Book Description
This easy-to-use, inexpensive book introduces beginning picture takers and makers to the fundamentals of photography and suggests ways in which they might create photographs that have meaning.
Oriented toward traditional black and white photography, the book also explores digital techniques and web photography resources, equipment, cameras and camera accessories, the exposure and development of film, and the making and finishing of prints. All aspects of the process are explained and illustrated clearly in two-page spreads, each of which addresses a self-contained topic.
For people who don't know anything about photography and would like to learn, and for those who want to make better pictures than they already do.
Customer Reviews:
Good book, could use more focus.......2007-07-27
A fine intro primer on photographer, but I felt always on the edges of getting good information. Much better at technical stuff, skimps on the art of photography.
Very well done.......2007-06-02
I've found this book to be the most helpful both for novices and learning to take the more professional shots.
Detailed information, definitions and technical terms are not so overwhelming that it would dissuade the average novice, but at the same time, they are explained well enough to carry on a conversation at your local camera store.
Now I just have to sit down and read the whole thing and I will be truly enlightened, or at least exposed at the proper F-stop.
Product Description
An up-to-date manual for modern film development techniques. Companion volume to the bestselling The Darkroom Cookbook, this book concentrates on films, their characteristics and the developers and other chemicals each requires for maximum control of the resulting image. It specifically addresses the difficult subject of T-grain film development and includes rarely found information on film development and the nature of film developers. The authors also tackle many of the widely accepted myths of film development. They reject the trend toward scientific evaluation of films and developers in favor of the photographer s development of a personal aesthetic, without relying exclusively on densitometry or H&D curves. 192 pp., fully illus., 7 x 10 , Spiralbound.
Customer Reviews:
Chemistry.......2006-08-04
Things you never knew about the developing process are in this. I was quite impressed, and am enthusiastic about re-reading it.
ny review of this excellent book.......2005-09-30
very useful, it goes deep in the film developing as expected. It's a good starting point to make the own recipe and to learn *how works this kind of developer*. And many many more useful storic and pratic informations. Simply I love it. Dedicated to everyone feels to be an hero in this digital war against the true, pure, black and white...
A bit disappointing.......2003-07-21
I bought this book as the other books I have are now a bit dated. As the understanding of film development is always evolving, I thought this book would give me the latest ideas and knowledge.
It does to some extent, but I could not help feeling the authors did not take the time to fully research and comprehend the details. Where they have quoted chemists / researchers the details are clear. However where they have tried to interpret or discuss aspects in some places it appears they do not clearly understand what they are trying to explain. The result is that they contradict themselves, fail to make things clear, or just plain get things wrong. They also only seem to address research by Kodak and a few independent researchers. The book thus misses out on research done by Fuji, Agfa, Ilford, etc. which is a significant omission in my opinion.
So is the book worth it ? I think that I would still buy it as there are very few sources of up to date information available. And to be fair, they seem to have taken care in reproducing the formula. However, I would be sure to read some of the older books on developers, and cross check the information before relying on it.
Another great advanced user book from Anchell........2003-02-12
I bought and read every page of all three of Steve Anchell's black and white photo information books: The Variable Contrast Printing Manual, The Film Developing Cookbook, and The Darkroom Cookbook. Why? Because he gives a mix of an historical view plus tells what to pick of the best current chemistries. He does this without bogging down in the actual complexities of a college chemistry course keeping it at a usable technicians level. Since he also tells you why you are using various chemicals or paper his books do not dumb down but instead give you fascinating useful information. Anyone serious about darkroom work will appreciate his insights and commentary about chemistry use. He lists so many historical and current B&W chemical formulas and their use that any B&W experimenter will find the books useful. Beginners may get information overload but anyone who has already done B&W developing will appreciate the vast amount of information. These books could use an overall rewrite to make them a bit simpler to understand, in spite of this they are one of the few sources to accumulate this B&W information and are well worth owning as a reference and explanation.
Great for history and formulas, NOT for beginners..........2002-02-15
I bought this book under the assumption and recommendation that it would teach me how to begin developing my own film... Unfortunately, this is NOT the book for that! This book has great historical value in describing the different formulas, their strengths and weaknesses, and contains charts that are probably valuable to those who ALREADY process their own film. This book is NOT for beginners looking into how one goes about processing their own film!
Book Description
Black and white has an enduring appeal that just keeps on growing. Above all, it's a medium for the fine print--one that benefits immeasurably from digital technology and inkjet printers. Written by a photographer well-known for his ability to explain complex digital concepts to a variety of audiences, this essential guide on the art of black and white is packed with information, hints, and tips, along with a plethora of stunning images. Discover how our colorful world translates into black and white and how to create a stunning monotone image. See how to render colors as gray tones and how to manipulate the tonality for dramatic effect. Experiment with high contrast, infrared, and pseudo non-silver looks. You won't believe the wonderful results you'll achieve.
Customer Reviews:
A good starting point for learning fine quality digital black & white photos.......2007-06-09
This book presents an introductory exposition of techniques for producing "fine art" black and white images from digital color images. Its intended audience is amateur digital photographers and Photoshop users with limited experience. The technical depth of the discussion is fairly high-level. The book is laid out in a glitzy fashion that indicates heavy influence from the graphic arts department. In this regard, the book is better suited for coffee table display than for use as a workroom reference.
The book divides its discussion into five chapters:
· The Language of Mono
· Color into Grayscale
· Digital Black and White
· Image Editing and Effects
· The Print
The Language of Mono
This is good place to start a discussion of black and white images, by looking at what makes black and white images work. Here, the author introduces his "case study" method, where he uses an image as an example to illustrate his points.
Color into Grayscale
In this chapter, the author explores ways to use the Channel Mixer in Photoshop to manipulate the individual color channels for red, green and blue to produce the black and white tones intended by the photographer. He also introduces the technique of manipulating hues to control tones. Again, he uses case studies of individual images to illustrate his ideas.
Digital Black and White
In this section, the author explores the management of tonal ranges using Photoshop. He discusses setting white and black points to expand tonal range, and introduces methods for managing scenes with high dynamic range. Zone System is introduced, and the author briefly discusses scanning images.
Image Editing and Effects
In this abbreviated section, the author introduces ideas for modifying images to enhance mood. He also provides brief introductions to concepts including adding color tones (e.g., sepia), using duotones and other print finishing techniques.
The Print
In this final section, the author presents a brief discussion of printer types (dye-sublimation vs. inkjet). He introduces the concept of printer calibration, and goes on to introduce ink issues (mainly suggesting external ink supplies). He finishes with a brief discussion of print mounting and display.
Critical Assessment
Clearly, the real value of this book is in introducing the reader to the concepts involved in digital black and white photography. The discussions that have the greatest value are in the first three sections, where the author provides the greatest depth. Topics broached in the final two sections are passed over too lightly to add much to the readers understanding.
Taking the first three sections on their own merit, however, they do justify the price of the book. Although introductory in scope, they delve deeply enough into the topics to provide real help for beginners. There is enough here to keep beginning photographers busy for some time, exploring the techniques he describes. Soon enough, however, students will reach the point where they will need additional information not provided in this book. To be fair, many of the topics the author covers lightly are worthy of books in themselves. For example: the author devotes four pages to zone system, but manages to say nothing that might actually help the reader understand what zone system is about. (I recommend reading Ansel Adams' The Negative again. Just remember, in digital photography the zone system admonition to "expose for the shadows, develop for the highlights" morphs into, "expose for the highlights, expose again for the shadows." And, while you're about reading Ansel Adams, The Print has much good information. Just skip all the lab chemistry parts.)
The layout of this book is such that it is not so much read as explored. Major content is provided in sidebars and captions. The heavy influence of the graphic arts department in the layout can be annoying at times, for instance when it is unclear which supplementary text belongs with which main text, or when an entire column is devoted to a pull-quote in large type of a paragraph we just read on the preceding page. The book does not invite highlighting with a marker or scribbling notes in the margins (it would seem almost a desecration).
On balance, I am glad I discovered this book. It provided me with essential help in getting started with black and white digital photography. I was disappointed that the book lacked the depth to help me with steps beyond the first, so in this sense it does not live up to its title, Mastering Black and White Digital Photography. The book would have more accurately been titled, Introducing Black and White Digital Photography, which it well accomplishes.
Excellent B/W Digital book for Intermediate to Advanced.......2007-05-15
This book is an excellent reference for intermediate to advanced photographers. Absolute beginners would need a basic photoshop book to help fill in the gaps or details to understand some techniques instead of blindly following a recipe.
The author has brought together under one book a large variety of creative ideas and techniques that not too long ago were only available from a collection of books and magazine articles. It's written in concise 1 to 2 page sections and in many places use a sequence of images to show the different steps of a process. Most of the images are very suitable to demonstrate that technique.
I can see how this book could seem confusing and disjointed in places as described by other reviewers, especially to an absolute beginner, but there is so much good stuff in this book that I would consider it a definite must have reference for any serious Digital B/W photographer. A second edition could fix some of these issues, e.g. key information being relegated to captions under images vs. in the text and minor tweaks to the logical sequence of a few topics. Adding summary outlines of the steps would make it even more useful for quick review and reference instead of wading through the text and images every time. However, the book is still very useable. These suggestions would just make it clearer. As a photography instructor, I have applied and taught several of the methods in this book. Using this book has further clarified my understanding of Digital B/W techniques to create compelling images.
One area of weakness is that this book lacks a good comprehensive section on image composition. This would make it more complete as a useful class text book. B/W imagery lets you look at composition in it's elemental form without distractions from color. If the author could round up a good collection of images demonstrating various composition and design concepts in a revised edition, I would go as far to say this book has the potential to become a "standard" intermediate text on B/W Photography for the digital era.
Freeman's insight.......2006-07-24
As a professional photographer I found Michael Freeman's book to be the most informative and concise study on the complex and somewhat baffling world of digital photography. He is a master of his craft and opens one's eyes to the major developments. His writing and illustrations are supberb, he simplifies what could be compex adjustments and tasks.
Excellent, a must for any serious photographer.
Thanks Michael
Disjointed.......2006-07-24
I did not care for the 2 page snippets used to describe most of the topics in this book. In addition, the book did not seem to flow well. For example, some black and white conversion techniques were listed in one part of the book, whereas others were listed in other chapters, making it difficult to find and compare them.
Significantly, most of the key information was not included in the text itself, but rather in captions accompanying the images. Not only is the font size for these captions small, but sometimes it was hard to determine the proper sequence of the images.
While this book does provide some useful information, I have purchased other books that are both more informative and better written.
Excellent book on B&W techniques with Photoshop.......2006-07-15
Whenever I read a photogrpahy book such as this one, I always carry around those little plastic post-it notes to mark any important pages. After reading it, I found that I had marked almost half of the entire book! Freeman explains different ways of converting color files to black and white using layer masks, contrast, desaturating, and everything else. The great thing, though, is that he gives you solid examples and a step-by-step process for each one. He tells you how to fix a washed-out sky that unbalances the photo, how to manipulate each color when it has already been converted to black and white and why this is such a useful tool, how to work with skin tones, how to get great contrast without clipping, and even how to use layers with each color. As a bonus, at the end of the book he talks aboout printing; what inks are good, what paper is good, etc. A very thorough and easy to understand book with great detail. I recommend this book for anyone interested in B&W photography or B&W Photoshop techniques.
Book Description
One of the most popular and useful instruction manuals of its kindwhich has set the standard for nearly thirty yearsis now completely revised and updated, encompassing the latest photographic techniques, materials, and processes. Black and White Photography has sold more than 500,000 copies in its first two editions. The second edition (1982), currently in its twenty-fourth printing, still enjoys net sales of 25,000 to 30,000 copies a year. A popular, hands-on size, Black and White Photography is a bargain photographic how-to book. Past and present users of Horensteins books include the Parsons School of Design, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and MIT, in addition to continuing education classes and photography buffs who have discovered them through favorable word of mouth.
Customer Reviews:
A very good book!.......2007-09-30
its an amazing book! especially for beginners. I am a photography student and this is our text book. If you want to start learning manual black n white camera then this is the book you want in your bookshelf. It teaches basics of photography including step by step film processing and developing. If you are a photographer or interested in learning manual black n white photography, this is the book you should definitely buy
OK introduction.......2007-06-29
Covers the basics of camera, negative and print for the absolute beginner with no technical inclinations. If you are an analytical personality with a little technical education, you will miss the math. I want the equation for depth of field! I want the grain size in mm! But that's just me ;)
Excellent resource.......2007-03-08
A Basic Manual, 3rd Edit Revised is an excellent resource for the new (film) photographer. I'd also argue its not a half-bad general resource for the more experienced photographer. I used his previous version in an introductory course in black and white photography that I taught for a number of years. Of late I have been using Mastering Black and White Photography by Bernhard Suess but will now switch back to this text. Student response to both texts has been overwhelmingly positive however I feel Horenstein's writing style is easier for them to follow. The sequence, illustrations and figures of the Horenstein book seem both logical as well as well done. Particularly useful are the illustrations of common negative faults, something I had missed after moving to the Suess text. Highly recommended but please note that this is a book heavily weighted to using film cameras as well as processes and procedures in the darkroom. There are other works more suited for digital photography and for those who are looking for a reference on the "art" of photography.
Photography.......2007-02-20
The chapters are long and the book itself has a dry language but it is very information in what a person needs to know about photography. The frist few chapters deal with the mechanics of using a camera which is very helpful for a person who is an ameuter in photography. If one is really adament about learning the insides and outs about photography, then this book is helpful.
Great book for learning the basics........2007-01-03
This was a great book. I was taking a BW darkroom class and this was the required text. Good choice by the instructor. Also a good book to help digital only folks understand some of the settings and functions of thier cameras.
Book Description
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.
Customer Reviews:
The best and the... worst?.......2007-03-12
Best material in Black and White photography. The text is perfect. The pictures and the print quality have a lot to desire. This is a book you will not buy for its looks. But, the content is fantastic. For all your answers to necessary techniques in B&W you will not find a better more concise text. After reading the book cover to cover I have to say that the worst (print/looks) is insignificant when compared to the material and information covered. I wish the book is reprinted in higher quality. Five stars for a book that delivers what its title claims.
Excellent intro to BW Photography.......2006-11-24
I have used this text in my introduction to black and white photography course for just over a year. Student response has been universally positive. We have all found it thorough, well written and easily understood by into students. My only "wish" is that the author had included a section on negative faults such as found in Horenstein's: Black and White Photograpy: A Basic Manual.
An excellent Black and White photography manual!.......2005-11-22
This book, as reviewed by others, is not for first time photographers but is a first class help to those who wish to advance into something a little more technical, but essentially
"on the ball" photography. I found the book to be thoroughly comprehensive, sometimes over technical and needing real concentration to understand these basic principles, but well worth the cost of the book. It is a first class addition to any black and white photographer's library. I wish this sort of volume was available when I first started black and white photography 50 years ago!
fabulous!.......2005-10-08
The book was in amazing condition and the price was very reasonable. It also arrived right on time! VERY VERY helpful book.
Not a beginner's book.......2004-09-15
There is a wealth of information here from the photographer's years of experience but it is organized in an atypical fashion,that is not a logical sort of progression. I can amplify the other reveiewer's comments concerning lack of visual examples. However, if you have a working knowledge of black and white photography and have done some elementary darkroom work you will find this book a "next step" toward fine tuning your skills. The author has some down to earth advice toward equipment and techniques and is not a "purist" toward any style.
Book Description
Bestselling photography author Lee Frost turns his attention to black and white photography, and demonstrates how it is possible to make beautiful black and white images and fine prints with the minimum of fuss.
Black and white photography has a reputation for being something of an esoteric art requiring lots of expensive equipment and an encyclopaedic knowledge of complex techniques. But here Lee Frost dispels this myth, and proves that it can be the most simple, expressive and rewarding medium. The book covers all the essential techniques of black and white photography from what equipment to use through to the finer points of printing and toning, thereby demonstrating how Lee Frost creates his own breathtaking photographs, and how you can too.
Customer Reviews:
One of the best B&W photo books I've read........2007-08-29
I've been into b&w photography for a little while now, and lately I've been doing a lot of reading on the subject. This is without a doubt one of best books I've read so far. I'm already familiar with all of the technical aspects of photography, and those are all explained in the book (except for the zone system, which Frost clearly states at the beginning he doesn't use). Along with all of the technical stuff, Frost also explains his creative techniques. I can't say I learned much of that technical stuff (I already knew it all. I'm sure a beginner could learn a ton), but it did open my eyes to take a much more creative approach on photography than I had previously taken. Also in the book that's great is a chapter on lith printing and using liquid emulsion. Along with all of the information are pictures taken by Frost with captions that explain anything relevant to the chapter. This book is a great read for anyone who wants to improve their photography skills.
The perfect book for beginners and pros alike.......2004-05-26
This is by far the best black and white photo technique book I have read. I am a pro photographer and always keep a huge collection of how to books and monographs for looking up styles and new ideas.
Lee Frost is a very down to earth photographer that really takes what he loves to heart. He preaches that it is not all the little technical things that people and teachers say you need to know that make good photographs, its your own imagination and creativity.
This is the perfect thing to say for a true artist. Lee Frost gives us his own examples of basic photo techniques and then shows us how easy it is to make a beautiful fine art photograph with simple household products and a NON pro camera set up. Of course, he does state that having good equipment will always help, but it is not always needed as so many say.
Just think of the world famous photographer David Hamilton, who only used one 35mm camera, one lense, only natural light, and no filters. It doesnt get much more basic than that, and he is bowed down to by thousands.
Lee Frost has the same idea, and it is very asuring knowing that you dont need to go out and spend thousands to be a pro.
Again, I believe that this is the best how to and reference guide on the market today. Get it.
Good but not brilliant!!.......2004-05-25
Ive always enjoyed Lee Frost's past endeavours in the written field but this one didnt quite get up there in my expectations. This is still a very good book for intermediate photographers but perhaps not quite as gritty as I had hoped for. Enjoyable nonetheless.
Amazon.com
British photographer Barry Thornton has spent a lifetime devoted to black and white photography. He shares his warehouse of technical savvy in Edge of Darkness: The Art, Craft, and Power of the High-Definition Monochrome Photograph. If you have at least a working knowledge of basic photography, then you'll find this book to be full of helpful advice. Thornton has an immense amount of how-to wisdom and covers topics including focusing, lighting, tripods, printing, and much more. It is a precise book with incredible attention to detail.
The wealth of informative tips are illustrated with Thornton's photographs. Beautiful and rich landscapes so varied and full of depth that they create their own universe of monochromatic color. A stunning torrent of water crisp enough to be a cascade of crystal beads. Close-ups that feel like they were shot through a magnifying glass. Many students of photography see black and white pictures as a mere step on the way to the wonderful world of color. Thornton, on the other hand, reveres the traditions and possibilities of this medium and reveals monochromatic pictures to be a pinnacle of photography. This serious manual is a sure way to improve a burgeoning photographer's technical expertise. The book has 200 black-and-white illustrations. --J.P. Cohen
Customer Reviews:
Sharply done; might be more stars for you.......2007-08-03
The author's holy grail is sharpness, real and perceived. Type of film, type of developer, type of tripod and camera format, all slanted towards crisp and sharp photos. Nothing about tonality really: There are comparative photos only to show a difference in sharpness, except for a couple at the end showing bleaching techniques.
A good book for someone who takes architecture or landscape photos (with the requisite time to set up) and who also likes to noodle with their own developers.
The author's use of anecdotal stories to begin each chapter is a nice touch.
A must for anyone interested in B&W.......2006-03-04
Probably one of the best books on B&W processing I've read in the past 20 years. Too bad the first one published by B.Thornton "Elements" is no longer available. Thornton takes on one myth after another and clearly separates truth from myth in the B&W process flow in the darkroom. Just outstanding reading.... highly recommended.
Vladimir
The sort of book we need more of.......2005-10-18
What a delightful book! Once you've mastered Adam's beautiful books and the other books about serious zone system work this is the sort of book you hope for. Part memoir, part advanced how-to, and part philosophy put to paper in a delightful prose style.
Not exactly for beginners -- the author assumes you know the zone system and are serious about doing your own darkroom work. It also doesn't hurt to have read Anchell's Film Developing Cookbook and the Book of Pyro but not needed. The photos in the book are beautifully printed and yet the cost is reasonable. I hope this publisher will continue in this vein.
Terrific read..........2004-09-09
The photography I admit , is not brilliant or inspiring but the information contained in the text is excellent. This book is more for someone who already has a limited amount of knowledge og b&w photography. Excellent in depth information...one of only a few books on this subject worth reading.
Good...but not great... IMHO.......2004-03-18
The photos range in quality from very nice, to rather bland.
The information is often interesting, sometimes quite useful, but occasionally he writes lots about a technical issues which are not important. Some of the text might have been better left out or put into an appendix.
Thornton's commentary on the personal stories behind his photographs are sometimes sweet, but I have to admit that I occasionally felt like it was more information than I wanted. Every now and than I got the feeling he was trying to make a rather boring image seem more interesting by giving the story behind the photo.
Book Description
Rediscover the work of an acknowledged American master whose influence has been immeasurable but is only now beginning to be fully understood and appreciated. Jerry Uelsmann is a modern master of photography, one of a select group of artists who can be said to have altered the very language of their medium. By synthesizing his photographs from multiple negatives starting in the 1960s, Uelsmann broke rank with the prevailing aesthetic of the period and pioneered a new approach that would influence countless artists and photographers and anticipate the digital-image revolution by a generation. OTHER REALITIES showcases a personal selection of Uelsmanns most compelling images from the early 1960s to the present. An accessible and insightful foreword by photography critic and historian Peter C. Bunnell, and a preface by Paul Karabinis, director of the University Gallery of South Florida, open the book.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book!.......2006-08-08
I first saw Jerry Uelsmann's work in the sixties when we were stranded in a Chicago Airport by a snowstorm, waiting for the same commuter plane. He was in his late twenties then and carrying a portfolio of his work. As we talked, he shared it with me. I knew I was in the presence of artistic genius immediately. Already, I discovered, he was well known in the art work with major exhibits in known galleries. Not only did the content of his montages excite me but, but, being an amateur darkroom photographer at the time, I had some vague sense of the skill involved in his final productions. We were friends for a number of years and lost touch, but I've kept up with his work because I still admire it so deeply. This book is a treasure and I recognize some montages from the sixties in it, as well. Jerry is not only creative, but he's an interesting lecturer and funny, besides. The child in him will never die. I suspect that's one big reason he's so good. I would highly recommend any of his books, and this is one!
Latest by Jerry Uelsmann.......2006-02-25
Somewhat a photographic collection of the "best of Jerry Uelsmann" -the intricate, fantasy-like surrealist photographer. Works almost solely in the darkroom - not digitally. The book does not really mention Uelsmann's pristine practice in the darkroom, however provides quotations from the artist.
Had this book delivered just in time before the artist came recently to Pittsburgh. The 70 year old charismatic artist was kind enough to sign my book. Very entertaining, down to earth modern artist.
Visual Realities.......2005-12-19
A beautifully produced book of gelatin silver photographs to be looked at and
savored. Uelsmann's photographs question our world of physical realities
and introduce us to his world of visual realities. His photographs mystify
and question. They are of things that don't exist, yet do exist.
This book rocks!.......2005-11-19
All of Uelsmann's books reflect a poetic irrationalism, and this book is no exception. The images evoke a strange and surreal eloquence. Technically, like all of his work, the prints are tonally rich even as reproductions.
There are numurous photgraphers who currently utilize digital tools in the creation of similar collage/montage work, yet they rarely achieve the same formal elegance as Uelsmann - and he has been doing this for years - long before Adobe Photophop became a tool in the photographers arsenal. He's the photgraphic collage master - Version 1.0.
This is a beautiful and thought provocative book..........2005-11-01
When I was a photo student in the mid 70's, my teacher dutifully put several of us in his car and took us to our first real art show and artist's talk. Fortunately for me, the artist was Jerry Uelsmann. He continues to inform the current generation of students and working artists alike. His work is other-worldly in both a technical and in a conceptual sense- you will be wowed on several fronts.
This book contains recent and early work- the sensibility running through the decades is distinctly Uelsmann. Early or late, the work is masterful. Fortunately, it's a large book so you get to see these images in a scale similar to actual prints.
You need a Jerry Uelsmann book in your library and this is a great volume.
Average customer rating:
- Excellent book!
- A new addiction ;)
- Nostalgia at its "Best"
- Land of Lakes
- Big Hit
|
In Search of Lake Wobegon
Garrison Keillor
Manufacturer: Studio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Photography
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| United States
| Travel
| Photography
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| How-to
| Photography
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
| Dance
| General
| Reference
| Theater
General
| Humor
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General Broadcasting
| Radio
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| 18th Century
| 19th Century
| 20th Century
| African American
| Asian American
| Classics
| Collections & Readers
| Drama
| General
| Hispanic
| History & Criticism
| Humor
| Jewish American
| Letters & Correspondence
| Native American
| Poetry
| Short Stories
| Women Writers
General
| Minnesota
| States
| United States
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Entertainment Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Fiction Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Travel Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Lake Wobegon Days
-
A Visit to Mark Twain's House
-
We Are Still Married: Stories and Letters
-
WLT: A Radio Romance
-
Lake Wobegon: Summer 1956
ASIN: 0670030376
Release Date: 2001-08-23 |
Book Description
In the twenty-five years since Garrison Keillor first brought it to life, the rural Minnesota town of Lake Wobegon has become a national treasure. In this lavishly produced photography book, word and image combine to illuminate the real Minnesota town-life, landscapes, and people who inspired its creation.
Taking us on a tour of Stearns County, the Minnesota county he deems most "Wobegonic," Keillor meditates on the origins of the place where, as a young writer, he found the inspiration for his fiction and his radio show. As an artful evocation of Keillor's beloved invention, Richard Olsenius's elegantly composed black-and-white photographs of rural Minnesota capture the dignity of his subjects, the beauties of the landscape as well as the enduring values and eccentricities of the communities rooted there. Photographs of the high school homecoming court, the tidy, austere working farm, the cozy villages, and summer barbecue at the lake are a visual feast for Lake Wobegon devotees as well as a moving tribute for anyone who feels the emotional claim of rural America.
A unique collaboration featuring more than eighty photographs reproduced in duotone with extended captions written by Keillor, In Search of Lake Wobegon is a beautifully produced work for the millions of radio listeners and book lovers who want to visit Wobegon again and again.
Photographs by Richard Olsenius
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book!.......2003-12-09
I was what you would call a "Noobie" to all of Garrison's work until recently. I picked up this book at a college library after speaking to my mother about the Minnesota author project I was recently assigned. She was familiar with his work and suggested that I look into it....so I did. I never thought that this would open up such big can of worms, and I mean this in a good sense. After reading the book from cover to cover, I went on the internet to find out more about Garrison's work and turned up some very interesting search results. I then read it again and now I guess you could say that I'm hooked on the Lake Wobegon saga and I am planning on picking up a couple of his earlier writings related to Lake Wobegon.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend this book to anyone who has vast, little, or no knowledge of Lake Wobegon.
A new addiction ;).......2003-12-09
I was what you would call a "Noobie" to all of Garrison's work until recently. I picked up this book at a college library after speaking to my mother about the Minnesota author project I was recently assigned. She was familiar with his work and suggested that I look into it....so I did. I never thought that this would open up such big can of worms, and I mean this in a good sense. After reading the book from cover to cover, I went on the internet to find out more about Garrison's work and turned up some very interesting search results. I then read it again and now I guess you could say that I'm hooked on the Lake Wobegon saga and I am planning on picking up a couple of his earlier writings related to Lake Wobegon.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend this book to anyone who has vast, little, or no knowledge of Lake Wobegon.
Nostalgia at its "Best".......2003-02-08
Fans of Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" are already an imaginative sort. We know what Arlene Bunsen looks like, or Pastor Inquist. We've got a good idea how Roger Hedlund has been rotating his crops, and the main goings on on Main Street. We don't need pictures of this area because we already know it by heart--we've seen it on the radio. This book does exactly what it should...it doesn't dispel our images of Lake Wobegon, but gives us pictures of its neighbors and people living their lives in rural Minnesota. All the images are sepia toned. With a few exceptions, the subjects are unposed and candid, getting ready for the prom, or readying the field for corn.
The composition of the shots are superb. The short prologue gives a first person retelling of how Keillor invented the town that "time forgot and the decades cannot improve." That introduction, however, is so short that it's almost unfair to say that this is a Garrison Keillor book. He essentially wrote the foreword (although it's not titled that way), and the pictures tell the real story.
My only disappointment is that there isn't any color. Certainly sepia tones give us nostalgia the way we'd like to remember it, but sunset on a farm is something you can't appreciate in shades of brown. Rural life has its monochromatic moments, to be sure, but there's enough color and life to help us remember that not everything is nostalgia.
This gripe doesn't detract from the beauty of this book, though. Thankfully we never see Lake Wobegon, only hints and shadows. It allows us to preserve our preconceptions, but gives us a deeper feeling of connection with the area. If you're a fan of APHC, you probably already own this book (or you should). If not, take a look at a lifestyle that might be foreign to you.
Land of Lakes.......2003-02-03
From the Central Minnesota prairie, in beautiful black and white pictures and picturesque prose, here is the Genesis of Garrison Keilor's magical mythical Lake Wobegon, site of "A Prairie Home Companion." Here we get to *see* the strong women, good-looking men, and above average children of and for whom he speaks on Saturday nights. Accompanying Richard Olsenius' stunning photography (how can the viewer not be deeply moved by the picture of the veterans at the St. Wendell cemetery on Memorial Day?) are excerpts from the Radio Show, interviews with inhabitants, and essays and musings from Keilor - like this:
"Culture isn't decor, it's what you know before you're twelve. It sticks with you all your born days. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. You can try to wrestle free of it, like those geese who trail the V-formation, trying to look as if they aren't part of this bunch, as if flying south were a personal decision on their part, but your feint towards independence only makes it clearer who you really are. Some people like hot dish better if it's called cassoulet, or pot roast if it's pot-au-feu. Fine. Suit yourself. Same difference."
Whatever you call those culinary delights, you'll like this book. Come see Father Kleinschmidt's Annual Blessing of the Snowmobiles. Ja, you betcha! Reviewed by TundraVision.
Big Hit.......2002-05-16
This was purchased as a Mother's Day gift for my Mother-In-Law and it was a big hit. She really loved it - as did my Father-In-Law. Garrison Keillor already seems to be a big hit with the over 50 crowd and this book fits perfectly with his style.
Book Description
Fine art quality, black-and-white prints are within every photographer's reach with the techniques illustrated in this digital image editing guide. Taking advantage of the control and reproducibility that the digital darkroom offers, this handbook teaches photographers how to fine-tune images with contrast and exposure levels, crop and rotate images for dynamic results, and remove flaws such as dust and scratches long after the photograph has been taken. Instruction on techniques that simulate traditional hand coloring and tinting and add special effects such as frames, infrared, and lighting and lens effects helps photographers realize their artistic vision. Screen shots and images guide readers through the presented techniques, allowing photographers to gauge their own results and anticipate the effects of the outlined corrections and enhancements on their own images. A gallery of the author's work provides inspiration for simulating—and improving upon—the chemical-based darkroom experience.
Customer Reviews:
Not for my top shelf.......2007-02-10
There is no doubt that the author, Maurice Hamilton, made a great effort to produce a technical book about the finer points of using Photoshop to produce black and white images. It is technical and 'dry', and a hard slog. He explains (at length) some of the detailed procedures, tips and methodology which go to making fine prints. But, the book made me think of some of the Hollywood epics where the idea is grand but the director and the editor let the cast down. I don't care for the high price-low quality production of the book, either. Not that worthy and informational books must be slick and glossy; but for me they must be attractive and 'feel' good. I will keep this book in my reference library, but I do not count it in my '20 best photography books' list!
Preserving the art of monochrome.......2006-08-14
Film photographers have long savored black-and-white photography for its stark alternative to realism, and the stripped down, minimalistic approach to creating an image. Digital photography threatened to push black-and-white photography to extinction, but, thankfully, artists like Hamilton have preserved the spirit of the medium and extended it through the use of Adobe's flagship image editor.
The author shows you the proper way to create monochrome images while preserving -- or enhancing tonality. He explains that a good black-and-white image isn't simply a color image that's been desaturated. I also liked the exploration into reproducing traditional darkroom techniques in Photoshop. This is a must-have book for any serious black-and-white worker.
my photographs have improved with the help of this book.......2006-05-20
I consider this book to be in a class with the best books written on photography.
I especially appreciate the Ansel Adams quote and the way that Maurice Hamilton lets his own gallery speak for itself. The emphasis is not on showing off his own work but rather, on helping the reader advance their own art. My work has improved significantly since my first reading and I will read sections over several times.
Bravo Maurice and thank you, Linnea Nereim
Nice Fine Art Book.......2006-04-22
This is a very nice fine art photography book dealing with black and white. The author is obviously very well versed in Adobe Photoshop and his expertise is evident through his writing. The inforamtion is well presented and clearly stated. The images are well done and have a broad appeal to both a professional and amateur.
Well worth the money
Excellent resource.......2006-03-22
Intrigued by the glowing review of this book by Garth Leach at The Daily Shooter.com, I acquired a copy and experimented with several of the black and white conversion techniques described.
Like Garth, I found this book guided me toward the creation of outstanding black and white images. This book seems geared toward the intermediate Photoshop user but should also be helpful to novice users.
Books:
- A Survival Guide to Managing Employees from Hell: Handling Idiots, Whiners, Slackers, And Other Workplace Demons
- Adobe Photoshop CS2: The Art of Photographing Women
- Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0: A visual introduction to digital photography
- Adobe Photoshop Restoration & Retouching (3rd Edition) (Voices That Matter)
- Aesthetics: A Reader in Philosophy of the Arts (2nd Edition)
- American Cinematographer Manual, Ninth Edition
- American Cinematographer Manual, Ninth Edition
- And I Haven't Had a Bad Day Since: From the Streets of Harlem to the Halls of Congress
- Atlas Major
- Believing Is Seeing: Creating the Culture of Art
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Thong on Fire: An Urban Erotic Tale
- The Deed of Paksenarrion: A Novel
- Segu
- Showdown at Centerpoint
- Pumping Station Design, Third Edition
- Simplified TRIZ: New Problem-Solving Applications for Engineers & Manufacturing Professionals
- Sartre, Foucault, and Historical Reason, Volume One: Toward an Existentialist Theory of History
- The Yellowstone Handbook: An Insider's Guide to the Park: A Related by Ranger Norm
- Mushrooms of the World with Pictures to Color
- A Way to Be Free, the Autobiography of Robert Lefevre: The Making of a Modern American Revolution
Criticizing Photographs
Photography (9th Edition)
The Ultimate Photo Data Guide
Black and White Photography, Third Revised Edition
Black & White Photography (Black and White Photography)
