Rating: 
Summary: The Ultimate Resource
Review: This is the only book you'll need on alternative photographic processes. Every major and many minor processes are laid out clearly, with plenty of contemporary examples, a short but interesting history of the process, and understandable, accurate directions. James has been a leading practitioner and teacher in the field, first atHarvard and now at the Art Institute of Boston. Text/recipe books tend to be really boring, but James writes in a chatty style combining wit with insight. He knows all the pitfalls, and is willing to share what what he knows.
Rating:
Summary: Instant Classic
Review: This review was posted on the alternative photo processes e-mail list on Friday, July 27, 2001 by Judy Seigel, editor of The World Journal of Post-Factory Photography.Christopher James's "The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes" has arrived. Having had the signal honor of an invitation to blurb it, I prophesied that it would be "both landmark and guide. It's where we've been, where we are now, and where we're going. Photography's classic methods and materials are explained, explored, extended, and reinvented, while marching well into the age of ink jet and digital." At that point, I'd seen only the text and something like 400 names. With the book in hand I can only add "instant classic." Chris vetted chapters with the reigning experts *for years*, bringing them to state of the art. MANY fresh works by newcomers (including Sara Van Keuren's and Chris James's students), as well as the old masters, classics in the field, from Francis Firth and Talbot himself, to Robert Demachy and our own Galina Manikova. A most special delight is four (4!) iconic works by the mother of all us "moderns," Naomi Savage, too little known today. Chris may succeed with his almost irresistibly relaxed & conversational tone (that is, readable !), here & there dropping in the unproved or experimental as casual suggestions along with the straight authoritative data, because he's taught so much of it himself for so long -- he's perfectly comfortable both with the material & teaching it. So far, however, I've only managed to tear myself away from compulsive caption reading long enough to skim a few paragraphs & chapter heads. I note in particular "the instant gratification method" for albumen (I made a note) and Lazertrans, among its 386 pages. I could (I confess) live without anthotype, but there on the page across from Dan Estrabrook's anthotype dress from pink petal dye is a totally delicious Christopher James drawing titled "Sir John Herschel's Actual Fingers Selecting an Odd Flower for His Anthotype, 1840." Every page has its own gifts. In fact, if you never read a formula the (well printed) illustrations & captions are delight enow. Well worth the cover price, whether a farthing or a king's ransom. (This detail is omitted, no matter -- eat oatmeal if necessary.) MERCIFULLY, the book is NOT perfect. I managed to find at least one flaw (otherwise I was going to fold my tent & let Chris carry the ball, to mix metaphors). I'm not really happy with the letter face used as dividers in the index. Got that? They're red, which is some help, however. And the overall type design is blessedly clear, coherent & easy to follow. No more now, see for yourself -- but Oh yes, a chapter on this very list will bring a smile or two... also a subscriber or two. When I was a late-life retread studying photography, Christopher James was one of the photo artists we most admired. It's a thrill to be in his book, which he improved & improved & improved for years, making it a joy forever. Judy Seigel, Editor World Journal of Post-Factory Photography "HOW-TO and WHY"
Rating:
Summary: Wow! wish I were retired
Review: When much younger, I loved seeing my Cambridge MA surroundings as photographs, but, alas, I was an aspiring scientist and had only limited time for such folly. Now I am older (much) and looking forward to retirement and have rekindled my photographic interests. An old large format camera or two (or so) from [internet store] (and a few ventures back into seeing my surroundings as they will be rendered in B&W) got the blood flowing....but not as much as this book did. It's not a fast track to artistry, but it's a kick in the [rear] along the path. Boy have I enjoyed thinking about the prospects for learning new ways to seeing my lovely new home to be, New Mexico!
| 
