Customer Reviews

Mastering Black-and-White Photography: From Camera to Darkroom

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

 

 

I don't know whether this is the best book to start learning photography. It had the correct level for me, and it is written in a very nice and easy-going style. I like it so I recommend it. It got me on track and quickly resulted in my converging towards a very acceptable standard of exposing, developing and printing my shots; that's what the book promises, and that's what it did.

This is the first book I bought after I bought a non-point&shoot camera. Bernhard takes the reader from the basics of how to operate a camera to film development, and then to printing. The style is easy to read and understand, and the information is wonderfully accessible.

This is a wonderful primer for a budding photographer before moving on to the Ansel Adams series. This book should be the first book for someone who wants to be highly knowledgeable and skilled in photography.

I have been doing b+w photography on again and off again for years. I found many of the current books frustrating because they all give the same shallow coverage of the same basics. Mr. Suess does a great job of giving you multiple levels of information that you can easily access as you want. I browsed it for a quick refresher and got right back into the swing of things. But I went back and got a much deeper understanding of the technical issues that the other books ignore. The book is current and immediately useful. It is full of good examples and practical tips.

It is specific to b+w, but that is what I wanted. He clearly explained the differences between papers, films, techniques, and let the reader come to his own conclusions. I found his style easy to read and appreciated that he didn't push his opinions as facts. Instead he encourages you to experiment and form your own.

His book is a good balance of the technique and art. I enjoyed how he explained the history behind some of the technology, i.e. where our current RC papers and modern films come from. It presents a richer world of photography then just the latest and greatest. I have never reviewed another book on Amazon before. This book just helped me so much that I wanted to say thanks!

I have used this text in my introduction to black and white photography course for just over a year. Student response has been universally positive. We have all found it thorough, well written and easily understood by into students. My only "wish" is that the author had included a section on negative faults such as found in Horenstein's: Black and White Photograpy: A Basic Manual.

This book, as reviewed by others, is not for first time photographers but is a first class help to those who wish to advance into something a little more technical, but essentially
"on the ball" photography. I found the book to be thoroughly comprehensive, sometimes over technical and needing real concentration to understand these basic principles, but well worth the cost of the book. It is a first class addition to any black and white photographer's library. I wish this sort of volume was available when I first started black and white photography 50 years ago!

Best material in Black and White photography. The text is perfect. The pictures and the print quality have a lot to desire. This is a book you will not buy for its looks. But, the content is fantastic. For all your answers to necessary techniques in B&W you will not find a better more concise text. After reading the book cover to cover I have to say that the worst (print/looks) is insignificant when compared to the material and information covered. I wish the book is reprinted in higher quality. Five stars for a book that delivers what its title claims.

Very well written. Each sentence contains useful information....and you must concentrate while reading. What it lacks in example pictures, it makes up for in illustrations and concise writing. A good portion of the book covers basics of metering, composition and other basics necessary for good photography. Has good checklists that summarize the steps of printing, developing, equipment needs, etc. I think this book is well suited to someone who is serious about learning the fundamentals.

This revised edition of Bernhard J. Seuss darkroom classic Mastering Black And White Photography provides contemporary photographers with the basic skills needed to achieve expert status. Digital imaging and Internet technology are included in this updated and expanded edition, which deftly covers the entire photographic process from locating subjects to creating beautiful results in black and white.

Because I am a novice photographer and do not have my own darkroom, I found this book too complex and technical, and therefore, returned it. However, with that said, it appeared to be a good book for those who do have a dark room and are more interested in the technical aspect of black and white photography. It has few photos and its basic outline is that of a textbook. Giving the book only three stars is MY rating but probably doesn't accurately rate the book. Take time to preview the book on line to see if it meets your needs.

The book was in amazing condition and the price was very reasonable. It also arrived right on time! VERY VERY helpful book.