Customer Reviews

Hand Coloring Black & White Photography: An Introduction and Step-by-Step Guide

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I wanted a hobby that was a tad out of the ordinary, fun, creative, and meaningful to me and others. Asking for a ot isn't it? Well, Laurie's book launched me into hand coloring black and white family photos and Wow! the results are stunning. Much to my delight, this activity makes me feel like an artist. My family and friends love the products and some of them have also bought her book and begun to create their own artistic family albums. Laurie's step by step book can make an artist out of anyone. I encourage you to try it -- hand colored photos also make gifts that please.

This book of Laurie Klein's re: using coloring pencils is my bible. I have nearly every other current book written on handcoloring and I find them greatly lacking. I borrowed Ms. Klein's from the library so often that I eventually had to just buy the book so someone else could have a chance to read it!

I thought she was very clear and concise in her instructions as to how and what to do when using colored pencils. Anyone who had trouble finding clarity in her book must have been short of a few colored pencils upstairs!

Thanks again, Laurie. There are so few people who give any guidance as far as using pencils go. Most books are out there just showing off photos and have very little instructional value.

Laurie Klein has written an excellent book about hand-coloring! She has made this an easy to follow introduction to and step-by-step guide that makes anyone feel that they can hand color black and white photos, wether experienced with art or not. Not only is it well written, but it is filled with her beautiful photography, and is aesthetically pleasing. I would encourage anyone to buy and use this book.

Laurie Klein has written a wonderful book!!! Simply written and easy to read, this book covers techniques that can be used by beginners and advanced photographers alike. A pleasure to read!

Of the three books I have read on this subject, this one, by far, is the least useful. There is virtually NO technical guidance on how to hand color. Even the information on color selection is bland and uninformative. Rather than suggesting a couple of colors to use to give an item depth, the descriptions recommend single colors. This book treats the art of hand coloring like paint-by-numbering.

This is a wonderful book for anyone wanting to hand-tint photographs without buying a bunch of expensive supplies. Most projects use easy to find and relatively inexpensive colored pencils (like Berol prisamacolor) instead of fancy photo oil and specialty markers. A special effects gallery in the back shows photo that were colored with markers, watercolors, acrylics and mixed media.

The book starts out with a brief explanation of materials, film types, print surfaces, shooting pictures and presenting your finished piece. An introductory how-to hand-tint a photograph is included as well.

The people chapter follows. Here you learn to create realism and give your photo a romantic feel. Coloring both vintage and contemporary photos is covered. Next, the place section covers nature, flowers, architecture and an animal landscape. The final section focuses on advanced techniques and uses more specialty products. You learn techniques for toning, staining, dyeing, and using oil paints. Each of the projects is demonstrated step-by-step. A materials list and color swatches of the pencils used is also included.

I admit the author could have been a bit more detailed about materials and the oil mixture. However, this is a great book overall with very nice, easy-to-follow examples and I believe it is suitable for all levels.

Ms. Klein, Your book did not meet my expectation of the subject. I read a magazine article which gave me more practical information than your book. Your suggested materials were vague and incomplete. There must be more than just "colored pencils" and "an oil and turpentine mixture" to hand coloring Black and White photographs. The oil and turpentine mixture must have some type a recipe. Am I to guess the amount of each ingredient? Wouldn't it be helpful to give a recipe for turpentine and oil? And what type of oil should I use? What type of colored pencils? And there is no detail concerning which types of papers to use. A materials list and specific suggestions would be helpful.

I expected more from this book. The author doesn't give enough instruction or details on how to hand color just briefly mentions technique along with some photos. The book is nice for general introduction purposes but I had more questions than answers while I was reading.

An excellent, easy to understand and beautiful book by Laurie Jean Klein. Her photographs are unique and her talent is extraordinary. I have read and reread this book numerous times and always get more out of it each and every time. I highly recommend Laurie's book to photographers and non-photographers alike.

Although this book preceded the digital photography revolution--having been published around 2000, the book will give the digital photographer lots of good ideas, and more importantly learn where the styles of various photo software evolved from. By offering a more hands-on craft oriented perspective on hand-coloring photographs, lots of people getting into photography via digital may appreciate just how tactile and visceral photography can be--you may never use the processes described here but they might inspire you to sense the synasthesia that makes the body come alive when engaging in making art, just the way sculpture and painting do.