Photography 9e can now be ordered on Amazon.com (released in 2007). In case you’re still contemplating the purchase of this text, you may want to consider just ordering the newest edition. Although I can hazard a guess that the layout, text, and topics covered won’t change too much between the editions, I think that some sections will be updated to be more current (for instance, maybe the camera section …and who knows….a chapter on digital could be added).
My plan is to provide you with a series of reviews on each chapter of Barbara London’s Photography, 8th Edition, rather than making you sit down and read through one long review. The text has 17 total chapters, and if you are using this text to study for your certification exam, chances are good that you’re previously familiar with at least some of the topics discussed. By reading through these reviews chapter summaries, you should be able to get an idea of which chapters will be most helpful to you.
A note — Photography 8e is not a sit-down casual reading book. It was definitely created to be a textbook, and its size and writing style do support its intentions. Nevertheless, if you have the time to dedicate (a few hours a night, or even a week), you will definitely come away from this book with a better, more thorough understanding of photography. For the more seasoned pro, this text will undoubtedly be a review — which is great! That means you know your stuff. But if you’re not familiar with view cameras or darkroom procedures, then this book will get you up to speed.
The summaries are listed below, by chapter. Feel free to use the links to jump to the appropriate “section”. I’ve listed the chapters and titles below– as I add mini-reviews for each section, I’ll update this post to include links to the reviews. Happy studying!
Chapter 1: Getting Started
Chapter 2: Camera
Chapter 3: Lens
Chapter 4: Light & Film
Chapter 5: Exposure
Chapter 6: Developing The Negative
Chapter 7: Printing the Positive
Chapter 8: Finishing & Mounting
Chapter 9: Color
Chapter 10: Digital Imaging: Capture
Chapter 11: Digital Darkroom
Chapter 12: Lighting
Chapter 13: Special Techniques
Chapter 14: View Camera
Chapter 15: The Zone System
Chapter 16: Seeing Photographs
Chapter 17: History of Photography
Chapter 1: Getting Started
A very basic overview of “getting started” in photography, this chapter discusses film cameras, how to load film, and basic techniques like focusing and exposure settings. This section is heavily image-laden (as are most of the sections in the book), and in the off chance that you didn’t know how to load film into either a digital or manual SLR — you’ll know how to after reading Chapter 1. After covering the basic technical aspects, the text discusses subjects and how to photograph them (people, places). You’ll find a number of examples of portraits and landscape prints as well.
Chapter 2: Camera
This chapter discusses camera controls and choosing a camera. The text reviews two key aspects – the shutter and the aperture. Again, some more “basic” aspects of photography….but, the basics are important. Aperture and shutter speed can impact the exposure you create — and by managing these controls you can take control of your image and make sure what you visualize will be properly captured. Camera choices are discussed briefly — and this section is relatively out-dated. SLR cameras, Rangefinder/Viewfinder, View cameras, Twin-Lens Reflex cameras, …AND a tiny section on “digital” cameras.
Chapter 3: Lens
Different lens elements are discussed – first pinhole cameras, then standard lenses. The differences between normal, long, and short focal lengths are discussed, as is focus and depth of field. The zone focusing section may be interesting for those not familiar with this technique, as will be the discussion of the Hyperfocal distance. Chapter Three wraps up by discussing guidelines for buying a lens and how to get the most from your camera/lens combination.
Chapter 4: Light & Film
This chapter covers film speed, grain and how to select film. Although this portion of the chapter may not be especially relevant to your current workflow, it is still good to know. You’ll gain a better understanding of how film responds to light, and see the characteristics of black-and-white and infrared film. Filters are also discussed, in the context of both black and white and color.
Chapter 5: Exposure
You’ll be reminded how exposure meters work, and review equivalent exposures. Different metering situations are also discussed (overall reading with average tones, high-contrast, spot metering) – and the different types of meters, of course, are discussed as well.
Chapter 6: Developing The Negative
Review standard darkroom techniques for developing negatives. There’s even a step-by-step walkthrough of the process, for those of you who have never had the opportunity to do this yourself. You’ll also review how different aspects affect your final image – from developer and fixer, time and temperature, to the importance of keeping your chemicals fresh and carefully washing and drying your negatives. If you don’t know why these aspects are important, then I suggest you read this chapter. Under, Normal, and Over exposure/development techniques are also discussed, as well as push processing.
Chapter 7: Printing the Positive
This chapter discusses equipment and supplies for printing, and goes through the step-by-step process of creating a black and white print. You’ll review topics like evaluating density and contrast, dodging and burning (no, they’re not just Photoshop tools!), cropping, archival processing, and special effects such as toning.
Chapter 8: Finishing & Mounting
“How to mount a print” is discussed. You’ll review the equipment and supplies needed to do this, and the differences between creating an overmat and undermat. You’ll also be walked through the process of dry mounting a print.
Chapter 9: Color
Read about additive and subtractive color, the layers of a color photograph, color balance, and developing and printing in color. Color temperature is discussed, as well as using filters to balance color (starting to get the idea?). Again, you’ll review the equipment and materials needed to create a color print – and how to correct the color balance in the printing process.
Chapter 10: Digital Imaging: Capture
Venture into the digital aspects of photography. You’ll review digital capture, resolution, bit depth, etc. The digital camera, “a computer with a lens,” is discussed, as well as scanning images/negatives. The histogram is discussed in some detail, as is color management and image storage options.
Chapter 11: Digital Darkroom
This chapter covers getting started in the digital darkroom. Use of variations, levels, curves, etc are mentioned for adjusting your images. This chapter includes a section on editing the image, step by step. You’ll review printing options, and file management, as well as the ethics involved with digital reality (enhancing reality or adjusting your image digitally).
Chapter 12: Lighting
Light is very important in photography, from the direction of light, to the degree of diffusion, to even the quality of light. You’ll review available light, artificial light, as well as various lighting setups. Basic flash techniques are discussed, as are lighting setups with one or more lights. Additionally, the text discusses lighting different surfaces (textured, reflective, and translucent).
Chapter 13: Special Techniques
This chapter discusses close-up photography, copying techniques, pinhole photography, and more. You’ll review special printing techniques like the Sabattier effect, and other alternative processes (cyanotyping, platinum and palladium, cross processing, image transfer, hand coloring, painting with light).
Chapter 14: View Camera
Review the difference between an SLR body and view camera body. The text covers view camera movements such as rise and fall, shift, tilt, and swing. All of these are important when creating images with a view camera, and allow you to control the image. The text also discusses loading and processing sheet film.
Chapter 15: The Zone System
Developed by Ansel Adams, the Zone System is a great tool for maintaining control throughout the entire process of creating a photograph from placing tonal ranges before you make your exposure, developing to control contrast, to printing, the Zone System is a great tool for photographers.
Chapter 16: Seeing Photographs
“Seeing Photographs” is a more intuitive task for many photographers, but being more aware of the choices you make regarding content, framing, and backgrounds will help you to be a better photographer. Basic design techniques are also discusses, as are the use of contrasts within an image. The chapter wraps up by covering the discussion of photographs and showing your work to others.
Chapter 17: History of Photography
This chapter discusses a brief history of photography. Well, rather a summary. From the invention of photography, the daguerreotype, calotype, collodion wet-plate, to gelatin emulsion, photography has come a long way relatively quickly. You’ll probably enjoy learning about early photography, the photograph as a document, the development of photojournalism, and the implementation of photography as art. Of course, the text can only summarize the history – there are numerous other books on particular sections of “photographic history.”
Betsy is a Michigan-based 
Comments are closed.