Favorite books?

[eric_.]

I am new to RF cameras and I would like to have some books about technique, examples, pictures etc etc. What are your favorite and most informative books regarding RF photography?

 

<p>

 

Thanks.

[olliesteiner]

A favorite of mine is "Leica M Photography" by Brian Bower. It tells

about the evolution of the Leica rangefinder camera, offers a

comprehensive and beautifully illustrated review of the bodies,

lenses and accessories, contains a most valuable chapter called "the

Leica Philosophy", which discusses the special qualities and artistic

possibilities of the rangefinder camera, and is filled with numerous

gorgeous examples of Leica photography in color and monochrome. I

treasure it.

-Ollie

http://www.web-graphics.com/steinerphoto

[roberto_watson_garc_a]

Americans by Robert Frank

 

<p>

 

Photoportraits by Bresson

 

<p>

 

And the Enciclopedia of photography by Kodak ¿? no no no sorry

 

<p>

 

100 hottest bunnies by playboy

[Spearhead]

Daido Moriyama: Stray Dog.

 

<p>

 

I don't know what camera<s) Daido used, but it's certainly an

informative book.

[Spearhead]

Don't know why the rest got cut off.

 

<p>

 

Anyway, I said:

 

<p>

 

I don't know what camera(s) he used, but it's certainly an

informative book.

[glenn_travis]

Ralph Gibson "Deus Machina" A fifty year retrospective of America's

greatest living Leica Photographer. Especially look at the earliest

work. As fresh today as it was then, with images so modern, that look

as if they were shot yesterday.

[Rob F.]

Although perhaps a bit dated, Color Magic by Walther Benser is all

about pictorial photogaphy with the Leica M. I'm sure it's out of

print, but maybe could be found on Ebay, used book stores, etc.

[djphoto]

I wasn't aware that Elliot Erwitt had passed away, but apparently that

is the case, if Ralph Gibson is America's greatest *living* Leica

photographer.

[jay_.]

Bower's Leica M Book and Matheson's M6 book ar 2 that come to mind as

especially helpful to the newcomer. Eastland's M compendium is also,

if you ignore the horribly erroneous paragraph advising that the

frame preselector lever can be used to alter the M6's metering angle.

[george_l._doolittle]

Bower, hands down! But, don't overlook Osterloh's "LEICA M", if you

can find a copy. I have two

[patricks]

why not Ansel Adam's series: the camera, the negative and the print.

[phil_kneen]

Anything by Ian Banks, 'The bridge' being his finest........but there

aren't any pictures, just writing and small writing at that, so not

of much use to you lot?

[Spearhead]

I liked The Wasp Factory. But that was one of his middle initial

books, he sort of pretends to be two writers.

[phil_kneen]

Pretending to be 2 people! What kind of madman would do that??

 

<p>

 

Ian M Banks is his sci-fi name. My sci-fi name is Grugand

Hoozerguest.

[keith_davis1]

Spend as much time as you can absorbing intricate technical

information. The more you can find about the most precise

methods for developing and printing as well as optical textbooks

and the like, the better -- really learn the "guts" of the

photographic process. I think looking at books of photography is

a waste of time. I have to concur with Andrew Nemeth: most

working photographers aren't worth spit, they're just regurgitating

hackneyed ideas, often in retrograde black and white. The

photographers who get published and exhibited are just being

pimped by some curator or gallery owner for their own nefarious

reasons; rest assured that talent has nothing to do with their

"celebrity." You are the best photographer you will ever meet.

Believe it, live it, make sure to tell anyone who will listen.

[phil_kneen]

Keith seems to have been smoking the same stuff as me.......anyway.

I read in the bath, in bed, on the bog, on the train or when I'm

driving my car in the fast-lane of the M6 (a motorway, not a camera

you sad nerds), so I don't need a book of technical details in b/w

printing.

[andy_piper2]

The best 'rangefinder technique' books that also have real - good -

pictures in them (as opposed to really boring landscapes shot with

every focal length from 21 to 135, cf. Bower), that I've ever

encountered, are from the "Masters of Contemporary Photography" series

- "Photojournalism: Mary Ellen Mark and Annie Leibowitz"; "The Photo

Essay: Paul Fusco and Will McBride"; and one about Elliot Erwitt, but I

can't remember his 'theme' in the series.

 

<p>

 

The "Contemporary" part of the title is a little dated now - they came

out in the mid-70s - but I see them in just about every used book

store. Very thin books, but with an amazing amount of information and

great pictures. Both paperback and hardback - usually with brown covers

but some editions in dark blue.

 

<p>

 

Other great photo books that happen to be made by Leica photographers -

most of which you'll need to look for in used book stores:

 

<p>

 

"Greek Portfolio" Constantine Manos (orginally 1970 or so but reissued

within the past 2-3 years.

 

<p>

 

"Ward 81" - Mary Ellen Mark

 

<p>

 

"Conversations with the Dead" and "Pictures from the New World" - Danny

Lyon

 

<p>

 

"Made in Germany" and "Black in White America" - Leonard Freed

 

<p>

 

"Firehouse" by Jill Freedman (Nikon and Leica mixed)

 

<p>

 

Anything by Elliot Erwitt

 

<p>

 

These last have little/no technical information - you'll have to learn

through osmosis and by just looking at really terrific pictures.

 

<p>

 

The Leica Manual from the early 70s (Silver cover). It's slightly dated

but has some good word essays by Bill Pierce (now of

digitaljournalist.org). The 'featured' camera is the M5 - which gives

an idea of the age. But RFs haven't changed that much.

[andy_piper2]

...I just remembered Elliot Erwitt's 'theme' in the MCP series: "The

Personal Image".

 

<p>

 

I note, Eric, that you are in the Netherlands - Most of the books I

listed are only available used, and were American in origin, so I hope

the used book market is healthy over there.

[eric_.]

Thank you all for your responses, you have been most helpful!