The Negative

Rating:
Summary: The Negative is all Positive
Review: This is the book I turn to for the heavy duty technical data on the most important aspects of photography, but guess what? This is probably one of the most readable and easy to digest technical books on photography you are ever likely to read or need. Adams has a way of making mysterious worlds within Photography accessable. I will admit though that this book is not for the absolute beginner, though having said that those who want to stretch a little could find much that is of use without having too much knowledge off the mark.

When I looked at the three books of this series, The Camera, The Negative and the Print, I waded into each wanting to choose only the best one from the series. I quickly realised that neither of the other two had what The Negative had and I have subsequently realised that this was by far the best choice for me. The negative deals with Visualization and image values, Light and Film, Exposure, The Zone System, Filters and Pre-Exposure, Natural Light, Artifical Light, Darkroom processes, Dark Room equiptment and procedures and value control in processing.

This book is an absolute must for intermediate photographers who have mastered the basics and want to take a step up into the world of greater control over their imaging with an eye to developing and processing their own film and prints. Everything you need to know about getting your images right before you even hit the shutter is in this book, all you need to do now is accentuate the positive by going and buying The NEGATIVE!

Rating:
Summary: The best technical book on photography
Review: This is the only book I've ever read that explains a concrete scientific system for controlling film exposure and processing. This book does not cover the artistic process, but instead the chemical/physical process. Ansel Adams explains in great detail the process of visualization of the desired image and a scientific method for achieving that goal through use of the Zone System.

A must read for any aspiring b/w photographer.

Rating:
Summary: To conceive photograph as an art form...
Review: This serie of books is ideal for serious photographers. If you are just going for a mechanical registration of events, then look elsewhere. However, if you believe that photography is a mean to comunicate, these books will certainly be of interest for you.

Rating:
Summary: Great series
Review: This whole series (The Camera, The Negative, & The Print) are highly recommended for anyone seriously interested in learning more about photography and improving their skills. If you're not interested in that, then the books are probably still worth adding to your collection just to see all of Adams's stunning images.

Rating:
Summary: A good solution to give out the best from your camera
Review: We're actually not too far from the end of digital/analog war. Adams' book bought something back from the golden age of home labs and help us to realise our own dreams and ideas without the help (and destruction) of consumer labs. This book is much more than just a guide how to measure light for the best exposure, how to navigate through zones or how get out of the best from your papers and chemicals, but an ode to black and white photography.
May be also useful to digital-negative enthusiasts.

Rating:
Summary: demystifies 'correct exposure'
Review: With little doubt, this is the very best book on photographic technique I have read to date. This book does not insult one's intelligence nor does it mire one in excessive technical detail (practical information for the practical photographer). Upon reading just the first few chapters, one will be able to understand what 'correct' exposure is and how 99.9% of the camera metering systems calculate 'correct' exposure and why 99.9% of these camera metering systems fail under so many circumstances (i.e. backlighting, shooting in snow, etc.).

In lieu of buying cameras with 'smarter' meters (multi-segment, color sensing wonders) I would suggest that photographers read this book and learn how to make-do with the gear they currently have.

Rating:
Summary: demystifies 'correct exposure'
Review: With little doubt, this is the very best book on photographic technique I have read to date. This book does not insult one's intelligence nor does it mire one in excessive technical detail (practical information for the practical photographer). Upon reading just the first few chapters, one will be able to understand what 'correct' exposure is and how 99.9% of the camera metering systems calculate 'correct' exposure and why 99.9% of these camera metering systems fail under so many circumstances (i.e. backlighting, shooting in snow, etc.).

In lieu of buying cameras with 'smarter' meters (multi-segment, color sensing wonders) I would suggest that photographers read this book and learn how to make-do with the gear they currently have.