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robinb
15th December 2010, 02:32 PM
hi

I recently bought an enlarger and have had lots of fun getting
quite average results
problem is I don't know really where I should be going
is there a good book that could teach me
where to take things

I have a 504 with a ilford multicontrast 500 head
which I am sure of getting quite stunning results

what to do

thanks

robin

Alan Clark
15th December 2010, 02:39 PM
Larry Bartlett's Black & White Photographic Printing Workshop is very good.

Alan

raulpc
15th December 2010, 02:41 PM
To start with I would recomend

Black and White Photography (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-White-Photography-Henry-Horenstein/dp/0316373052/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1) by Henry Horenstein

And when you finish this one, the follow up

Beyond Basic Photography (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Basic-Photography-Henry-Horenstein/dp/0316373125/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2)

PaulD
15th December 2010, 03:01 PM
I second the Henry Horenstein book as a good beginners book.

Paul

Alan Clark
15th December 2010, 03:05 PM
Robin, I should also have added that whilst books like the Larry Bartlett one that I recommended are good to learn from, what you really need to do is develop your own personal vision so that your photographs reflect what you want to say. One way to do this is to really look hard at as many good example of photography, preferrably original prints rather than reproductions. I remember years ago learning quite a bit of technical stuff from the Ansel Adams books, The Negative, and The Print, but it wasn't til I saw an exhibition of real prints by Ansel Adams, Edward Weston and other greats that I actually became aware of what it was possible to do in the darkroom.

Alan

Miha
15th December 2010, 03:41 PM
I would recommend Essential Darkroom Techniques by Jonathan Eastland (I have the second edition from 1995): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Essential-Darkroom-Techniques-Jonathan-Eastland/dp/0304350869

Below is the contents page:

http://www.shrani.si/t/35/oJ/3XvyAilk/p1110976.jpg (http://www.shrani.si/?35/oJ/3XvyAilk/p1110976.jpg)

MarkWalker
15th December 2010, 03:42 PM
To add to your Christmas list for a nice easy read as an introduction I recommend, "Lee Frost's Simple Art of Black and White Photography" - easy methods for making fine art prints, published by David and Charles, 2004. Practical, with some nice pictures and advice on using toners and lith.
Cheers.

Dave miller
15th December 2010, 04:01 PM
I learnt with a copy of Tim Rudman’s “The Photographers Master Printing Course” as my darkroom companion, sadly out of print but second-hand copies surface occasionally. Since then Les McLean has written “Creative Black and White Photography (http://www.beyondwords.co.uk/Book.aspx?id=3525)” which I can also recommend.



Both are aimed at the beginner to darkroom work.

Adrian Twiss
15th December 2010, 04:07 PM
Two others you may enjoy are

The Black and White Handbook by Roger Hicks and Frances Schulz and

Basic Techniques of Photography by John Schaefer

Richard Gould
15th December 2010, 04:21 PM
Another book you might enjoy, and learn a lot from, is ''Creative Elements'' by Eddie Ephraums,Richard

Peter Fitz
15th December 2010, 05:10 PM
I have almost all the books mentioned but rate Les McLean's Creative Black and White Photography as one of the best.

smaloron
15th December 2010, 05:35 PM
My two favorites are

The Photographers Master Printing Course - Tim Rudman
and
Black and White Photography Workshop - John Blakemore

Lee Frost's Simple Art of Black and White Photography is also a good book to begin with.

Tony Marlow
15th December 2010, 06:23 PM
I would endorse Dave's two recommendations, Tim Rudman's and Les Mclean's books are packed full of sound practical information. Wouldn't be without them.

Tony

Stoo Batchelor
15th December 2010, 06:58 PM
All of the above are excellent recommendations, but I would also consider booking yourself on a course, or maybe paying for a one to one with another darkroom user.

You can learn so much from just watching someone at their enlarger, or just simply listening to them. I am still learning this way, some seven or eight years after stepping in to a darkroom.

Best

Stoo

Tom Kershaw
24th December 2010, 10:32 AM
Way Beyond Monochrome 2nd Edition. Recently updated with few competitors.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Way-Beyond-Monochrome-Traditional-Photography/dp/0240816250/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1293186704&sr=8-1

Tom