So nice to hear a positive comment! Yes, the time spent on the list was worth just the one tip I got, even, of using those Pledge Grabit cloths for dusting off prints for handcoloring. Now, as far as books: I am a real book junkie so bear with me...I have quite a few alt process books, all of which have at least some good info. I also pore over the books in libraries, taking personal notes and even (gasp) xeroxing pertinent pages for personal use if the book is out of print. I have compiled my own journal filled with these notes and tidbits and keep adding to it. So personal search is of utmost importance if you are really serious about learning, and, of course, doing the process itself. If there is no library local to you, that's a bummer...Then, there is Bea Nettles Breaking the Rules, Theresa Airey's Creative Photo Printmaking, Sarah Van Keuren's Non Silver Manual, Hirsch's Photographic Possibilities, Stone's Darkroom Dynamics. How about Scopick's Gum Bichromate Book, too? All have, along with the books already suggested here to date, a lot of good info if not 100% good. Depending on the process you are looking for, there are great back issues available of Photo Techniques that deal with some; I know they ran a two part Gum Printing article I have. And, of course, the PF journal is a must, and cheaper than cheap at that.
At risk of getting slammed for recommending Amazon.com, you can get a hold of practically any book and they have a return policy if it is not what you want; in fact, I just sent back $100 worth of books because they didn't apply specifically to the topic I was researching and there were no questions asked and they refunded my money cheerfully. Photo-Eye bookstore online is great also, perhaps, though, with not as good a search engine to find obscure books.
Hope this wasn't too "rambling". Chris
. I stand
with Judy's philosophy that places like this list and the Post Factory
Journal and other periodicals are better sources for up to date information.
The mentor system is the best if you can find someone in your area, or now
with the computer age they can be anywhere in the world, and then see if
that person would be willing to help you get started on your chosen
alternative path. That is pretty much the route that I have taken, and I
must say that even with its tantrums and sometimes-fluff, this alternative
process list is the most useful and ready source of information around.
Where else can I fire off a Platinum/Ziatype question to Carl Weese, a
chemical formula question to Liam Lawless, a philosophical question/comment
to Judy Seigel, or an historical alt question to Luis Nadeau all in a matter
of 5 to 10 minutes. Thanks once again to everyone who has made the list
valuable and who passions lie in the ancient photo arts.
Gary Miller
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Tue Feb 01 2000 - 17:07:38