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Primitive Photography

A Guide to Making Cameras, Lenses, and Calotypes

Alan Greene author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:15th Jul '21

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

This paperback is available in another edition too:

Primitive Photography cover

Step-by-step directions for building cameras and lenses Highly illustrated with over 135 black and white color illustrations Includes suggested reading lists, sources for supplies, and safety tips

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. This work presents step-by-step procedures alongside theoretical explanations and historical background.

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, developing-out printing methods.


Primitive Photography combines the simplicity of pinhole photography, the handmade quality of alternative processes, and the precision of large-format. For those seeking alternatives to commercially prepared material as well as digital photography, it provides the instructions for creating the entire photographic process from the ground up. Given its scope and treatment of the photographic process as a whole, this may be the first book of its kind to appear in over a century.

"for those who want a break from today's high-tech photography by returning to the most basic methods of photography using inexpensive materials and methods." - Photo District News

ISBN: 9780240804613

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

240 pages