Photographic Possibilities [Paperback]

Robert Hirsch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 6, 1991 | ISBN-10: 0240800478 | ISBN-13: 978-0240800479

Professional photographers and advanced students seeking to expand their
skills will discover in this book both classic and progressive methods of creating and manipulating photographic images. It is a single, reliable source for techniques, ideas, and images involving the contemporary use of alternative photographic processes.

Photographic Possibilities provides a single, reliable resourse for techiques, ideas, and images involving the contemporary use of alternative photographic procesesses. Professional Photographers and advanced students seeking to expand their skills will discover both modern and classic methods of creating and manipulating the photographic image.

Works by almost 100 of North America's top contemporary photographers illustrate the techniques disussed. Photographic Possibilitites offers the reader both the information and the inspiration to create great photographs.

This book offers the best of all worlds; it is inspired by fine art and its approach is down to earth and practical. Step by step instructions on historic and progressive processes are covered thouroughly and cocisely.

A reliable source for all aspects of alternative photographic methods.
Approaches material in a practical, concise manner.
Covers both historical and progressive processes.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Feedback from Professors -

"This is a very informative and creatively illustrated publication. Thank you!"
-Rosemary LeBeau, Anna Maria College

"very nice text, thorough, easy to read, wonderful variety of photo techniques"

"very well written and interesting...I am glad all of the alternative methods discussed are included"

"very comprehensive book on all aspects of photography...particularly useful for it's in depth coverge of alternative processes and it's clear description of how to do them"

"provides new ideas for approaching a traditional medium"

"this book is fasinating" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

This book offers the best of all worlds; it is inspired by fine art and its approach is down to earth and practical. Step-by-step instructions on historic and and progressive processes are covered thoroughly and concisely.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 242 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press (February 6, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240800478
• ISBN-13: 978-0240800479
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,315,337 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Robert Hirsch is an artist and author of Seizing the Light: A Social History of Photography; Light and Lens: Photography in the Digital Age; Photographic Possibilities: The Expressive Use of Equipment, Ideas, Materials, and Processes; and Exploring Color Photography: From Film to Pixels. He is the former Associate Editor for Photovision and Digital Camera magazines and a contributing writer for Afterimage, exposure, Fotophile, The History of Photography, and The Photo Review among others. His ongoing project, World in a Jar, has traveled to over a dozen venues around the world since opening at Big Orbit Gallery and being purchased by the Burchfield-Penney Art Center in Buffalo, NY. A former Executive Director and Chief Curator of CEPA Gallery, Hirsch now operates Light Research. His projects can be viewed at: www.lightresearch.net.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Technically informative but lacking, July 25, 2006

By 

Reader 1024 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Photographic Possibilities, Second Edition: The Expressive Use of Ideas, Materials and Processes (Paperback)

Although this is a vast improvement over the first edition, I still have reservations about the book. The essays are a bit oversimplified (Such as "Why we take pictures"), which don't seem to understand that the readers of a book about alternative processes are looking a bit deeper into the subject of photography.

Artists such as Robert Parkeharrison and Mike and Doug Starn are mentioned, but I would like to know more about their processes and more importantly, why they believe these techniques are the best medium for their images.

The technical information is well-presented, but there is one glaring omission that I believe is the book's main flaw: lack of color. A comprehensive chapter on toners leaves one frustrated as to what all these formulas look like when applied to a print. There are eight pages of full-color plates, but they mostly illustrate different artist's work, and not the processes that are described.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Torn..., May 17, 2005

By 

N. cain - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Photographic Possibilities, Second Edition: The Expressive Use of Ideas, Materials and Processes (Paperback)

Torn, as in whether to rate this book as a useful instructional guide, or boring casual reading.

Torn, as in the author's feelings on whether to write about the sentiment and philosophy behind photography. Sections get weighed down by the author's need to discuss (in overly maudlin terms) the creative expression offered by photography. I would have preferred a book to be either wholly technical or entirely emotional (and clearly presented as such, so that I could avoid it).

Torn, as in the pages falling from this poorly bound book. Several friends have informed me that their copies fell apart, too.

All in all, I found the procedural information to be clear and concise, covering not just basics, but some more interesting darkroom techniques. It seemed that the rest was serving as filler; personally I would prefer more picture examples and less of the non-procedural text. However, this book is a good alternative to some of the better, but unfortunately out of print, darkroom guides.

11 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great! A must read for serious photographers., November 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Photographic Possibilities (Paperback)

This is a very good book that covers many of the less well known photographic processes and materials. It is well written and provides clear instructions about using the various processes.