Customer Reviews

Coming Into Focus: A Step-by-Step Guide to Alternative Photographic Printing Processes

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A compelling blend of traditional processes takes on new life with new, improved chemical formats and digital techniques. Any artist working in alternative processes arrives, sooner or later, at their own individual methods and unique combinations of techniques. This book provides many examples of working formulas that build upon and further develope the traditional standard favorites. The "recipes" are clearly detailed in an easy-to-follow textbook format, with such new processes as the Fredrick Temperaprint (a tricolor system based on gum dichromate) and the Argyrotype (an iron-silver process similar to Van Dyke). It also seamlessly incorporates the digital technology we rely on more and more.

It's given me a wealth of new ideas and projects to try out, and is sure to become an invaluable resource in my own darkroom.

I whole-heartedly recommend this book. I also have "The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes" by Christopher James, another good book, but I always go back to "Coming into Focus". This book is laid out in a very accessible manner, each section is written clearly and concisely, and the processes are described so that you understand and can start experimenting almost immediately (once you acquire the necessary materials for the relevant process). Again, this book is a very useful one, and a handy reference to have around.

This is a wonderful book that tells you everything you want to know about alternative printing processes. I used to have "Keepers of Light" but lost it, so I ordered this as a replacement. It contains everything the other book did, plus information on using digital technology. A real resource for any serious photographer who is a purest at heart and wants to keep the old traditions alive.
Suzanne Ludlum-Loose

A WELL ILLUSTRATED AND INSPIRING COLLECTION FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN ALTERNATIVE PROCESSING. NICE LAYOUT AND EASY READING.STIRS UP THE CREATIVE SIDE AND APPROPRIATE FOR BEGINNERS AND PROFFESSIONALS ALIKE

You may look at the publication date and wonder if this is worthwhile. Well the answer is definitely yes! Its a wonderful and reasonably priced introduction to alternate processes. Its definitely helped me to get my feet on the ground, let me choose the technique that will work best for my goals, and gave me enough info to confidently start. I like the fact that you've got enough technical details to see how it all works and to get you started - but you also don't get lost in too much technique. A really nice balance for my first foray into this art.
The one place the age of the publication shows is in the are of digital negatives. However, Digital Negatives by Reeder and Hinkel will get you through that in a well thought out step by step process.

This is a must have for anyone who is just going in to alternative photography and need an overview o all there is. This gives you instruction, tool, recipes and more to get you started.

We used this book for an alternative photography class. Often I sell back books at the end of the semester but this one is a keeper.

This book will really stoke your fires of interest in doing alt photography.

It's well written and well organized, and it's a fun and easy read.

It also provides detailed, technical information if you want to try any of these processes yourself, in a concise and interesting way.

This book stays on the nightstand, it's the kind of book that is not meant to read cover to cover, and so almost any page I open it to, there's something interesting for me to read and learn about.