The Ansel Adams Guide Basic Techniques of Photography - Book 1

by Schaefer, John P.

• ISBN13: 9780821225752
• ISBN10: 0821225758
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-04-15
• Publisher: Ansel Adams

Summary

With new illustrations and up-to-date information on the latest technological advancements, this essential revised guide for the beginner photographer presents Ansel Adams' unique, systematic approach to photography. 360 photos, 42 in color. 94 line drawings.

Author Biography

John P. Schaefer is an active photographer and the author of Basic Techniques of Photography, Book 2. In 1975, as president of the University of Arizona, he was instrumental in founding the Center for Creative Photography, which houses the archives of Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, and many other outstanding photographers. Schaefer was a student, collaborator, and close friend of Ansel Adams and is currently the president of Research Corporation and a Trustee of The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust.

Table of Contents

Foreword to the Revised Edition	xi
Preface	xiii
The Language of Photography	3	(18)
A Brief History of Photography	6	(11)
The Birth of Modern Photography	8	(2)
Traditions in Photography	10	(7)
Photography Today	17	(4)
Camera Systems	21	(48)
Before You Buy a Camera	21	(9)
Deciding Which Camera to Buy	22	(1)
What a Camera Is and Does	23	(7)
Advanced Photo System (APS) Cameras	30	(3)
APS Film Cartridges	30	(1)
APS Camera Systems	31	(2)
Digital Cameras	33	(2)
35mm Cameras	35	(9)
35mm Rangefinder Cameras	36	(2)
Single-Lens Reflex (SLR) Cameras	38	(3)
Advantages and Limitations of 35mm Cameras	41	(3)
35mm Cameras: Summing Up	44	(1)
Medium-Format Cameras	44	(9)
Twin-Lens Reflex (TLR) Cameras	45	(1)
Single-Lens Reflex (SLR) Cameras	46	(6)
Medium-Format Rangefinder Cameras	52	(1)
Large-Format Cameras	53	(11)
Large-Format Cameras Types	55	(1)
General Considerations for Large-Format Cameras	56	(4)
Using a Large-Format Camera	60	(2)
Large-Format Cameras: A Summary	62	(2)
Summing Up: It's Your Decision	64	(5)
Lenses and Accessories	69	(36)
What a Lens Does	69	(5)
Lens Characteristics	70	(4)
What to Look For in a Lens	74	(1)
Focal Length	74	(9)
Lenses and Composition	83	(3)
Aperture and f-stops	86	(1)
Depth of Field	87	(4)
Combining Aperture Settings with Shutter Speeds	91	(4)
Choosing an Appropriate Aperture/Shutter Speed Combination	91	(4)
Photographic Accessories	95	(7)
Tripods	95	(2)
Lens Shades	97	(1)
Camera Cases and Bags	98	(1)
Miscellaneous Items	98	(4)
Caring For Your Equipment	102	(3)
Black-and-White Film	105	(26)
The Composition of Film	105	(1)
Characteristics of Black-and-White Film	106	(13)
Film Speed	106	(2)
Grain Size	108	(3)
Negative Contrast	111	(4)
Resolving Power	115	(1)
How a Film Responds to Exposure and Development	115	(1)
How Black-and-White Films Respond to Colors	116	(2)
Choosing the Right Black-and-White Film for Your Purpose	118	(1)
Using Filters in Black-and-White Photography	119	(7)
Contrast Filters	119	(3)
The Filter Factor	122	(1)
Special-Purpose Filters	123	(3)
Using Filters in Combination	126	(1)
Polaroid Films	126	(5)
Visualization: The Art of Seeing a Photograph	131	(34)
Visualization of a Photograph	132	(5)
Characteristics of a Photograph	133	(1)
Visual versus Photographic Images	133	(2)
Improving Your Skill at Composition	135	(2)
Choosing What to Include in Your Photograph	137	(5)
Point of View	137	(2)
Framing the Image	139	(3)
Organizing the Image within the Frame	142	(4)
Choosing the Center(s) of Interest	142	(2)
Placing the Horizon Line	144	(1)
Establishing Near-Far Relationships	144	(2)
Time, Timing, and Visualization	146	(3)
Time of Day	146	(1)
The ``Decisive Moment''	147	(2)
Duration of Exposure	149	(1)
Visualization of Tones	149	(5)
The Wratten #90 Viewing Filter: An Aid to Visualizing Tones	150	(1)
Polaroid Black-and-White Films as an Aid to Visualization	151	(3)
Comparing Color Transparencies and Black-and-White Prints	154	(1)
Visualizing Forms and Tones	154	(3)
Learning from Other People's Photographs	157	(3)
Practicing Photographic Seeing	160	(1)
Visualization: A Summation	161	(4)
Determining Film Exposure	165	(40)
Light Meters	166	(3)
Setting Up and Reading a Light Meter	166	(1)
The ``Middle-Gray'' Standard	167	(1)
Types of Light Meters	168	(1)
Estimating Film Exposure	169	(2)
Using the Manufacturer's Guidelines	169	(1)
A Useful Rule of Thumb	169	(1)
Automatic Exposure Control	170	(1)
Using a Reflected-Light Meter	171	(2)
Reading Middle Gray with Your Light Meter	171	(1)
When Reflected-Light Readings Will Lead You Astray	172	(1)
A Closer Look at Print Tones: The Zone System	173	(11)
Negative Densities and Print Tones	174	(4)
Reference Print Tones of Typical Subjects	178	(1)
Using a Tone Other Than Middle Gray As a Reference	178	(2)
Print Tones and the Use of a Spot Meter	180	(4)
Light Characteristics and Metering Problems	184	(4)
Types of Lighting and Their Effects	184	(4)
Subject Contrast and Exposure Considerations	188	(3)
Low-Contrast Subjects	188	(1)
High-Contrast Subjects	189	(1)
Preexposure	190	(1)
Bellows Extension Factor	191	(1)
Exposure with Flash	192	(2)
Estimating Exposure with Flash	193	(1)
Fill-in Flash	193	(1)
The Reciprocity Effect	194	(4)
Coupling Lighting Conditions with Development Times	198	(3)
Negative Expansion and Contraction: Practical Considerations	200	(1)
Film Speed	201	(1)
Using a Light Meter in the Field: Summing Up	202	(3)
Developing the Negative	205	(38)
Film Development: An Overview	206	(1)
Development Chemistry: General Considerations	206	(7)
Choosing a Developer	206	(3)
One-Shot Development or Replenishment?	209	(1)
Developer Components	209	(1)
The Time-and-Temperature Development Method	210	(1)
Stop Bath	211	(1)
Fixers	212	(1)
Washing Aids	212	(1)
Wetting Agents	213	(1)
Sleeving and Storing Negatives	213	(1)
Processing Roll Film	213	(12)
Equipment	213	(6)
Procedure for Developing Roll Film	219	(6)
Processing Sheet Film	225	(9)
Procedure for Developing Sheet Film	229	(5)
Rotary Processing of Film	234	(1)
Film Processing: A Summary	235	(2)
Evaluating a Negative	237	(6)
Introduction to Basic Printing	243	(38)
The Printing Process	244	(14)
Equipment for Printing and Enlarging	245	(13)
Photographic Papers	258	(7)
Paper Stock	258	(1)
Paper Surface	259	(1)
Paper Weight	259	(3)
Image Tone	262	(1)
Paper Speed	262	(1)
Paper Contrast Grades	262	(1)
Contemporary Papers	263	(2)
Chemicals for Printing	265	(4)
Developer	265	(1)
Stop Bath	265	(3)
Fixer	268	(1)
Washing Aid	268	(1)
Toner	268	(1)
Making a Proof Sheet	269	(9)
Setting Up the Darkroom	269	(3)
Procedure for Making a Proof Sheet	272	(6)
Testing Your Safelights	278	(3)
Making a Fine Print	281	(44)
Examining the Proof Sheet	281	(3)
Procedure for Making an Enlargement	284	(3)
Evaluating Proof Prints	287	(1)
Making and Refining a Work Print	287	(1)
Scaling the Contrast of the Printing Paper to the Contrast of the Negative	287	(1)
Making a Fine Print	288	(27)
Altering Selected Tones by Dodging and Burning	288	(6)
Print Size	294	(2)
Printmaking: A Detailed Example	296	(4)
Toning the Print	300	(1)
The Dry-Down Effect	301	(1)
Factorial Development	301	(3)
Variable-Contrast Printing	304	(9)
Postdevelopment Correction Techniques	313	(2)
Processing for Permanence	315	(1)
The Fine Print: A Summary	316	(5)
Caring For Your Prints	321	(1)
Mounting and Matting Prints for Presentation	321	(1)
Storing Mounted and Unmounted Prints	321	(1)
Print Processing: A Summary	322	(3)
Color Photography	325	(28)
The Role of Color in Photographs	326	(6)
Using Color Creatively	329	(3)
Visualization in Color Photography	332	(4)
Choosing Films and Papers	332	(4)
How Color Is Generated in Photographs	336	(7)
Color Reproduction	337	(1)
Color Emulsions	338	(1)
Color Balance	339	(4)
Types of Color Films	343	(8)
Color Transparency Films	343	(4)
Color Negative Films	347	(2)
Chromogenic Black-and-White Film	349	(2)
Polaroid Color Films	351	(1)
Preexposing Color Film	351	(2)
Color Film Development and Printing	353	(30)
Developing Color Negative Film	354	(4)
An Overview of the Development Chemistry	354	(1)
Getting Ready to Develop	354	(1)
Developing Color Negative Roll Film	355	(1)
Developing Color Negative Sheet Film	356	(1)
Developing Color Negative Film with the JOBO Processor	357	(1)
Developing Color Transparency Film	358	(4)
Developing Color Transparencies	358	(4)
Color Film Development: Summing Up	362	(1)
Equipment for Color Printing	362	(11)
Color Printing Papers	362	(2)
Color Filters for Printing	364	(1)
Color Enlarger Heads	365	(1)
Processing Equipment	366	(4)
Color Analyzers	370	(1)
Equipment for Judging Color Balance	371	(1)
Miscellaneous Accessories	371	(2)
Safety Equipment and Considerations	373	(1)
Printing Color Negatives	373	(6)
Making an 8 x 10 Ektacolor Print	373	(3)
The Color ``Ring-Around''	376	(1)
Using Your ``Standard'' Negative	376	(2)
Color Print Stability	378	(1)
Making a Black-and-White Print from a Color Negative	379	(1)
Printing Color Transparencies	379	(2)
Ektachrome Processing	379	(1)
The Cibachrome Process	380	(1)
Caring For and Displaying Color Prints	381	(2)
Mounting Color Prints	381	(1)
Displaying Color Prints	381	(2)
Field Trips: Applying What You've Learned	383	(25)
Searching for Photographic Themes	384	(1)
Developing a Strategy	385	(2)
Understanding Your Subject	385	(1)
Approaching Your Subject	385	(1)
Equipment Considerations	385	(1)
Getting Started	386	(1)
Mission San Xavier del Bac: A Photo Essay	387	(8)
Typical Field Trips	395	(12)
Summing Up	407	(1)
Sources for Quotations by Ansel Adams	408	(2)
Illustration Credits	410	(1)
Index	411