From: Bob Kiss (bobkiss@caribsurf.com)
Date: 07/27/01-08:43:08 PM Z
DEAR JUDY,
Sooooooooo, where can we buy it? The "Dot coms" like Amazon or Barnes
and Noble? Remember, it is a long swim from here to any bookstore likely to
carry it.
CHEERS FROM BARBADOS!
BOB KISS
From: Judy Seigel <jseigel@panix.com>
> Christopher James's "The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes"
> (Delmar -- www.delmar.com) 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 inkjet 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
>
> .................................................................
> | Judy Seigel, Editor >
> | World Journal of Post-Factory Photography > "HOW-TO and WHY"
> | info@post-factory.org >
> | <http://rmp.opusis.com/postfactory/postfactory.html>
> .................................................................
>
>
>
>
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : 08/02/01-11:56:47 AM Z CST