Choose some books for me...

[jamiewakeham]

Help.

I've got a load of Christmas Amazon vouchers to spend. Can't decide between geting the three seperate Ansel Adams books (The Camera, The Negative and The Print) or the two Basic Techniques volumes by Adams and Schaefer.

Anyone got either of these sets and wants to recommend or dissuade?

Cheers
Jamie

[captainslack]

I've read The Camera. Great book! Have the other two, but haven't cracked them yet. Also read the first of the two by Schaefer. Also good.

As to which I'd recommend, it would depend on your skill level. The Schaefer book is more for beginners while Adams' books are for the more experienced photog.

[FPjohn]

Hello:

The original Adam's volumes are better read if you have mastered the later two,imho.Best of light!
yours
Frank

[Diggin99]

Hi! I would also recommend this one by Horenstein

http://www.amazon.com/Black-White-Photography-Henry-Horenstein/dp/B000KJTOMG/sr=8-2/qid=1170906150/ref=pd_bbs_2/102-4840044-1793744?ie=UTF8&s=books

I found the developing and printing section VERY useful.

Nancy

[wlewisiii]

Get the latter. Schaefer distills the three earlier books just about perfectly.

Really all you want is the first volume though, IMNSHO. I considered the 2nd volume a waste of my money. Instead get a copy of the portfolios:
http://www.amazon.com/Portfolios-Ansel-Adams/dp/0821258222/sr=8-1/qid=1170906721/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4402641-3360122?ie=UTF8&s=books

This will show you _why_ people care how Mr. Adams shot his work.

William

[visiondr]

I recall reading Fred Picker's book on the zone system and finding it very useful with many illustrations demonstrating the concepts. Any of the aforementioned volumes are also very good. You won't go wrong with any of them.

http://www.amazon.com/Zone-VI-Workshop-Fred-Picker/dp/0817405747

Ron

[Diggin99]

Wow! Less than a dollar! I just got one when I saw the price!

Nancy


I recall reading Fred Picker's book on the zone system and finding it very useful with many illustrations demonstrating the concepts. Any of the aforementioned volumes are also very good. You won't go wrong with any of them.

http://www.amazon.com/Zone-VI-Workshop-Fred-Picker/dp/0817405747

Ron

[visiondr]

Yup, can't beat the price!

Ron

[jamiewakeham]

Thanks for the opinions, all. Think I'll go for the set of three - I'd like to consider myself more than a beginner, and the nitty-gritty mathematics of exposure interest me.

Might pick up the Zone VI book and the Portfolios whilst I'm at it!

Cheers
Jamie

Edit - given that I scan my negs rather than using the darkroom these days, I wonder if dropping The Print and spending the money on the Portfolios might be wiser. I assume there's nothing apart from darkroom technique in The Print? Hmm...