The Ansel Adams Guide : Basic Techniques of Photography - Book 2
by John P. Schaefer
from Bulfinch

Editorial Review:

The continuation volume to the highly successful Basic Techniques of Photography: Book One, this profusely illustrated manual offers a contemporary guide to Ansel Adams' brilliant approach to creative photography.

Expanding on the fundamental principles of photography presented in Book One, this volume enables the committed amateur or student photographer to advance to higher levels of creative expression. Book Two offers essential chapters on exposure and development, including what is perhaps the clearest, most effective explanation of Ansel Adams' remarkable Zone System ever written.

Dr. Schaefer goes on to explain and demonstrate the most important approaches to printmaking for those interested in darkroom and digital work, including such alternative printing processes as cyanotypes, salt printing, platinum/palladium printing, and gum printing. The theory and practice of color photography and printing are explained, and a thorough introduction to digital imaging is featured--all illustrated by numerous examples of work by Ansel Adams and many other photographers. Basic Techniques of Photography: Book Two is a "must-have" for anyone who wants to improve their skills as an image-maker.

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0

• Dated but Requisite Reading
  This is dated but sould be read by the aspiring professional and serious amateur. The digital stuff is dated but the rest is required. Many outstanding artists/photographers shoot film/slide media in full format 35mm, medium format or large format. If you fit the descritors above you need to know Ansel Adams work and techniques. When you can photograph in digital color as well as Ansel Adams shot in black and white, you are remarkable!

• Learning Basic Techniques
  Well, it's a great book for basic techniques. I bought the 'Book 1' and was able to understand the second one, unless you know about photography, you don't need to read the first book.
  The 'Book 2' is really the continuation of the first one, and so it continues on subjects like exposure, development and printing. I am disapointed by the chapter on exposure though. I was searching for a deeper understanding on the exposure notion. Still! Great book.

• Riddled with errors but still worth the price.
  I posted an in-depth review of this book previously but, for some reason, it did not show up here so I will try again. However, this time I will be more brief. This book is excellent but, like the other two books I have by Schaefer, it is riddled with technical errors. There's no excuse for that. The experienced photographer may catch most of the errors but the student probably won't and that could cause some real problems. The section on film testing, for example, has many serious errors.
  I find it a... more info

• Nice book
  I like this book very much because it explains different concepts and terminology in simple terms -- good for people who are trying to learn photography but not knowing much yet (like me). There are a lot of pictures in the book, so it isn't boring at all.
  It also explains traditional photography very well, including cameras, darkroom etc. However, don't expect much from the technology section of the book since it is quite outdated, however it does give you a brief background with the technology... more info