Black & white photography
Contents
Introduction
This page contains a number of resources, such as a list of useful books. I intend to add to it, from time to time, as I come across other items that I think may be of interest, so please bookmark it and visit it again if you are interested in b&w photography.
Hooked on black & white photography
I love looking at old black & white photographs. Don't you? If you explore this Web site you will find it contains lots of old black & white photos of Findon.
Naturally, most of the photographs that I took as a child during the 1950s were black & white. However, my interest in photography really took off during the the early 1960s when I was able to borrow my father's old Agfa Isolette, which uses 120 film, and I was able to do my own black & white processing at home.
When I took this photograph of Ferring beach, I used an orange filter to emphasize
the clouds. Effects like this can be further enhanced in the darkroom. Time
spent in a darkroom can be very rewarding. This photograph is available as a
free screensaver.
Camera: Yashica Mat 124G (TLR)
Film: Kodak T-Max Pro 400 (120 black & white print).
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The photograph above is available as a print or a greeting card. |
During the 1960s, I used to convert the family bathroom into a darkroom. Dishes were placed in the bath and I used the hand basin to rinse my prints. My home-made enlarger rested on an old pasty board that rested on the sides of the bath. I clearly remember the excitement of producing my first black & white print. There's nothing quite like the magic of working in a darkroom! Later, when I started taking colour slides using a 35mm camera, my interest in black & white was temporarily forgotten.
I rediscovered black & white during the late 1990s and once again started taking medium format black & white photos which I developed and printed in an improvised darkroom. Actually, my wife Liz insists that it's her utility room, but from time to time she kindly allows me to transform it into a darkroom!
Needless to say, I also use a 'digital darkroom' in the form of applications like Paint Shop Pro.
I took this photograph of Worthing seafront, which shows part of Worthing Pier and
the Dome Cinema, following a storm. This photograph is available as a free
screensaver.
Camera: Yashica Mat 124G (TLR)
Film: Kodak T-Max Pro 400 (120 black & white print).
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The photograph above is available as a print or a greeting card. |
I started out again working with medium format in the 1990s using a second-hand Yashica Mat 124G (TLR), but have since 'upgraded' to a second-hand Bronica ETRS (SLR). I have two lenses, the standard 75mm and a 50mm.
black & white film is especially useful for experimenting with pinhole photography, as it is comparatively inexpensive. Pinhole photography is probably the best-kept secret in photography. You don't need a fancy camera, or even a lens. All you need is a light tight container, some film and of course a pinhole. Lensless, or pinhole photography, is incredibly satisfying. You should try it ... it really is terrific fun!
Photo gallery
Bodiam Castle, Bodiam, East Sussex, UK during 2000.
Camera: Contax G2
Lens: 35mm f/2
Film: Agfa Scala 200x (35mm black & white slide)
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The photograph above is available as a print or a greeting card. |
Trees in Wiston Park, Steyning, West Sussex, UK during 2000.
Camera: Contax G2
Lens: 35mm f/2
Film: Agfa Scala 200x (35mm black & white slide)
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The photograph above is available as a print or a greeting card. |
Cloister at Laycock Abbey. Laycock, near Chippenham, Wiltshire, UK during 2000.
Camera: Contax G2
Lens: 35mm f/2
Film: Agfa Scala 200x (35mm black & white slide)
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The photograph above is available as a print or a greeting card. |
Door at Laycock Abbey, Laycock, near Chippenham, Wiltshire, UK during 2000.
Camera: Contax G2
Lens: 35mm f/2
Film: Agfa Scala 200x (35mm black & white slide)
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The photograph above is available as a print or a greeting card. |
An office in Brighton, East Sussex, UK during 2000.
Camera: Contax G2
Lens: 35mm f/2
Film: Agfa Scala 200x (35mm black & white slide)
Books about black & white photography
Details | Comments |
|---|---|
| Larry Bartlett's Black and White Photographic Printing Workshop Text by Jon Tarrant Published by Fontain Press ISBN 0-86343-366-9 |
This book covers: equipment, papers and processing, darkroom layout and design, basic printing techniques, advanced printing techniques and chemical solutions. |
| Exploring Black and White Photography (Second Edition) Text by Arnold Gassan and A J Meek Published by WBC Brown & Benchmark Publishers ISBN 0-697-12523-8 |
This book contains chapters on: looking at and talking about photos, camera controls, darkrooms workrooms and equipment, negative exposure, negative development, making contact prints and enlargements, finishing protecting and storing, lighting basics, filters and films, photo chemistry and advanced printing. |
| The Black and White Handbook - The Ultimate Guide to Monchrome
Techniques Text by Roger Hicks and Frances Schultz Published by David & Charles ISBN 0-7153-0572-7 |
This book contains chapters on: theory and practice, film structure, speed lattitude and sensitisation, film choice and format, exposure and metering, filters and filtration, film development, from short stop to negative file, silver printing papers, enlargers and enlarging lenses, the darkroom, print processing, the art of printing, alternative processes, the colours of black and white. |
