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Elements of Black and White Printing

Carson Graves author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:31st Mar '16

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

This hardback is available in another edition too:

Elements of Black and White Printing cover

Whether you are a novice or an expert in the darkroom, the second edition of The Elements of Black-and-White Printing will give you the tools necessary to control your print making. You will learn the proper techniques for exposing a print, how to choose the correct paper contrast, and ways to find the best combination of paper and developer for your images. In addition to explaining the procedures, this unique book contains exercises that help you calibrate these procedures with your own equipment with the materials you prefer. Photographers will find this book an essential resource in the darkroom.

Elements of Black-and-White Printing will help you learn how to choose the right exposure and contrast for your negative; select papers, developers, and toners that complement each other; print negatives with extreme contrast ranges; salvage seemingly hopeless negatives and prints; print, develop, and store negatives and prints for maximun life; display your photographs in a way that enhances their message; properly align your enlarger; and more.

"The book stresses the importance of {making a print] that fully expresses the photographer's intent and vision....it prods the reader to think about how he or she wants each print to look before going into the darkroom" --Camera and Darkroom magazine.

"A no-nonsense 212-page instructional manual which should please the most discerning photographer." - Ilford Vision

"This book is ideal for people who are au-fait with the joys of the darkroom and want to hone their skills further." - Amateur Photographer

FROM Camera Magazine:

"...this book is simply brilliant. After all these years writing about black and white printing, attending seminars with world experts, and pottering around in the dark myself, Carson Graves has shed more than a little light on the subject."

"Graves' technique really makes a lot of sense. Sure, other experts make prints the same way, but they haven't been able to explain it quite as clearly."

"...it is a small price to pay for the improvement you can expect in your own black and white work."

"Carson Graves presents complex technical information in clear, easy-to-understand language without becoming simplistic."

"..he stresses the importance of not just making an acceptable black-and-white print, but one that fully expresses the photographer's intent and vision."

"Graves prods the reader to think about how he or she wants each print to look and about the statement it should make."

"..sets his book apart from others of its kind."

"Each process is explained in detail, with emphasis upon HOW these procedures affect print quality."

"thoughtful, unpretentious, surprisingly informative"


FROM Professional Photography in Australia Magazine:

"...comprehensive, but also easily comprehended"

"Graves provides lucid and understandable explanations. He doesn't labour a point, but he has a knack of saying things succinctly and clearly."

"Carson graves writes in a relaxed, comfortable style which means the information he imparts is very easy to absorb...and heproves an advanced text book doesn't have to be stodgy or formal."


this book fills a gap between beginning and advanced photo texts. It is more specific in creating prints using specific chemistry & toners. Display & preservation are also needed topics.

The appendix is very helpful and should be expanded.

Nicely improved. I have used the first edition previously and found it to greatly improve student understanding and output.

"This book contains a great deal of valuable information that I have not found in other textbooks." - Victor chalfant, NW Arkansas Comm. College

"Very well done with wonderful testing ideas."

ISBN: 9781138143692

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 453g

222 pages

2nd edition