Essential Technical Books
Second many titles (Stroeble et al.; Dykinga; Neblette; ...) and want also to ephasize Light - Science and Magic, a true treasure.
I'd add Ray's Applied Photographic Optics, and a bit off topic also Lynch & Livingston's (2001) Color and Light in Nature: Cambridge Univeristy Press; something like a natural history of light, very readable.
Essential Technical Books
Stroebel, View Camera Technique
Adams, The Negative
Adams, Examples: The Making of 40 Photographs
Barnbaum, The Art of Photography
Hunter and Fuqua, Light: Science & Magic
Dykinga, Large Format Nature Photography
Essential Technical Books
Ctein, Post Exposure: Advanced Techniques for the Photographic Printer.
Stroebel, View Camera Technique, Basic Photographic Materials and Processes, etc.
Adams, Camera; Negative; Print; Making of 40 Photographs
Simmons, Using the View Camera
Picker, Zone VI Workshop, Newsletter, etc.
Kellsey, Corrective Photography
The short list, but SO many more!
Essential Technical Books
here are some of my selections
the first series of AA books as collector's items
the second set to use
The Zone VI Workshop
the AA books by Schaefer
The Zone System Manual by White, Zakia and Lorentz (I think)
memmories of many, many gallery ahnd museum exhibits. This really how I learned to print by seeing a Paul Caponigro image in a museum
the old book of formulae and facts - can't remember the exact name but it is now out of print (I think)
more exhibits and museums, many good memories and inspirations
steve simmons
Essential Technical Books
>>For lighter reading I like Edward Weston's Daybooks. You really have to search for any technique info, but it sure proves that large format photography isn't really that boring.
I agree with it's value - but for completely different reasons.
I find Weston's Daybook a sobering reminder that nobody will ever care as much about your work as you do. Apparently Weston, aware of this though he was, adopted a viewpoint that his shit was ice cream. I suspect a lot of people in his social circle must have found him insufferable.
If he truly destroyed the more embarassing parts of the Day Books he certainly deprived us of some entertaining reading!
None of the above, by the way, undermines my belief he was one of the great masters. Wonderful work even if I find it a bit too "pre-meditated".
Essential Technical Books
...half of the "magic" lenses you own are actually Tessar designs...
the truest thing I've yet read about lens design. Dang.
Essential Technical Books
To Ralph Barker's list I would add "Controls in Black and White" by Dr. Henry. While not current any more, it is a perfect guide on how methodological testing should be done, and it still has some good advice that is applicable to today's materials.
Essential Technical Books
"This really how I learned to print by seeing a Paul Caponigro image in a museum." - Steve Simmons
Steve- I think Caponigro combines the best in vision, technique, and spirit. Just wondering; which print you saw and is it possible to quantify what you learned about printing from it?
Essential Technical Books
"Graphic Graflex Photography" (Morgan and Morgan). Any postwar edition.
Essential Technical Books
First my strong support for the: Basic Photographic Materials and Processes
Second: I'd suggest books published before 1965. For some reason the minds were different then and (to me at least) it shows. I won't name any because just about every one I get a chance to read beats the crap out of most post 1965's.
Then:
Ansel Adams - all of the above plus Polaroid Land Photography (as focused as it is, still a great value in general photographic terms)
Feininger - Total Picture Control and Complete Photographer
Godsey - A Guide to Photographic Control
Mortensen - On The Negative
Fred Picker - All Newsletters plus the Zone VI Workshop
Many more