The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes [Paperback]

Christopher James (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1418073725 | ISBN-13: 978-1418073725 | Publication Date: February 12, 2008 | Edition: 2

Photographic artists and students of alternative process photography will welcome this new edition of Christopher James' The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes. This significantly expanded edition is a full-color, lavishly illustrated, comprehensive resource that explores every aspect of alternative process image making. With his highly conversational writing style, James explores the techniques, processes, idiosyncrasies, history, and cultural connections that are such a significant part of the genre. Best of all, James makes it extremely accessible, providing clear instructions and practical workflow advice. The book delves into a vast menu of alternative and traditional options, among them: calotype, salted paper, cyanotype, argyrotype, chrysotype, POP, kallitype, ambrotype/wet collodion, Van Dyke, platinum/palladium, Ziatype, gelatin dry plate emulsions, carbon, gum bichromate, albumen, hand-applied emulsions, paper, alternative imaging systems, and digital negative production for alternative process image making. This book has become the unanimous standard reference text for alternative process photography, one that students love to read and work from. Not only does this definitive work make the most complex ideas easy to understand, it is conversational, comfortable, inspirational, and fun to read- a tremendous resource and a treasure trove of alternative process images. "The first edition was a stunning achievement, and one I felt that was not likely to be superceded. Five short years later Christopher James has created a very new work and a new standard. The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes: 2nd Edition is, by far, the best alternative photographic process book ever!" - Richard Sullivan, Founder and Co-Owner, Bostick & Sullivan "If I could only have one photography book this would be it." -Timothy Whelan, Photographic Books

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The first edition was a stunning achievement, and one I felt that was not likely to be superceded. Five short years later Christopher James has created a very new work and a new standard. The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes: 2nd Edition is, by far, the best alternative photographic process book ever!" - Richard Sullivan, Founder and Co-Owner, Bostick & Sullivan

"As bit strings take over our photographic being - if not our lives - we need, more than ever, this playful and inspiring manual. James cheerfully and effectively instructs us, whether we are novice or adept, in the alchemical arts of transmuting our expressive photographic images, both digital and analogue, into hand-crafted prints which will forever bear our individual marks." - Dr. Mike Ware, Author of over 50 publications on alternative process, history, process and preservation.

"If I could only have one photography book this would be it." - Tim Whelan Photographic Books

Product Details

• Paperback: 660 pages
• Publisher: Delmar Cengage Learning; 2 edition (February 12, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1418073725
• ISBN-13: 978-1418073725
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,478 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > Computers & Technology > Digital Photography & Video > Digital Printing
  • #86 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Digital Photography

More About the Author

Christopher James is an internationally recognized artist and photographer whose paintings and photographs have been exhibited in galleries and museums in this country and abroad. His work has been published and exhibited extensively, including shows in The Museum of Modern Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The George Eastman House, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The first edition of his book, The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes (Delmar Thomson, NY, 2001) received unprecedented critical acclaim and was the winner of The Golden Light Technical Book of the Year award. The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes: Second Edition (Delmar Cengage, NY, 2008) was released in February 2008 and is widely recognized as the definitive text in the genre.

Christopher earned his degrees at The Massachusetts College of Art and The Rhode Island School of Design. He was a Professor at Harvard University from 1978 through 1991 and is currently Professor and Chair of Photography at The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University. He is also a working graphic designer and a professional scuba diver.

Christopher's paintings and photographic work, his teaching and writing, and information about upcoming workshops and lectures, can be seen on his web site: www.christopherjames-studio.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't leave home without it, June 9, 2011

By 

f64Islander - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes (Paperback)

If you are having trouble sleeping don't pick this one up for a quick fix. Christopher's knowledge and wit will keep you engaged. I have a good many other books on alternative processes and this is my "Go to" volume. For those with an interest in historic processes, regardless of your skill level, this important text needs to be in your library. Neither the First nor Second editions have been anything other than first rate sources of information. My second edition is beginning to show the signs having a little too much chemistry spilled on it and I may have to get another as my breadth of knowledge and experience expands, thanks to Mr. James.

22 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars nice brochure, September 7, 2009

By 

cfg - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes (Paperback)

This is a great glossy overview of processes if you're curious about which to pursue, but not so much use as for practical instruction. James has an approach and writing style in which contradiction and lack of coherent detail(and perhaps even proofing errors) play no small role. Eccentric and charming at first (in a self-edited sort of way) it can be quite maddening if you make purchases or try out processes based on his recommendations and instructions. I'd seriously recommend double checking with other sources once you decide on a process to try out. Of course that's good advice for any source of info, but here it's critical. It's maddening that he'll list creme brulee recipes while be curiously tightlipped about crucial process details. I'm an experienced and largely self-taught printer- carbon transfer, albumen, tri-color gum and kallitype, so I'm not a novice that needs a lot of hand-holding.

A notable irritation is the gum chapter. A typical recipe- 'An 1 1/4 inchworm of watercolor per 12 full eyedroppers of gum and 12 full eyedroppers of dichromate'..? I wouldn't recommend measuring pigment unless you measure in all dimensions -aka volume- not just length. Much more accurate to weigh. And what size eyedroppers? When he does use traditional weights and measures they are inconsistent: he mentions Stephen Livick using 12g of pigment for every 12ml of dichromate when using Sennelier paints, double the concentration of other brands. In a separate section he then says Livick uses 2.5-4g g of Lindel paint in 12ml of dichromate. Forgetting for an instant that 12g of watercolor is an absolutely fantastic quantity of paint (I pigment 4 36x50cm 2mm thick carbon tissues with less- and that's 2 liters worth of solution) I still wouldn't call 12 the double of 2.5 or even 4.

I'm sure he is a wonderful printer, certainly his photographic eye is very good judging by his images, but as an instructor he reminds me of some teachers that give just enough info to engage and tantalize, but not seriously to give you a leg up on their years of toil/hard knocks, and maybe go so far as to play a few hazing tricks on you along the way. The best sections are those contributed by other printers- such as Mark Osterman's section on dry plate. Also much of the prints/ process examples are nice.

I'd been hoping for sections on traditional gravure, or at least photopolymer, also daguerreotype; no such luck. That's just a niggle though, I didn't seriously expect a complete resource on every process there is. Certainly it was a considerable undertaking as it was to assemble this volume. But considering the size of the book, and the cost, he could have been more precise about the subjects covered and sacrificed a little of that ingratiating style in the name of clarity.

All that said, I'm still glad this book exists, it is a wonderful introduction to the great world of alt printing. But be sure to check other sources before proceeding with any process.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding! A book for beginners and professionals!, June 11, 2011

By 

Danny (United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes (Paperback)

Wonderful book! I have never had much success learning from books and had my doubts when I purchased this one. In buying the book my goal was to learn platinum, cyanotype, salt, and albumen printing. I succeeded in all four methods and many more. Christopher James writing is not only informative but entertaining, which is a rare combination. I am a professional photographer who was well versed in digital and darkroom printing but I wanted to expand my photographic toolbox and this book helped me achieve that. An outstanding resource!