Way Beyond Monochrome 2e: Advanced Techniques for Traditional Black & White Photography including digital negatives and hybrid printing

First, the book content is excellent. It describes many topics not covered anywhere else and does it well.So why the 3 stars review? This edition, Second Edition Hard Cover book, is printed on substandard paper. The book costs more than $120 in 2023. The paper it is printed on is about as good as a newspaper - not even low-quality glossy paper. There is no way to tell the nuances in the example photographs and techniques. Mediocre cookbooks for less than $20 get better treatment. It's a shame.The publisher Focal Press, which publishes many photography books, knows better. They have intentionally decided to be cheap, at $120+, in the process degrading the hard, diligent work of the author and cheating the buyer.

As a former professional studio photographer of over 30 years, I can affirm that this is one of those rare comprehensive compilations of valuable photographic data. Contrary to some critical reviews, I find the digital section to be general enough while avoiding being dated by specific tools, materials and procedures. It does direct attention to what may be new to some photographers, the hybridization between digital and analog. The bibliography is thorough enough for any who wish to explore digital further. The section on mounting and matting prints is not really "Way Beyond Monochrome" and could have been dispensed with as the techniques are widely presented in most beginner and moderately advanced books, but that is a minor point.The section(s) on the Zone System are valuable; however the information is spread out, in an anecdotal style and additionally suffers from poor editing. Not that the concepts cannot be deciphered, but spreading Zone System methodology and theory over several chapters (intermingling theory and practice) will leave those unfamiliar with the system grasping for understanding. The step by step procedures in "The New Zone System Manual" by White, Zakia and Lorenz, for example, are much easier to use and understand (indeed some of their book is excerpted into Lambrecht's book) because procedures are grouped together in their respective sections. Another annoying aspect of the book is the heavy reliance on graphs to explain concepts, which would seem to be a good idea, but really, you shouldn't have important concepts in the graphs and not explain them explicitly in the text. Not everybody can read 6 point,fine type embedded in small graphs!Regarding the nudes, you will not want to leave this book around for children who are themselves not yet "Way Beyond Birds and Bees!" While the pictures may be thought by some to be "acceptable to current sensibilities" there are just as many others who will not want images of sado-masochism and implied lesbianism (how else to interpret a near-nude woman unbuttoning the jeans of another topless woman?) as part of the instructive content. I debated much over whether or not to keep the book, but decided that it truly was a rare compilation worthy of inclusion in my photography library. I did have to go through the entire book and use a large black marker to blot out the offending images.I am no prude, and grew up in Hollywood, California in the "Far Out" sixties, but I do object to Mr. Lambrecht's assumptions about my sexual mores. I have two young children who are themselves interested in photography, digital and analog, and will now have to explain to them that the author of this book took no offense at giving offense.Well, in these devolutionary times, my voice will be in the minority and Mr. Lambrecht's profits will not be damaged; nevertheless I prefer my "Fine Art Nudes" to be in separate books from those that devoted to practice, methodology and science. Content should be secondary and inoffensive to a wide audience in a book on technique, no matter how "hip" the author wishes us to think him to be.Clearly Mr. Lambrecht's wife has no problem with his nude "work," but not all women are comfortable with their husbands viewing soft-core porn in their instruction manuals! I don't believe I will be purchasing "Way Beyond Monochrome (and decency), Third Edition." What a shame that an otherwise good book should be blemished by Mr. Lambrecht's personal indulgence and insensitivity to a wider audience.

There's little reason to reiterate all of the positive comments written by other reviewers. If one is seeking a complete reference to the technical aspects of analog photography then look no further. However, what makes Ralph's and Chris's book so different is that the technical and heretofore more esoteric subjects of the analog photography "world" become more understandable and relevant to everyday practice. I tend to use WBM, Edition 2, alongside the new edition of Bruce Barnbaum's terrific book ( The Art of Photography ),and the venerable Beyond the Zone System by the late Phil Davis. Bruce's book has a wonderfully concise and trenchant discussion of the Zone System as obtained and achieved by film exposure and development. I believe that Bruce's analogy relating film development to the unfolding of a bellows to be the best and most easily understood of any discussion of film processing that I have read. Also, Bruce's approach to making a fine print is to the point, and makes considerable sense. While Bruce Barnbaum is "anti-sensitometry" and uses empiric methods to great advantage, Professor Davis's book brought sensitometry and the methods of film and paper testing to a larger audience. Phil Davis's work provided the under-pinning to his now classic BTZS methodology, and led to the creation of the ExpoDev program that many large format photographers use "in the field". WBM expands on much of the work of Professor Davis, but melds the technical to the practical in ways that will be easily comprehended by many. However, be aware that in general WBM is more of a "complete reference book", and as such, is somewhat more technical than some might expect. I find the technical details to help in the understanding of the nature of the materials that I use, and the graphs and charts to be relevant. However, I had already done the requisite film and paper tests before reading WBM, and thus many of the details in WBM( both editions )built upon knowledge already gained. Importantly, if the details of film and paper testing are intimidating, and if the concepts depicted in graphs and charts produce math anxiety, then one might benefit by knowing of the more empiric approach of Bruce Barnbaum. WBM is advertised as a book of advanced techniques, and the authors are to be complimented upon the truth of their statement. All three of the books noted are worthy of study, and surely can be a help to anyone seeking guidance as to a way to make better black and white analog photographs. Any one of the books referenced is NOT superior to any of the others; however, the approaches to the more technical aspects of analog photography ARE different. Indeed, one can gain considerable insight by reading relevant discussions of similar subjects concerning analog photography practice in each of the three books referenced.Note that I make no comments on the approaches to digital photography sections in WBM, or in Bruce Barnbaum's book. Moreover, since I am not using color film, the sections on color photography in Bruce Barnbaum's book are not relevant to my work.

The shockingly subpar print quality knocked me off my chair. I was infuriated by what I have received and wrote to authors in an "adequate" language. However, having received response from authors, I am no longer convinced I have received a legal copy. Book I have is printed on near newspaper quality paper, somewhat heavier, but cheap and mat, which makes photographs looking grey, dull and nothing I had expected nor anything close to original 1st edition I also own.At this point what I can say is that the book should weigh in at 2.31 kg and what I have weighs 1.75 kg (also hard copy). Time will tell what comes of it. I cannot return due my whereabouts, but will continue following on this as it is getting interesting. However, this book has always been the best on the subject and arguably most thorough. What I have kills its content due to low quality photos, without which the book is almost useless and certainly not worth the price I paid.I left 5 stars on it, because I am convinced the book is at the top of the list on the subject and can't wait to see what had happened to its printing.------------------------UPDATE: Today (10/03/2015) I was informed by Focal that a new PROPER copy will be delivered directly to my home address. This would have never happened, had it not been for one of the authors standing behind this quality publication and following up on an otherwise absurd issue. Credit to Focal for acknowledging the problem and acting in good faith to fix it, as one would expect. The printing issue seems to have been an isolated incident and while I cannot confirm it, I would think the POD version I had unfortunately received, will no longer be available.------------------------FINAL UPDATEJust to clear this issue I did indeed receive the proper copy shortly after my last update above, so all is well and huge plus to Chris for his support in resolving this case swiftly.

I needed to re-invigorate and improve my darkroom printing skills in black and white photography and this lucid, well written "bible" has provided me with all the background and detailed information needed to do just that. This accessible book is attractively produced, well organised and coherent, and abounds with practical examples of the application of traditional photographic techniques. Almost every figure, table or graph carries a comprehensive, almost stand-alone explanation, making it east to "dip into" and key data and tools are collected in an Appendix, in addition to a list of references to whet the appetite further. The authors put a lot of thought into this book and their efforts have paid off. Highly recommended.

Very comprehensive and up to date book covering all aspects of traditional monochrome imaging, and useful information concerning hybrid digital - traditional methods. The authors have substantially updated, improved and increased the number of chapters, since the First Edition was published.The book is most suitable for persons who already have a good working practical knowledge of film and print making, or students of photography who need an authoritative text that can be relied on for integrity.

A very comprehensive tome covering all aspects of photography. Somewhat wordily written but with a great deal of thought and deep knowledge of the subject. The chapter on digital negatives, for which I bought the, book is helpful but I am still struggling to make a transfer function even though the instructions are displayed clearly in the text. The authors mention that 'step wedge' files are available from their websites but I can find no trace of these on the net. I shall dip into this book from time to time.

A wonderful book for anyone interested in the craft of photographic printing. Highly recommended reading for any aspiring photographer who wants to know how to set up a darkroom and print photographs to the highest quality.