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| Way Beyond Monochrome | 
| Authors: Ralph W. Lambrecht, Chris Woodhouse
Publisher: Voyageur Press (MN)
Category: Book
Buy New: $95.00
New (2) from $95.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 775771
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 240
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.8
Dimensions (in): 10 x 9.9 x 0.9
ISBN: 0863433545
Dewey Decimal Number: 771
EAN: 9780863433542
ASIN: 0863433545
Publication Date: June 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The authors have gone to great lengths to provide extensive explanations of their techniques as well as the materials and equipment used. A tremendous amount of useful hints and tips are shown throughout the book with diagrams and charts to enhance the text. The book moves from tonal reproduction-including the zone system-to fundamental print control that includes archival processing, to advanced print control which covers fine-tuning print exposure and contrast, split grade printing both basic and advanced, print flashing, paper reciprocity failure and toning. It then moves further into extensive negative control covering focus, exposure, the zone system, filters and unsharp masking. It has an extensive assignment section where compelling case studies with super illustrations are used and ends with darkroom equipment and tools, and many tips and tricks. Intended audience: This book is targeted at amateurs, semi-professionals and professional photographers, most of whom have at some time developed and printed their own images. This book takes readers on a journey that will transform their work into something special.
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| Customer Reviews:
Unigue techical manual for modern B&W [traditional] photo printing November 2, 2008
For those who have already mastered the basics of traditional darkroom B&W printing, this is an superb and detailed manual of the newest techniques to make even better prints. This is not a beginner's text and would not be a good introduction to the hobby. There is nothing on the market today to equal its scope, and I cannot think of a technique which has not been fully discussed and illustrated. Even for an experienced printer, there should a wealth of new information, even though much of what is discussed may be beyond the practical will of most people to use. One small negative: I got the 1st edition several years ago, and it has a number of significant printing errors. You can download a list of such errata from the author's website and mark the corrections in your book. If current sales are of a later edition, these errors may have been corrected.
Simply the best B&W book in years August 29, 2004
21 out of 21 found this review helpful
Silver-based Black & White printing has become an esoteric art form. Prices of vintage baryta prints seem to double every year. This book was written for those hardcore darkroom aficionados.
I dont have any relationship with the authors or the publisher whatsoever. But as a professionnal B&W printer I own, read and use all of the authoritative books on B&W printing. Authors like Henry, Davis, Zakia, Rudman, Ctein, Nocon or Anchel. Since there's only so much you can say about well documented techniques, I thought I had seen it all. Until Way Beyond Monochrome fell on my doorstep. I was sold instantly.
The Authors
Research and writing of this book is the result of many years of darkroom practice. Lambrecht has been teaching photography for two decades. Woodhouse designed the famous RHDesigns f/stop timers. Both are members of the British Royal Photographic Society. The result of their common passion is Way Beyond Monochrome, a new reference for every darkroom.
Sensitometry
The first 200 page section is about paper and film controls, with many graphs, tests and tables. Difficult concepts of sensitometry are made simple. Within a few chapters, you learn to determine paper contrast, film development times and f/stop printing. And you are guided step by step into far more advanced techniques like measuring differences between paper brands, determining contrast by 1/12th of an f/stop, calibrating paper grades and dichroic enlarger heads, advanced split-grade printing, measuring paper flash, reciprocity failure, dry-down and much more. A few side-steps into C41 and digital monochrome prints are made, and all of this is explained in a way even beginners can understand. The approach of variable contrast controls and split-grade printing is way beyond everything published before.
Tools, Tips, Templates and a Website
Follown illustrations of the techniques through sixteen practical examples. Including high and low contrast negatives, split-grade printing and digital monochrome. The last section contains very useful tools, tips and templates, like darkroom designs, equipment reviews, safelight testing and enlarger alignment. DIY tools like a tests-trip printer, an ingenious burning wheel, a zone ruler and zone dial, exposure and printing records, and an identification system for film holders are explained in detail. The book concludes with ten pages of templates for graphs, film and paper curves, f/stop tables, enlarger exposure corrections, a very useful film gradient reader and a complete bibliography.
Imperfections
While performing the tests, I encountered a few striking omissions. An excellent chapter on contrast masks refers to an (indispensable) pin registration device. But neither the device itself nor a web reference are presented. Why hasn't a film gradient reader been included for condenser enlargers? And the light grey lines of many templates cannot be copied on most photocopy machines. After I contacted Ralph Lambrecht on this issue, he put new printable templates and other darkroom helps online at www.darkroomagic.com.
Conclusion
Way Beyond Monochrome is simply the best reference book I have encountered in 2 1/2 decades of professional B&W printing. Example chapters are available at the author's web sites.
If you can only afford one darkroom book, this is the one.
www.phot-o-vergne.com
No fluff in this book February 26, 2004
26 out of 26 found this review helpful
I have been a photographer for nearly 30 years and I have accumulated a couple hundred books on photography. I recently bought "Way Beyond Monochrome" sight unseen because I have found previous magazine articles by Lambrecht and Woodhouse to be concise and well written and hoped that the book would be the same. I was not disappointed, the book lives up to that and much more as it is absolutely packed with extremely useful and practical information. There is a good balance between theory and practical applications. There is an entire section in the back of the book with useful graphs and tables many of which now hang on my darkroom wall for quick reference.
This is not just another general photography book as it is truly aimed at the advanced printer who already has more than the basic skill set. This book is not full of "FLUFF" it presents a good range of print making concepts and then provides sufficient information to enable them to be put into practice. The information not only allows you to improve future images but also alows you to rethink some previous prints.
This book makes no attempt at explaining the "ART" side of photography. However, there is no doubt that making you a better and more confident printer will make for stronger artistic expression. Easily makes my top 5 list for photography books.
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