Oxford

[Jakecb]

Hello. I have been slowly learning how to shoot, develop and print photographs. What brilliant fun! I enjoy wearing an apron in my darkroom like a trainee alchemist and my Nikon around my neck while trying to find luminance and decisive moments in the field. I have much to learn.

If I may ask, as my vocation is book-selling, which is the best book on photography you have read and why exactly?

Thanks

Jake

[RichardWarom]

Hi Jake welcome to FADU. film photography certainly is fun and I enjoy all aspects of it.
Concerning the book question, for me the best book is "Creative Black and White Photography" by Les McLean who is a member of FADU, the why is that I find it inspiring and I can understand its contents.
Richard

[Argentum]

I'm afraid the concept of "The Best" is asked all the time by beginers in photography, the best camera, the best lens, the best film, the best developer, the best paper and on and and on and on.
Fact is there is no such thing if for no other eason than the results are by and large totally subjective. It's more a question of having the right tools for the job in hand and it's no different with photography books.

As a book seller you will probably have found that most of your photo books being sold are of big coffee table books of photos by famous photographers. But here as practicising photographers you'll more likely get recommendations for technical and dark room practice books of which there are very many. And each of them have pros and cons and some are better on one topic than another and visa versa. There simply isn't a "Best Book". It depends what you want know from such a huge subject.

[Lostlabours]

Ralph Lambrecht's book "Way Beyond Monochrome" is probably the most comprehensive book on Black and White photography and darkroom printing.

It's well worth getting hold of a copy.

Ian

[MartyNL]

Originally Posted by Lostlabours

Ralph Lambrecht's book "Way Beyond Monochrome" is probably the most comprehensive book on Black and White photography and darkroom printing.

It's well worth getting hold of a copy.

Ian

Ditto

[photomi7ch]

Hi Jake
The most comprehensive look at photography is Ansel Adams the camera, The negative and The print. A more concise look would be Michael Langefords Basic photography which can only be found second hand.

[Martin Erdner]

Hi Jake, welcome

Books: http://www.film-and-darkroom-user.or...splay.php?f=43
All kind of books on photography are reviewed there.

[Mike O'Pray]

Hi and welcome Jake. Like Lostlabours I'd probably rate Way Beyond Monochrome as the most comprehensive and scientific book but there are two books which if combined will come close. Creative B&W Photography by Les McLean as already mentioned for film amd film processising but with good sections on printing and The Photographer's Master Printing Course.

Mike

[Barry]

Welcome to fadu Jake.

[Argentum]

I'll tell you the worst, Susan Sontag, On Photography. Mindless drivel which she later admitted.