Customer Reviews

Dramatic Black & White Photography: Shooting and Darkroom Techniques

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

 

 

I don't like saying negative things and I've debated posting this review for quite a while but I feel I must. I'm so mad at myself for having bought this book just from reading descriptions that I have to say something.

I have quite a few photography technique books and this one was one book too many. It has some nice images along with brief explanations on how they were created. The problem I have with the book are the manipulated images, which make up about half of the book. I'm sorry, but I just don't see the point in adding water, clouds and birds to all those images, and often it's the same bird. I'd recommend looking through the book before purchasing, and if you can put up with the manipulated images, go for it, but I just don't see the point in them. Another thing-I haven't gone digital yet but I imagine that the manipulated images can be produced quicker on the computer nowadays.

Photographer J.D. Hayward offers his own surrealistic Southern shadows in sharp black and white in an inspiring book that teaches camera work and darkroom techinques with an artist's eye and shutter-speed skill. In this beautiful book, featuring 50 portraits and dreamscapes, Hayward's sense of Southern landscapes and moods comes alive in in his blending of fascinating composites in the darkroom; he tells the story behind each photograph and gives instructions on how to reproduce the effect. Hayward is a photographic traditionist, keeping alive an artform reflective of Western landscapist Ansel Adams. Hayward prefers the delicate process of creating darkroom light and shadow in what many lament as a vanishing artform with the rise of faster and less expensive digital photography. Readers will be rewarded by Hayward's allegiance to the real artistic crafting of photography with lasting, enduring images. The award-winning Pensacola native, with prints known across the South, exposes his love of the Florida city's architecture and history in these images. This book will inspire all photographers, amateur and professional. I highly recommend this portrait of how to work in black and white with an artist's eye and steady hand.

I purchased this book expecting to learn techniques for darkroom effects, but the book didn't teach me much. After the introduction, there were a few pages on techniques, but being a photo student, I already understood them. The rest of the book was mostly a showcase of the artist's photographs, which is fine because many were beautiful, but it was just not what I was looking for. I just wanted more specific examples of each technique instead of the thought process for each photograph.

As an amateur photographer, I was intrigued by the review of J.D. Hayward's book in OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHER. I purchased the book on-line, and although I was looking for technical information (film and camera), I found his book to be more of an idea book, suggesting themes and concepts on the creative thought process of photography. I liked this. He does share information on cameras and film, but his powerful black and white images make you stop and think. It's a good photography book. But, even if you're not into photography, the Southern flavor of his anecdotal references to each photo is worth reading.

I've been doing black & white photography for a few years but have never tried combining photos and wasn't sure I could do it. This book has some good explanations. It's easier than I thought. Plus, I got a lot of good ideas about how to combine negatives that I already have. I'd definitely recommend this book...

This is a very good book for B&W film users. The author meticulously explains how to burn, doge and mask for impact as well as some cool ideas on sandwiching multiple negatives and alternative processes.

The heart of this book is making believable composites. He shows you how to make the photograph they way you see it in your mind, not necessarily what you recorded on film. It is a very helpful guide.

I enjoyed this book very much, specifically because I wanted to know how to manipulate photos. I was amazed at how relatively simple it is to add clouds or birds or vines and totally change the image. These photos gave me some wonderful ideas. I'm interested in digital but I figured that I better learn how to do this in the darkroom first.