The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes, Second Edition by Christopher James

Product Details

Synopsis

Photographic artists and students of alternative process photography will welcome this new edition of Christopher James' The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes. This significantly expanded edition is a full-color, lavishly illustrated, comprehensive resource that explores every aspect of alternative process image making. With his highly conversational writing style, Christopher James explores the techniques, processes, idiosyncrasies, history, and cultural connections that are such a significant part of the genre. Best of all, Christopher makes it extremely accessible, providing clear instructions and practical workflow advice. The book delves into a vast menu of alternative and traditional options, among them: calotype, salted paper, cyanotype, argyrotype, chrysotype, POP, kallitype, ambrotype/wet collodion, Van Dyke, platinum/palladium, Ziatype, gelatin dry plate emulsions, carbon, gum bichromate, albumen, hand-applied emulsions, paper, alternative imaging systems, and digital negative production for alternative process image making. The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes has become the unanimous standard reference text for alternative process photography, one that students love to read and work from. Not only does this definitive work make the most complex ideas easy to understand, it is conversational, comfortable, inspirational, and fun to read- a tremendous resource and a treasure trove of alternative process images.

Daniel Lombardo - Library Journal

This book's first edition received critical acclaim and became a standard in the field. James, an internationally recognized artist with paintings and photographs in America's leading museums, expands the text with information on newer digital methods and recent Internet resources. There is also a history of photographic techniques, including lensless cameras, calotype, salted paper, anthotype, cyanotype, argyrotype, chrysotype, kallitype, ambrotype, wet collodian and dry plate emulsions, and digital negative workflows. Extensive appendixes cover chemistry and safety, resources, supply lists, conversion tables, and historical and contemporary bibliographies. Highly recommended for large collections. For strictly modern alternative processes, see John G. Blair's Alternative Digital Photography.

Biography

Christopher James is an internationally recognized artist whose paintings and photographs have been exhibited in galleries and museums in this country and abroad. His work has been published and shown extensively, including shows in The Museum of Modern Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The George Eastman House, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art and he has lectured and given alternative process workshops throughout the world. James taught at Harvard University from 1978 - 1991 and is currently the Chair of the Photography at The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University.