Recommended Books

reviews by london wolfe

	The Camera (Ansel Adams Photography, Book 1) Ansel Adams, Robert Baker (Contributor) Reprint edition (June 1995) Level: Beginner to Advanced ISBN: 0821221841
The three books in this series - The Camera, The Negative, and The Print - are a logical and lucid explanation of the photographic process. The first book covers the equipment used in photography, the mechanical tools of the trade - that is, the camera and its individual parts, the shutter, viewfinder and lens. This is where a photographer begins, by picking up a camera and learning how it works - aperture settings, shutter speeds, depth of field. For large format photographers, there's swings, shifts and tilts. Understanding the physical nature of the equipment and the optical laws involved is the first step towards mastering photography. The Camera lays the foundation.
	The Negative (Ansel Adams Photography, Book 2) Ansel Adams, Robert Baker (Contributor) Reprint edition (June 1995) Level: Beginner to Advanced ISBN: 0821221868
The Negative is the second book in the series by Adams and primarily deals with chemistry and light. For some, like myself, this is where the magic begins. Capturing a snapshot of reality onto a material we know of as film. How this done, and how one can control its outcomes, are perhaps the two things that guided Ansel Adams' life. He is the pioneer of a technique called the Zone System, which is currently used in one way or another by countless photographers around the world. Even if you don't like Adams' photography, you should still study his thought. The Negative is a classic.
	The Print (Ansel Adams Photography, Book 3) Ansel Adams, Robert Baker (Contributor) Reprint Edition (April 1995) Level: Beginner to Advanced ISBN: 0821221876
The last book in the Adams series is called The Print. Today, most photographers have their prints developed by an outside lab. This is unfortunate. Adams wants to instill in the photographer the belief in the fine print. If you have seen an original fiber-based, sepia-toned black-and-white print, then you know the difference between a fine print and merely a good print. The making of a print, which involves just as much creativity as the original composition, is the most time-consuming and exacting part of the photographic process. Only a few photographers actually become great print-makers. The negative, says Adams, is the symphony's score; whereas the print is its final performance.
	Examples: The Making of 40 Photographs, Vol. 1 Ansel Adams May 1989 Level: Beginner to Advanced ISBN: 082121750X
This book is written on a more personal level than any of Adams' books. That's not to say there's little technical information here. That would be unlike the Old Man. If you are keen to know what camera he used in making one of his celebrated photographs, you'll find it in this book. (Or perhaps you're interested in the particular lens, filter or exposure used.) This book also contains Adams' philosophical views on photography, art, Denali, scrambling, and the environment, and some personal notes on his family, friends and journeys. An interesting and inspiring read.
	The Ansel Adams Guide: Basic Techniques of Photography by John Paul Schaefer, Ansel Adams October 1991 Level: Beginner to Intermediate ISBN: 0821218824
Have you ever heard of Strunk and White's Elements of Style? It is a classic book that was compiled posthumously by a student of E.B. White's. The bulk of the material is E.B. White's. Strunk simply compiled, edited and successfully published the material. In similar fashion, we have The Ansel Adams Guide. The bulk of the material is from three of Adams' books: The Camera, The Negative, and The Print. Schaefer has done a nice job of compiling this material into one cost-effective and highly useful book. And Schaefer has added some of his own original material. If you are starting out in photography, this is an excellent book to begin with.
	Basic Photographic Materials and Processes by Leslie D. Stroebel (Editor), John Compton, Ira Current, Richard D. Zakia March 2000 (Second Edition) Level: Advanced ISBN: 0240804058
This book covers every aspect of photography, from optics to chemistry. It is excellent. Do not let the title, Basic Photographic Materials & Processes, fool you. Nothing in this book is basic. It is the textbook used by the best photography schools in the country. Now in its second edition.
	A User's Guide to the View Camera Jim Stone 2nd edition (November 1997) Level: Beginner to Advanced ISBN: 0673520064
A gem. This book is well-thought out and clearly written. There is an illustrated step-by-step guide on how to use and focus the view camera (good for beginners, but the advanced should take note of it). The author conveys advanced principles and techniques using simple terms and brilliantly devised charts, diagrams and illustrations. The last chapter is devoted to lens design and the development of the modern lens. Highly recommended.
	Large-Format Photography (Kodak Publication, No. O-18E.) Roger Vail (Photographer), Eastman Kodak Company, James A. McDonald 2nd edition (March 1996) Level: Beginner to Intermediate ISBN: 0879857714
Dollar for dollar, this is perhaps the best value for a book on large format photography. It is a great starter book. Clear and concise.
	View Camera Technique Leslie D. Stroebel 7th edition (March 18, 1999) Level: Advanced ISBN: 0240803450
Long known as the "definitive" reference on large format photography. This book dives in deep. A math background is recommended but not necessary. A strong cup of coffee is also recommended, but once again not completely necessary. The 7th edition is new and covers digital photography, but the brunt of the book is essentially the same as the 5th or 6th edition. You can save some money by getting the latter at a used shop. Try Powell's in Oregon.
	A History of the Photographic Lens Rudolf Kingslake November 1990 Level: Advanced ISBN: 0124086403
Kingslake was the Director of Optical Design at Eastman Kodak and is regarded as one of the most important optical engineers of this century. Kingslake here traces the historical development of the photographic lens - how and why each type of lens was developed. Those interested in the more technical aspects of photography will find this work stimulating. It is also highly useful for those who collect vintage lenses.
	Lens Design Fundamentals Rudolf Kingslake January 1978 Level: Advanced ISBN: 0124086500
Another Kingslake classic. This book is far more mathematical than the former. For those who are interested in lens design and want to try their hand at it, this is a good book to get started. Kingslake dissects the design of the Tessar, Double Gauss and other famous lenses. Warning: brush up your math!

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