The New Darkroom Handbook [Paperback]

Joe DeMaio (Author), Roberta Worth (Author), Dennis Curtin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0240802608 | ISBN-13: 978-0240802602 | Publication Date: November 20, 1997 | Edition: 2nd

The Darkroom Handbook, Second Edition, is a completely revised and updated version of a classic guide to the best design, construction, and equipment to use when setting up a darkroom.

This book features ideas and money-saving tips on how to put a darkroom almost anywhere in your home or apartment. It takes you inside darkrooms of photographers around the world including those of famous photographers such as, Harry Callahan, Aaron Siskind, Berenice Abbott, and W. Eugene Smith. In addition, it contains detailed do-it-yourself plans for the most essential darkroom components, cutouts and design grids to plan that "dream" darkroom, and special sections on the color darkroom and the digital darkroom.

The most comprehensive book on the darkroom.
A step-by-step guide to help anyone plan and build a photo lab.
Illustrated with an abundance of photos and sketches.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Clearly written, well organized, thoroughly illustrated and chock full of ingenious ideas on darkroom layout and design, building, wiring, plumbing, equipping and organizing.'--Don Carroll, Photomethods

'Fascinating period illustrations recall the wet-plate roving darkrooms of a century ago. Visits in words and pictures to the labs of top photographers give helpful, human glimpses of this highly technical milieu.'Publisher's Weekly

From the Publisher

This book features ideas and money-saving tips on how to put a darkroom almost anywhere in your home or apartment. It takes you inside darkrooms of photographers around the world including those of famous photographers such as Harry Callahan, Aaron Siskind, Berenice Abbott, and W. Eugene Smith. In addition, it contains detailed do-it-yourself plans for the most essential darkroom components, cutouts and design grids to plan that "dream" darkroom, and special sections on the color darkroom and the digital darkroom.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 2nd edition (November 20, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240802608
• ISBN-13: 978-0240802602
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #197,762 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Darkroom & Processing

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

77 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The only guide you will ever need to building a darkroom, April 1, 2000

By 

"izo" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New Darkroom Handbook (Paperback)

I just purchased this book because i am planning to build a darkroom in my basement, and it has provided me with alot of information. And if you have a really small bathroom and you think it's impossible to turn it into a darkroom and use it at the same time, then you better get this book. There are floorplans/layouts & elevation provided, as well as pictures to give you an idea of how your darkroom will turn out. There are so many alternatives given that you can't go wrong in builiding the perfect darkroom of your own and save money as well.

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great book for people wanting to set up a darkroom, January 18, 2000

By 

A. Singh (San Francisco, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The New Darkroom Handbook (Paperback)

This is an excellent book that follows you through the process of determning a room, making modifications if neccesary and creating the physical space for a darkroom.

In addition creating the room, it will take you through the equipment requirements and general layout and design for a good working darkroom.

I used the layout and general design sections to create my own darkroom, and found all the lists, worksheets and diagrams invaluable.

There is even a small section in the beginning that takes you through some famous photographers darkrooms.

All the information you would need, and well organized.

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT BOOK FOR LESS THAN PERFECT CONDITIONS, February 13, 2000

By 

Payton Crossley (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New Darkroom Handbook (Paperback)

I found this book to be very practical and direct. What impressed me most was that the authors took into account the fact that not everyone has the ideal accomodations for a darkroom. Each section goes into the how-to of every phase of setting up a simple, basic to the sophisticated darkroom. Everything is spelled out in detail allowing you to "opt out" of any part of the process that you feel may be "over your head" (call the plummer) and to deal with those that are within your reach. In between, the book allows you to peek at how others have set up their facilities. Over all a great book for anyone looking to set up a dark room the "right way".