John Blakemores Black & White Photography Workshop [Paperback]

John Blakemore (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2005

Bringing his vast knowledge and experience to bear, John Blakemore explores the creative as well as the technical processes involved in black and white photography. Long awaited for the many thousands of photographers that have attended his legendary workshops over the years and essential for the many more that have never had the chance, this is a unique insight into the art of one of photography's most influential practitioners and an important document of the methods of one of photography's most important teachers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Starting as a freelance photographer in 1956, John Blakemore soon emerged as England's leading landscape photographer, later transferring his unique and elegant photographic style into areas as diverse as still life, documentary, portraiture and Polaroid colour. His work is included in the public collections of, among others, the Royal Photographic Society, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Arts Council of Great Britian, the Los Angeles County Museum, the Fotografiska Museet, Stokholm, and the British Council. He has had one-man exhibitions all over the world including in London, LA and New York, and a British Council Touring Exhibition to Eastern Europe, South America and China. He has had four monographs of his work published, and has given public workshops for over 25 years establishing himself as one of the UK's best known photography teachers. He also taught photography at the University of Derby for many years and, recently retired, is now Emeritus Professor of Photography. He lives in Derby, UK.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: David & Charles (April 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0715317210
• ISBN-13: 978-0715317211
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 9.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #293,377 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #27 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Black & White

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Advanced Workshop, December 15, 2005

By 

Dudding - See all my reviews

This review is from: John Blakemores Black & White Photography Workshop (Paperback)

This is not a technical book on black and white photography. Although the author provides some technical material, it assumes that you are already past the basics. This book is more about developing and refining your aesthetic, the part of photography that is harder to teach and may I say harder to learn.

The author takes you on a journey through a series of images discussing everything from the original motivation behind the capture to the final execution of the print. Throughout it is sprinkled with delightful insights and perceptive observations. The author also shows prints that were left out of the final portfolio and discusses what artistic criteria they failed to meet. Quite instructive indeed.

I found this book useful, despite the fact that I usually print digitally from film scans. I also found the images a welcome deviation from the usual punched up prints that are popular today. However, you need not ascribe to the author's taste to benefit from the book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A masterful book, January 21, 2007

By 

Gerry Coe "FBIPP,FMPA,FRPS,FSWPP" (Northern Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: John Blakemores Black & White Photography Workshop (Paperback)

I can thoroughly recommend this book to everyone, even those who have gone digital. John talks about how and why he has made a photograph and also discusses the Zone system. The zone system has always been a bit hard for a lot of people to follow but I think John has made it more accessable. The point is even if you are a Digital photographer the same principles apply.

The rest of the book deals on "seeing" and "reasons" to make a photograph, also on burning and dodging, which is just the same in Photoshop as it is in the Darkroom. John is one of the Worlds finest teachers and photographers and this book should be on every photographers bookshelf. Even if you only just look at the pictures.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Dependent on your tastes, November 20, 2005

By 

R. Ellis (Florida USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: John Blakemores Black & White Photography Workshop (Paperback)

This book is similar to Ansel Adams' Making of 20 photographs in some ways, but Blakemore's images are more pictorial than Adams' and he focuses more on what he was thinking than how he made the exposures. There are almost no technical details, but plenty of insight into the creative process Blakemore uses to make his images, with a basic introduction of the Zone system for good measure. Personaly, I could not get past the images, which are too soft and abstract for my tastes, to really connect with his though process.

If you think you would be interested in seeing into Mr. Blakemores' mind while he formulates these images, AND you like his soft focus style, you might enjoy this book. If you prefer more defined images, or are looking for more technical information on how the images were made, you will not find what you are looking for here. This book seems less of a workshop and more of a chat session with the photographer.