The Creative Monochrome Image: How to Excel at Black & White Photography [Paperback]

David Chamberlain (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1997

Completely revised and fully updated! Award-winning photographer David Chamberlain's seminal guide to the art of black & white photography offers no gimmicks or unnecessary equipment; this approach is based on technique, namely, "pre-visualization". Explained in detail, this method allows the amateur photographer, equipped only with his 35mm camera, to push the monochrome format to a wholly original place. Find out, once and for all, the truly essential equipment from camera bodies to lenses and light meters. The actual taking of the picture is in reality a small part of the entire process. That is why large sections are devoted to the studio, developing, presentation, and folio. Helpful hints will benefit you in the darkroom, with suggestions on print finishing and special effects. However, perhaps the best way to learn is by example, and Chamberlain won't disappoint you. Bonus: over 60 gorgeous photographs from his collection on display. Techniques are explained in full for each individual piece. Creative freedom allows each photographer to search for his or her artistic identity. Learn how not to let criticism get in the way of the pursuit for your artistic identity.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The majority of this book is devoted to an exhibit of British photographer Chamberlain's own work. In this Folio Section, the author favors studies of nudes and some carefully considered special techniques. Each photograph is also accompanied by a description; one includes the author's cheerful admission that "the model declared it was the best photograph he had ever seen of himself . . . !" This cloying tone saturates the entire text, making the workmanlike chapters on equipment, the studio and darkroom methods a chore to read. Although there is always something to learn from an accomplished photographer's selection of his favorite picturesand this volumes offers some well-organized information about black-and-white photography for the serious amateureven admirers of Chamberlain's work must concede that a kinder and more conscientious editor would have helped the author crop the text.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Photographer Chamberlain opens this readable manual about black-and-white photography with the question "Why creative?" and then proceeds to explain succinctly why photographers are inspired to make images of the people, places, and objects around them. He further discusses equipment, notably 35mm and medium-format cameras, and darkroom techniques, with an emphasis on film processing and printing photographs. There is also an interesting section on print finishing and the presentation of one's photographs. Anyone looking for a practical, fairly comprehensive handbook on black-and-white photography will find this book to be very useful. The information about medium-format photography is particularly valuable because this kind of equipment is often overlooked in photography manuals. This book should be seriously considered by both academic and public libraries that maintain photography collections. Highly recommended.?Raymond Steven Bial, Parkland Coll. Lib., Champaign, Ill.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Sterling Pub Co Inc; Revised edition (March 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0304348147
• ISBN-13: 978-0304348145
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,839,180 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, May 1, 1998

By 

C.W. Bleak ([e-mail]) (Alamosa, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Creative Monochrome Image: How to Excel at Black & White Photography (Paperback)

This is probably the best book I've ever read on creative B&W photography. It covers, in depth, various creative techniques for making prints that catch both the viewer's eye and interest. Most of the prints shown are not striaght prints but are highly manipulated in the darkroom. Excellent how to's and technical discussion.