Primitive Photography: A Guide to Making Cameras, Lenses, and Calotypes
$28.75
- ISBN13: 9780240804613
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
Primitive Photography considers the hand-made photographic process in its entirety, showing the reader how to make box-cameras, lenses, paper negatives and salt prints, using inexpensive tools and materials found in most hardware and art-supply stores. Step-by-step procedures are presented alongside theoretical explanations and historical background. Streamlined calotype procedures are demonstrated, featuring different paper negative processes and overlooked, develo… More >>
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Primitive Photography: A Guide to Making Cameras, Lenses, and Calotypes
Very interesting stuff. This author does a very accurate job of describing primitive techniques in the darkroom and in the making of a camera. For darkroom enthusiasts, you’ll really enjoy this stuff. It’s a bit heavy on the mathematical technical stuff, sometimes I felt as though I was sitting in a calc exam. Now if you’ll excuse me I have a salt print to go make.
Rating: 4 / 5
With the rapid disappearance of film, this book is the perfect vehicle for anyone wanting the capability to produce photographs that are truly original. Not only make the photographs, but the camera and lenses, too. And each facet of each component of Victorian photography is evaluaetd and then the ideal process recommended and detailed. Great book!
Rating: 5 / 5
This book is perhaps one of the best ever written in the field of alternative photography. And while that may seem like a bombastic statement, I assure you that nowhere else will you find a book in print that lays out the complexities of lens design, camera construction, photographic chemistry, etc. in a way that a non-math, non-science layman like myself can understand. I thoroughly recommend this book for any person tired of the “digital revolution” and want to get back to the true joy of photography- the process!
Rating: 5 / 5
Well done introduction to a wide variety of technical components in the various processes for which he guides the reader into exploring. I would have like to see his section on optics and lenses better explained though more graphs, drawings, etc. A must have book if you are at all mechanically inclined and like to tinker in photography. Also it works for someone who has no intention on building any of the items but would like to know more about the processes of photography. My one gripe is the content of the photos; illustrating salt prints, various effects of toning solutions, etc. leaves a little bit to be desired. Because of slow shutter speeds there are far too many building and static structures and not enough other subjects. Of course this might reflect Mr. Greene’s artistic vision, but it limits the power of the illustrative examples because of the simularity of subject matter.
Rating: 4 / 5
This is an absolutely amazing book. The reason I would call this “Advanced over Primitive Photography” is that most photographers are not in love with the processes, rather simply composing the image. With that in mind this is indeed advanced in concept and requiring more than just an “eye.”
This is not simply a guide to building a camera; it is a look into the history of photography as well. If you love your dark room as I do, then this is definately a book you NEED to have. I intend on purchasing a second one for the shop/darkroom and maintain one for my library.
Rating: 5 / 5