here! 5
____
Boss: A nice photography book would probably be a safe bet: 1, 2, 3, 4, last one is $5 over budget, but 5
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Professor: I'm sorry I don't have more original ideas for him but here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
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GOOD LUCK!!
I cant believe no one has mentioned this yet, but The Art of Photography is a beautiful book which covers a variety of topics. Total game changer once i started reading it!
Well, I assume that you know much of the technical aspects of photography, I suggest reading into some resources that talk more about the art of photography, which by the way The Art of Photography by Bruce Barnum is an excellent book.
Everyone advances at their own pace, some have a talent, others are more slow and need to be more deliberate. For me, I have to work a little harder so that I could subconsciously take better shots.
Some tips.
Study some movies you like. Pay attention to the composition that they use as well as the lighting.
Take an art workshop, like painting. (or mooch off an artsy friend) Photography workshops like to delve into techniques and post processing, but other art forms like to do more on composition. you could learn a lot from the way painters think about composition.
Practice certain composition techniques. You don't have to do this on medium format, your digital setup will do just fine, especially if you are short on cash. Spend some time learning how use the "rule" of thirds (when shooting not cropping), "rule" of odds, negative space, texture, lines and shape. Spend a week shooting one aspect of composition. Every now and then start mixing up one or two aspects together. The idea is that you get these general concepts of photographic composition down to a subconscious level. My music theory teacher said this, "we learn these rules, so that we can learn how to break them." We have these "rules" of composition because we know what the human eyes prefer. Learning when use or break them can create a powerful composition.
Walk around with your hands in front your eyes framing the things infront of you, like a movie director would. Like this. You don't always have your camera on you, but you should still think about your photography. see something interesting? Frame it, play with it, and ask, is this a good shot?
Most importantly, write things down. Every shot you take, write down what you did. Write down what you wanted to get out that shot you just took, the settings you used, time of day, type of lighting, etc. On digital, we have exif data to tell us some of the stuff, but we still need to write down. I think your composition will get stronger as you learn what you want out of a photograph and being able to achieve it. Basically, knowing what your shot will be like, without actually seeing it (my ultimate goal).
I read that it is probably also best to shoot black and white exclusively, as it will force you to think about lines and textures even more, but I never did that, and maybe I am at a bit of a disadvantage for that. I don't know.
Like you, I am always striving to improve. I use these tips to help my composition as well. I like to think of every day as a chance to improve.
I hope this helps.
Composition is a very broad and extensive topic, and throwing a few sentences in your direction won't help you much. So, instead a link to some basic info and the advice to look for good books. And while you are at it, look for books about the usage of light in photography.
After having said that I can't help but give you indeed some personal advice.
Think about your pictures before taking them: what is the main subject of your picture. What objects do you want to have in your picture. Why do you want them in your picture. Do they actually make your picture better, or are they distracting from the main subject. Is the place I stand at really the best place for this picture or should I move a bit.
Basically, think about every element you see in your viewfinder (or LCD screen).
Pick up a copy of The Darkroom Cookbook. It saved my ass a few times working for photographers.
​
Edit: And two 8x10 mat boards, one with a dime-sized circle cut in it, and the other with a double dime width oval cut into it, make great burning tools. The two together make all sorts of useful shapes.
This is the book you need I think: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Photography-Approach-Personal-Expression/dp/1933952687
For an absolute beginner shooting digital, Ken Kobre's Photojournalism and Bruce Barnbaum's The Art of Photography would be my pick, if only because those were the books I learned from in j-school.
For an intermediate film photographer who needs inspiration or thoughtful meditations on the medium more than they need inspiration, I am always going back to Vivian Maier: Street Photographer, Annie Leibovitz's A Photographer's Life: 1990-2005, and the exhibition book from Francesca Woodman's exhibit at SFMOMA/the Guggenheim. But I have an abiding interest in female photographers, self-portraiture, and the female gaze, so YMMV there.
Processing-wise:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Darkroom-Handbook-Michael-Langford/dp/0852231881
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ilford-Monochrome-Darkroom-Practice-Processing/dp/0240513681
A humble suggestion that has helped me tremendously: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Photography-Approach-Personal-Expression/dp/1933952687
Not a tutorial, I know, but some of the books by Katrin Eismann, helped me a TON. They're really good, all the pictures she uses as examples in the book are online so you can follow exactly what she does and also learn by doing. The one of hers I've used the most is Restoration and Retouching, b/c I restore a lot of old family pictures and this book helped a lot.
The Art of Photography: An Approach to Personal Expression
by Bruce Barnbaum
Also, even experienced photographers can get something out of devouring a slew of books on composition. Many of them cover the same subjects, but I find value in the different photographic expressions they use. The library is the best way to go through a bunch of these, and even if your library doesn't have a particular book they can usually get it through interlibrary loan.
Hand coloring of photographic prints. Some of those examples are not in the traditional style.
Here is an article, more traditional, especially the last examples, ladies from south Wales.
Here is a get started kit. Also an intro Book. And a better Book.
Marshall's photo oils is the standard. They are translucent. My father was an amateur photographer (actually did many graduation photos), and my mother did the coloring. She was no artist. She did paint by numbers when that was a fad, but the hand coloring predated that. I have, packed away, some fall foliage portraits they did. I will look for them tomorrow. My memory is that each leaf was colored, like a bowl of kix. She was completely self taught. I tried my hand at it, but did not have the patience. My darkroom skills went beyond my father's, but I could not match her coloring skills. For an artist, it should be easy.
It has to be done on matte surface paper, for a tooth to take the color. The classical technique was perfected before color photography was common. It is very "life like". More modern techniques look like Photoshop efforts. A style that came and went was to do one element in the photo.
The whole process hinges on good B&W photographs on matte surface. For a home hobbyist with darkroom, cheap and easy. To have it done commercially, custom B&W is expensive.
Not knowing your skill level, or ambitions, you may want to explore Photo Shop option
I suppose in this I am a purist. Comparing PS examples to the real deal is like comparing Grandma's chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven, to opening a bag of chips-ahoy. Not the same experience at all. Still, interesting, and satisfying on a certain level, but not the same.
I almost forgot about Wallace Nutting. He started a cottage business, sold hand colored prints door to door. He became so successful he had to have a staff do the coloring. The prints are collectable, he had signed his own work, more valuable of course. He is very much in the traditional style. About 25years ago I was frequenting antique shops, would see his prints, generally in the $75-$300 range. A lot of variables, size, framing, quality of work, subject matter. Some 3x5 examples of certain subjects and colors were very expensive. A very interesting art form.
I can warmly recomend this book OP.
http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-Photoshop-Restoration-Retouching-Edition/dp/0321316274
Also could you post the raw high dpi scan, I'd love to take a crack at it.
The biggest tip I can give you is to pay attention to light. While you perceive the world as a bunch of 'things', you really need to pay attention to the light, and how it interacts with the 'things' in the scene. The tip on early/late day light is a good one, but should be treated as a guideline rather than a rule. You can make great photographs at any time of the day, but you may have to work harder when the light is less forgiving.
Check out this book by Bruce Barnbaum: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Photography-Approach-Personal-Expression/dp/1933952687/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474377504&sr=8-1&keywords=art+of+photography
It spends a lot of time talking about light and composition, which may be useful to you. It also focuses (ha!) a bit on film photography, but the general concepts of photography are universal, so the book is still very useful.
One other tip is to look at photographs. A lot. Look at good ones. Bad ones. Try to understand why the good ones are good, and the bad ones are bad. This will help you with composition.
Equipment is a tool; learn to use your tools well. Don't think buying the best tools will make you a better photographer. It may help, but learning how to photograph will help much more.
Good luck, and photograph. All the time!
Lift.ca does workshops on processing movie film, same principles and chems apply. But they're in Toronto. My darkroom is my bathroom, I pin up a comforter over the door and wait a about two mins before loading my tanks. I also cover the bulbs in my bathroom as theyre soft light CFLs and tend to glow for a bit after theyre turned off, make sure anything that has the potential to emit light is put away, such as a watch, or the battery indicator on an electric toothbrush. If you're shooting medium format be careful when removing the tape of the end of the film it has a tendency to cause light emitting static electricity.
My suggestion would be to shoot a bunch of stuff on 35 use cheap film like Kentmere. Then practice developing.
There is also a book called a Short Course in Photography by Barbara London and Jim Stone that is my Bible for film processing and learning about photography. It's not the exact book I have but this one should do.
https://www.amazon.ca/Short-Course-Photography-Film-Darkroom/dp/0205982433/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=Barbara+London&qid=1568682838&s=books&sr=1-3
My favorite PS book is Adobe Photoshop Restoration and Retouching by Katrin Eisman. It's not CC specific. I read an older edition about 12 years ago when I had PS 7. After upgrading from CS4 to CC, I bought Adobe Photoshop CC for Photographers by Martin Evening, but I've only spent a few minutes in it to understand some new features.
I have a link to The Darkroom Cookbook in my OP. I also highly recommend this "Oldie but Goodie". You may also find informative, this online site from Ilford
I'm not familiar with this title myself, but it gets good reviews: Into Your Darkroom, Step-by-Step
If you are looking for equipment, keep an eye on your local Craigslist (assuming you are in the U.S.). Find photography clubs in your area and let it be known (like on mailing lists, etc.) that you are interested in darkroom equipment and chemistry that is gathering dust. You may get some very good stuff free, or nearly so.
Sign up and hang out at apug.org forums
You can "get your feet wet" by simply developing B&W film and scanning the negatives - then using your usual digital tools to edit. It takes very little to develop film - once it is loaded on a reel and placed in a light tight developing tank you can turn the lights on for the rest of the process.
https://www.amazon.com/Black-White-Darkroom-Dataguide-Publication/dp/0879856025/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1492160981&sr=1-2&keywords=Black+and+white+darkroom
https://www.amazon.com/Film-Developing-Cookbook-Darkroom-Vol/dp/0240802772/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1492161106&sr=1-4&keywords=Black+and+white+darkroom
https://www.amazon.com/Way-Beyond-Monochrome-Traditional-Photography/dp/0240816250/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1492161323&sr=1-1&keywords=way+beyond+monochrome
And, of course, Ansel Adams trilogy, The Camera, The Negative, and The Print.
I started off with my own darkroom, in the late '80s, when I was a teenager. I had a fat full colour book called The Darkroom Handbook, that showed all sorts of different things to try out. From that experimentation, and looking at what other photographers did, including the artists like David Hockney, and album covers, etc, I got my own style.
I was art school, and was into a style of design that you do not see anymore, as everything is done in Photoshop now. For photography itself, I just read a couple of books by photographers on portraiture after I knew all the technical stuff. This all pretty vague, but because I was into painting and all sorts things, they effect one another.
I'd grab a cheap used copy of The Darkroom Handbook by Michael Langford, it has a section on darkroom design from basic to professional.