Black&White photo techniques

Neil Ellwood wrote:
> On Thu, 03 Aug 2006 01:54:04 -0700, Hoshisato wrote:
>
> > I'm looking for websites or book recommendations for Black&White
> > techniques either taken by a DSLR or 36mm film. The books and webpages
> > I find always focus on darkroom techniques and that is not what I'm
> > after as I scan the negatives and handle them digitally.
> > Something like "Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs
> > with a Film or Digital Camera" by Bryan Peterson but then for
> > Black&White. Any ideas?
> Why not try it and develop your own techniques?
> --
> Neil
> Delete l to reply

Great idea! Spend a lifetime trying to figure out what is already
known, instead of building on the knowledge of geniuses like Adams.

Actually, I think that developing your own techniques is a great idea,
AFTER you've studied the masters. I don't know if Neil is one of those
people who think you don't have to understand the work done before you,
you can just jump in and be better than Adams because you're so damn
good. There seem to be a great many people around today who think you
can be great at something without studying what's been done by previous
experts who spent a lifetime learning to get to that level. "Don't do
the work, just jump in and be great!" I think they lack the discipline
to study and learn from others. I say, read some of the books
recommended here, and try things on your own. Don't be limited by what
they've done, but dont' ignore it either. I like Sir Issac Newton's
quote, "If I have seen farther than others, it's because I have stood
on the shoulders of giants".
 >> Stay informed about: Black&White photo techniques 

"Hoshisato" <hoshisato DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm looking for websites or book recommendations for Black&White
> techniques either taken by a DSLR or 36mm film. The books and webpages
> I find always focus on darkroom techniques and that is not what I'm
> after as I scan the negatives and handle them digitally.
> Something like "Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs
> with a Film or Digital Camera" by Bryan Peterson but then for
> Black&White. Any ideas?

Although it's for film, I found "The Zone System for 35mm Photographers"
useful because it has very good descriptions and examples (although the
photographic reproduction leaves a lot to be desired) of what the different
zones are used for.

I've just ordered a stack of books from Amazon on this subject, but they
won't be here for a week, and it'll take me some time to figure out if
they're any good.

Edge of Darkness: The Art... $19.77 1 $19.77
Elements of Black and Whit... $20.37 1 $20.37
Digital Black & White Phot... $16.99 1 $16.99

David J. Littleboy
Tokyo, Japan
 >> Stay informed about: Black&White photo techniques 

On 3 Aug 2006 01:54:04 -0700, "Hoshisato" <hoshisato.DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote:

>I'm looking for websites or book recommendations for Black&White
>techniques either taken by a DSLR or 36mm film. The books and webpages
>I find always focus on darkroom techniques and that is not what I'm
>after as I scan the negatives and handle them digitally.
>Something like "Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs
>with a Film or Digital Camera" by Bryan Peterson but then for
>Black&White. Any ideas?


A few suggestions -- not about "basic photography" but
about using digital methods to make black and white prints:


1. Dan Margulis has written the books titled "Professional
Photoshop x" where x= the current Photoshop version.
(IOW, there are nearly as many versions of Dan's book
as there are PS/CS versions.) In any case, there is always
a chapter or two on duotones and on pulling the best
possible grayscale image out of an RGB image. For your
purposes, the info in that chapter will be worth the cost
of the book.

2. Look up Roy Harrington, and QuadTone RIP. Also
look up Jon Cone and Piezography.

<www.harrington.com/QuadToneRIP.html>
<www.inkjetmall.com/>

3. Join the Yahoo group "DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint"

<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/>

4. Dan Burkholder was a "pioneer" in printing from
digitally-printed internegatives onto real photo paper.
Get more info at <www.danburkholder.com> He's
published a couple of books.


rafe b
www.terrapinphoto.com
 >> Stay informed about: Black&White photo techniques 

On Thu, 03 Aug 2006 01:54:04 -0700, Hoshisato wrote:

> I'm looking for websites or book recommendations for Black&White
> techniques either taken by a DSLR or 36mm film. The books and webpages
> I find always focus on darkroom techniques and that is not what I'm
> after as I scan the negatives and handle them digitally.
> Something like "Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs
> with a Film or Digital Camera" by Bryan Peterson but then for
> Black&White. Any ideas?
Why not try it and develop your own techniques?
--
Neil
Delete l to reply
 >> Stay informed about: Black&White photo techniques 

Hoshisato wrote:
> I'm looking for websites or book recommendations for Black&White
> techniques either taken by a DSLR or 36mm film.

do you mean 35mm? Typo?

> Something like "Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs
> with a Film or Digital Camera" by Bryan Peterson but then for
> Black&White. Any ideas?

First off, consider composition - regardless of digital or 35mm film,
B+W or color - composition is composition. Now B+W comp is even harder
'cause you need to see and think in B+W. So get a comp book - I have a
great one - can't remember the name - front cover is mainly white with
a photo of a bird and the sun - break up into 6 quadrants - great book.

Other than that - can't help you. But when I need a book on a subject -
go to Borders or B&N - and I'll pull 10 books over to a table and check
them all out - table of contents, glossary or not, introduction, read
parts of chapters - I end up getting the one that makes most sense to
me and has the most info to offer. Lets face it, we all think and learn
differently. If you buy a book with great info, but you can stand the
writing style or presentation on info by the author, then you're not
going to get as much out of it as a writier whose words knock you off
you feet.

Jim
 >> Stay informed about: Black&White photo techniques 

salgud wrote:

> Neil Ellwood wrote:
>
>>On Thu, 03 Aug 2006 01:54:04 -0700, Hoshisato wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I'm looking for websites or book recommendations for Black&White
>>>techniques either taken by a DSLR or 36mm film. The books and webpages
>>>I find always focus on darkroom techniques and that is not what I'm
>>>after as I scan the negatives and handle them digitally.
>>>Something like "Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs
>>>with a Film or Digital Camera" by Bryan Peterson but then for
>>>Black&White. Any ideas?
>>
>>Why not try it and develop your own techniques?
>>--
>>Neil
>>Delete l to reply
>
>
> Great idea! Spend a lifetime trying to figure out what is already
> known, instead of building on the knowledge of geniuses like Adams.

Which books did Adams write on B&W photography using a DSLR?

And FWIW, I expect Neil's answer came closer to what Adams himself would
have recommended.
 >> Stay informed about: Black&White photo techniques 

no_name <no_name.DeleteThis@no.where.invalid> wrote in news:RulBg.102807$R26.43053
@tornado.southeast.rr.com:

> salgud wrote:
>
>> Neil Ellwood wrote:
>>
>>>On Thu, 03 Aug 2006 01:54:04 -0700, Hoshisato wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>I'm looking for websites or book recommendations for Black&White
>>>>techniques either taken by a DSLR or 36mm film. The books and
webpages
>>>>I find always focus on darkroom techniques and that is not what I'm
>>>>after as I scan the negatives and handle them digitally.
>>>>Something like "Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great
Photographs
>>>>with a Film or Digital Camera" by Bryan Peterson but then for
>>>>Black&White. Any ideas?
>>>
>>>Why not try it and develop your own techniques?
>>>--
>>>Neil
>>>Delete l to reply
>>
>>
>> Great idea! Spend a lifetime trying to figure out what is already
>> known, instead of building on the knowledge of geniuses like Adams.
>
> Which books did Adams write on B&W photography using a DSLR?
>
> And FWIW, I expect Neil's answer came closer to what Adams himself
would
> have recommended.


Think of the time he could have saved writing those books if he'd
realized that sooner.


- Al.

--
To reply, insert dash in address to match domain below
Online photo gallery at www.wading-in.net
 >> Stay informed about: Black&White photo techniques 

Al Denelsbeck wrote:

> no_name <no_name.RemoveThis@no.where.invalid> wrote in news:RulBg.102807$R26.43053
> @tornado.southeast.rr.com:
>
>
>>salgud wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Neil Ellwood wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>On Thu, 03 Aug 2006 01:54:04 -0700, Hoshisato wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>I'm looking for websites or book recommendations for Black&White
>>>>>techniques either taken by a DSLR or 36mm film. The books and
>
> webpages
>
>>>>>I find always focus on darkroom techniques and that is not what I'm
>>>>>after as I scan the negatives and handle them digitally.
>>>>>Something like "Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great
>
> Photographs
>
>>>>>with a Film or Digital Camera" by Bryan Peterson but then for
>>>>>Black&White. Any ideas?
>>>>
>>>>Why not try it and develop your own techniques?
>>>>--
>>>>Neil
>>>>Delete l to reply
>>>
>>>
>>>Great idea! Spend a lifetime trying to figure out what is already
>>>known, instead of building on the knowledge of geniuses like Adams.
>>
>>Which books did Adams write on B&W photography using a DSLR?
>>
>>And FWIW, I expect Neil's answer came closer to what Adams himself
>
> would
>
>>have recommended.
>
>
>
> Think of the time he could have saved writing those books if he'd
> realized that sooner.
>
>
> - Al.
>

The 'develop your own technique' comes from Adams.
 >> Stay informed about: Black&White photo techniques 

Keep in mind as you go down this path that Adams developed his techniques
based on the knowledge of all those that came before him.
So learning his Zone system and using that knowledge to develope a viable
technique that works for you sounds a little more resonable.
IMHO
 >> Stay informed about: Black&White photo techniques 

I'm not a fan of B&W technique.

- Onimusha Star

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Bobby wrote:
> Keep in mind as you go down this path that Adams developed his techniques
> based on the knowledge of all those that came before him.
> So learning his Zone system and using that knowledge to develope a viable
> technique that works for you sounds a little more resonable.
> IMHO
 >> Stay informed about: Black&White photo techniques 

Bobby wrote:

> Keep in mind as you go down this path that Adams developed his techniques
> based on the knowledge of all those that came before him.
> So learning his Zone system and using that knowledge to develope a viable
> technique that works for you sounds a little more resonable.

There's a saying in engineering "don't reinvent the wheel". Learn what has
been done and if it doesn't suit your purpose then go on and develop
something that does. If you do it any other way then you can waste a lot
of time going down blind alleys that someone else has already explored.

> IMHO

--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
 >> Stay informed about: Black&White photo techniques