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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Complete... indeed and very readable too!, December 14, 2009
This review is from: The Complete Guide to Black & White Digital Photography (A Lark Photography Book) (Paperback)
This book is almost square, a fine format for displaying the well chosen images. It says "Black & White" but it also says "Complete Guide", and that's so true. Here you find a very methodic approach to this subject. Starting with simple straight forward color to B&W conversion and showing clearly that the simple way is quick and so dirty, Michael soon leads us into the world of creatively making what we want and how to tweak the image to get that result. Michael shows us (using Photoshop as main tool) step by step how to tackle the issues, from the color image itself via the conversion (tools) to processing the converted result. Other conversions (like duotones, InfraRed, solarization) are very well explained, in completely worked out examples. Likeable is that he really shows the different possiblities, sometimes to show that some ways are not producing top quality work, sometimes to show the choices, creative decisions you have to make for yourself. Plug-ins and other specialistic tools (for making digital look like film, for noise-reduction etc.) are nicely introduced, showing where, if and when they are needed.
The images are beautiful and to the point. The examples show that seeing in color is so different from seeing in B&W. Michael makes us aware of thinking beforehand in B&W, shown also in work made by the masters (Ansel Adams, Edward Weston and more). The Zone system is not left untouched in this book. If you think: B&W? Easy: desaturate, done. Then think again, from what you see here, you know this conversion can be done so much better. The displaying, mounting, presenting of the work are also covered. This really is a complete guide!
When you pick this up you have a very attractive book in your hands. Written for easy reference, no lengthy chapters, but concise and direct 2, 3 pages on each subject. And believe me, you want to pick up this book, time and time again, to become a master yourself, at least in the processing and finishing department.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another great book, November 14, 2009
This review is from: The Complete Guide to Black & White Digital Photography (A Lark Photography Book) (Paperback)
I have several of Mr Freeman's books:
The Photographer's Eye
Perfect Exposure
Top Digital Photography Tips
The Complete Guide to Black and White Digital Photography is just as good as the others. The layout and quality of prints is pleasing. More importantly the author not only displays a deep knowledge of the topic but supplements each one with detailed pictures. Mr Freeman writes well and I find his explanations well reasoned and easy to understand.
Post processing is a big part of digital Black and White photography. Photoshop/Camera Raw curves and color sliders are used to explain many of the processing steps, but these are common in most photo processing software. I like the way the author discusses a topic, shows an original color photo, its default transformation to black and white, followed by several steps showing effects of changing one or two hues.
Digital processing is just one of the four sections in the book:
1. The Black and White Tradition
2. Digital Monochrome
3. Creative Choices
4. Printing and Display
The two hundred plus large size pages are quite absorbing.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Good & Bad, December 16, 2010
This review is from: The Complete Guide to Black & White Digital Photography (A Lark Photography Book) (Paperback)
This volume fits with Michael Freeman's other books in these respects: Its the same size, Mr. Freeman's writing is accessible and clear, There is plenty of good information and how-to-do-it examples. I have read two other books by Mr. Freeman and like them very much.
The bad is the production of the book. There are obvious and easy to catch misspellings. Sentences that make no sense. Sentences that aren't. On one page two of the example graphics are incorrectly labelled (the labels were switched and the examples and descriptions were opposites). All this carried on throughout (I had hoped the situation would improve as the book went on - it didn't). On the first page of each section there are several lines of boldface type. I thought it would be a very brief overview or a short pertinent quote from the text. No, although it is located halfway down the page, it is the beginning of the text. You must read it first.
I'm glad Mr. Freeman's newer book(s) are from Focal Press, they seem to have a much better grasp on putting together a quality product.
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