[.ca] Mastering Black and White Photography: From Camera to ... (ISBN 1581153066)

Won't help you become a better photographer.:
Much of the information in this book is not specific to black and white photography. It is very generic and could serve as the introduction to a broader book on the topic. The chapters on composition and the "zone system" are disappointingly thin, and there are very few photographs within the book to serve as illustrative examples supporting the text. The paper is of mediocre paperback quality, which makes the few photographs within the book look washed out and featureless. The author says this material is collected from his years of teaching the subject; I'd hate to be one of his students.

Well written but light on example pictures:
Very well written. Each sentence contains useful information....and you must concentrate while reading. What it lacks in example pictures, it makes up for in illustrations and concise writing. A good portion of the book covers basics of metering, composition and other basics necessary for good photography. Has good checklists that summarize the steps of printing, developing, equipment needs, etc. I think this book is well suited to someone who is serious about learning the fundamentals.

Take you to the next level...:
I have been doing b+w photography on again and off again for years. I found many of the current books frustrating because they all give the same shallow coverage of the same basics. Mr. Suess does a great job of giving you multiple levels of information that you can easily access as you want. I browsed it for a quick refresher and got right back into the swing of things. But I went back and got a much deeper understanding of the technical issues that the other books ignore. The book is current and immediately useful. It is full of good examples and practical tips. It is specific to b+w, but that is what I wanted. He clearly explained the differences between papers, films, techniques, and let the reader come to his own conclusions. I found his style easy to read and appreciated that he didn't push his opinions as facts. Instead he encourages you to experiment and form your own. His book is a good balance of the technique and art. I enjoyed how he explained the history behind some of the technology, i.e. where our current RC papers and modern films come from. It presents a richer world of photography then just the latest and greatest. I have never reviewed another book on Amazon before. This book just helped me so much that I wanted to say thanks!

Provides contemporary photographers with the basic skills:
This revised edition of Bernhard J. Seuss darkroom classic Mastering Black And White Photography provides contemporary photographers with the basic skills needed to achieve expert status. Digital imaging and Internet technology are included in this updated and expanded edition, which deftly covers the entire photographic process from locating subjects to creating beautiful results in black and white.

A little too technical for me.:
Because I am a novice photographer and do not have my own darkroom, I found this book too complex and technical, and therefore, returned it. However, with that said, it appeared to be a good book for those who do have a dark room and are more interested in the technical aspect of black and white photography. It has few photos and its basic outline is that of a textbook. Giving the book only three stars is MY rating but probably doesn't accurately rate the book. Take time to preview the book on line to see if it meets your needs.