Alternative Photographic Processes

Traditional photography depends on silver gel substances and requires the use of a darkroom with safelighting. Alternative photographic processes use different chemicals and techniques, some of which do not have such rigorous requirements. In addition, alternative processes can be more fun than the traditional ways of developing film and can yield different types of results (often accidentally). If you want to have some fun, you can explore the art of photograms, an easy way to make interesting images using exposure to direct sunlight.


Web:

http://duke.usask.ca/~holtsg/photo/faq.html
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hmpi/AltProcess/Articles/...
http://www.mikeware.demon.co.uk/
http://www.photogs.com/bwworld/bwalternative1.html
http://www.photogs.com/bwworld/cyanotypes.html


Black and White Photography

I love black and white photography. It's so clean, basic and accessible. If you want to find good black and white photography on the Net, all you need to do is check these Web sites. You'll find links to black and white photo Web sites, a FAQ (frequently asked question list), as well as archives of some wonderful photos.


Web:

http://www.bekuz.com/
http://www.photogs.com/bwworld/


Daguerreotypes

A daguerreotype is a photographic image made on a light-sensitive silver-coated metallic plate. The daguerreotype was invented in 1839 by Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre (1789-1851), a French scene painter and physicist. (Daguerre was also the man who helped invent the diorama, a sort of three-dimensional pictorial scene.) Take a look at some of the old daguerreotypes, read about their history, and find out all the steps involved in making one. (I bet you'll appreciate how easy photography is today.)


Web:

http://www.americandaguerreotypes.com
http://www.daguerre.org/


Darkroom Photography

Photographic creativity certainly doesn't stop with a click of the shutter. When you head to the darkroom you have to ask yourself all sorts of questions like "Should I print on warm or cold tone paper?" and "What kind of developer should I use?" Here you will find information about darkroom-related technical topics: chemical usage, paper, tools and equipment, and more.


Web:

http://webs.kodak.com/global/en/consumer/education/less...
http://www.digitaltruth.com/
http://www.heylloyd.com/technicl/technicl.html

Usenet:

Google Newsreader rec.photo.darkroom


Digital Cameras

A digital camera is a photographic device that stores pictures within computer chips instead of regular film. As soon as you take a picture, it is ready -- you don't need to have it developed. You can take pictures over and over without buying supplies (except a battery). Moreover, it is possible to transfer pictures to your computer. However, digital cameras do have limitations. Here is information that will help you understand and use digital cameras well. If you are thinking of buying one, you will find tips to help you make a good choice.


Web:

http://www.dcresource.com/
http://www.dpreview.com/
http://www.imaging-resource.com/
http://www.orchidlink.com/digitalphotography/digicam.ht...
http://www.steves-digicams.com/diginews.html

Usenet:

Google Newsreader alt.comp.periphs.dcameras
Google Newsreader rec.photo.digital


History of Photography

The development of photography involved the marriage of two different technologies: optical and chemical. Basic optical technology -- in the form of the "camera obscura" (a dark box or room with a small hole in one end that could be used to project an inverted image on the wall opposite the hole) -- was understood as far back as the time of Aristotle. And scientists have known about optical processes involving light and chemical reactions for hundreds of years. In the seventeenth century, the British physicist Robert Boyle discovered that silver chloride turned dark upon exposure. However, Boyle thought the discoloring was due to exposure to air, not to light. In the next century, Angelo Sala noticed that powdered silver nitrate became dark in the sun. In 1727, Johann Schulze realized that particular liquids turn color upon exposure to the sun. In the early nineteenth century, Thomas Wedgewood was able to capture images, but only temporarily. Finally in 1827, Joseph Niépce produced the first permanent photographic image, which he called a heliograph. Read about the history of photography, and you will find it encompasses politics, culture, science and intrigue.


Web:

http://www.city-gallery.com/
http://www.photographymuseum.com/exhibits.html
http://www.rleggat.com/photohistory/

Listserv Mailing List:

List Name: photohst
Subscribe To: listserv@lists.asu.edu


Infrared Photography

Infrared photography uses film that is sensitive to visible light, as well as ultraviolet and infrared radiation. The results are fascinating, often even eerie. Although the images look familiar, the contrast and details are not what you are used to. If you are interested in photography, you have to try infrared photography at least once in your life. To help you get started, I have chosen Web sites that contain documents relating to infrared photography (where you can find out about cameras, lenses, exposures, focusing, developing and printing), as well as collections of infrared photos for you to enjoy.


Web:

http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/mainpage.htm
http://www.atsf.co.uk/ilight/
http://www.mat.uc.pt/~rps/photos/FAQ_IR.html
http://www.pauck.de/marco/photo/infrared/infrared.html
http://www.photo.net/photo/edscott/spectsel.htm
http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/text-infrared-basics.html

Majordomo Mailing List:

List Name: infrared
Subscribe To: majordomo@a1.nl


Kite Aerial Photography

(1) Attach a camera to a kite. (2) Launch the kite. (3) Snap pictures using a remote control device. (4) Repeat step 3 as often as you wish. (5) Carefully pull in the kite and remove the camera. (6) Develop the pictures. (7) Live happily ever after. (What could be more cool?)


Web:

http://www.arch.ced.berkeley.edu/kap/kaptoc.html
http://www.geospectra.net/kite/kaphome.htm
http://www.nitrobug.freeserve.co.uk/intro2.htm


Nature and Wildlife Photography

By its nature, nature photography naturally requires an unnatural amount of patience and skill. Naturally, you expect nature photographers to have a persevering nature, as the requirements of nature photography are demanding, although, just as naturally, the results can be rewarding. If your nature is one of a natural nature photographer, you will appreciate the natural pleasure you get from visiting nature photography Web sites and talking in a nature photography Usenet discussion group. Or you can just look at the pictures.


Web:

http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/
http://www.paragon-press.com/tips1.htm
http://www.sphoto.com/techinfo/phototech.html

Usenet:

Google Newsreader rec.photo.technique.nature


Night Photography

How can you take pictures at night when it's dark? The answer is, nighttime is not completely dark. (After all, cats can still see.) It's just that the light is too low for humans. However, by exposing your film for a long time, you can gather enough light to take pictures. Night photography can be a lot of fun, and the pictures have a wonderful, other-worldly feeling. Of course, you will need to know what you are doing. Start here. While you're at it, take a look at some of pictures taken at night: I bet they will inspire you.


Web:

http://www.kodak.com/cluster/global/en/consumer/product...
http://www.schoolofphotography.com/night/
http://www.thenocturnes.com/


Panoramic Photography

Panoramic photography uses a wide angle lens in order to capture an unbroken view of the surrounding area. In general, to qualify as panoramic, your picture must have an angle of view of at least 100 degrees (a little less than a third of a full circle). Panoramic photography is perfect for landscape shots in which you want to capture the expansiveness of the area you are photographing (the Grand Canyon, a spectacular snow-covered mountain range, a sweeping city skyline, and so on). Here is how a typical panoramic camera works. The camera rotates on top of a tripod. As the camera turns, the shutter is held open. The film moves past the aperture (shutter opening) with the same speed and direction as the camera itself. The result? A panoramic picture with a view to remember.


Web:

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/pnhtml/pnhome.html
http://www.panoguide.com/
http://www.panoramic.net/www/
http://www.panphoto.com/


PhotoForum

PhotoForum is a mailing list devoted to serious photography topics. The participants are knowledgeable people, both amateur and professional, as well as novices. The Web site, which is associated with the mailing list, offers some wonderful resources, including a large number of FAQs (frequently asked question lists). If you are serious about photography, you need to know about PhotoForum.


Web:

http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/photoforum.html

Listserv Mailing List:

List Name: photoforum
Subscribe To: listserv@listserver.isc.rit.edu


Photographers Directory

This Web site contains a large list of photographers from all around the world who use the Net. You can check the list either alphabetically or geographically. This is a good site to know about if you are looking for a photographer or if you are a photographer looking for clients.


Web:

http://www.photographers.com/pho030.html


Photography Basics

Do you want to learn how to go beyond basic pointing and shooting? These Web sites have information about cameras and how they work, the history of photography, natural and artificial lighting, and composing and balancing images. You can also learn about the different kinds of photography -- portraiture, documentary, macro and micro, art photography -- and explore links to some useful photo sites around the Net.


Web:

http://www.88.com/exposure/
http://www.azuswebworks.com/photography/
http://www.betterphoto.com/
http://www.thepeaches.com/photography/Basics.htm
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~tkemp/


Photography Equipment Talk and General Discussion

There are a lot of photographers on the Net and, no matter what your particular interest, there is someone to talk to. So why not choose a Usenet group, talk about photographic equipment and see what develops?


Usenet:

Google Newsreader rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Google Newsreader rec.photo.equipment.film+labs
Google Newsreader rec.photo.equipment.large-format
Google Newsreader rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Google Newsreader rec.photo.equipment.misc
Google Newsreader rec.photo.film+labs


Photography Resources

Photography dates back to 1827 when the Frenchman Joseph Niépce made the first permanent photograph. In 1839, the technology was enhanced significantly by another Frenchman, Louis Daguerre, who invented the daguerreotype. Modern photography dates from 1840 and the work of the Englishman William Talbot. Today, cameras both traditional and digital are ubiquitous and we take photography for granted. However, it has only been in the twentieth century that the general population has had access to reliable, affordable cameras and film. Previously, it was next to impossible for regular people to create and preserve images. Imagine how this changes one's sense of the past. For example, if you look at the Web sites that were created by the ancient Greeks and Romans, you will see that they are mostly text with a few rudimentary graphics. Today, cameras are readily available at low cost and anyone who wants can be a photographer (of sorts). To help you learn more about this rewarding pastime, I have selected Web sites where you will be able to find a large variety of information relating to photography.


Web:

http://www.apogeephoto.com/
http://www.photolinks.com/
http://www.profotos.com/
http://www.ventureseast.com/photopage/


Photography Talk and General Discussion

Whether you are just a snapshot shooter or a pro with hundreds of pounds of equipment, there is a Usenet group perfect for you. Fans of photography hang out and talk about taking pictures from a creative as well as a technical point of view.


Usenet:

Google Newsreader bit.listproc.stockphoto
Google Newsreader rec.photo
Google Newsreader rec.photo.advanced
Google Newsreader rec.photo.help
Google Newsreader rec.photo.misc
Google Newsreader rec.photo.moderated
Google Newsreader rec.photo.technique.art
Google Newsreader rec.photo.technique.misc
Google Newsreader rec.photo.technique.nature
Google Newsreader rec.photo.technique.people


Pinhole Photography

Take an empty oatmeal box and make a tiny hole in one side. Now, in a darkroom, insert a piece of photographic paper inside the box, opposite the small hole. Cover up the hole and make sure all the edges of the box are completely sealed. Take the box to the location of your choice in the outside world and uncover the little hole. After a period of time, probably seconds, cover up the hole. (The amount of time you need to leave the hole open depends on the size of the hole. You will have to experiment.) Take the box back into the darkroom and extract the photographic paper. Develop it and admire your image. Congratulations, you have created your own pinhole camera.


Web:

http://www.astro.wisc.edu/%7emukluk/pin.html
http://www.pinhole.org/
http://www.pinholevisions.org/
http://www.toptown.com/nowhere/kypfer/pinhole/


Toy Cameras

I think toy cameras are cool. Toy cameras are, literally, toys: cheap little plastic cameras that use 120 film. They leak light; produce distortion, fog and vignetting on film; and have an unknown shutter speed and film that is wound loosely. (And those are just the obvious problems.) So why do people use toy cameras? Because they are fun and you never know what you are going to get. Moreover, toy cameras are great for experimenting and they provide a great break from high-tech photography.


Web:

http://www.frontiernet.net/~moe/TOYPAGES/holgamain.html
http://www.huskudu.com/
http://www.merrillphoto.com/JunkStoreCameras.htm
http://www.tapir.org/gbc/
http://www.toycamera.com/
http://www.toycamera.org/


Underwater Photography

I once took some underwater pictures. I went on a trip to the Caribbean and, before I left, I bought a waterproof disposable camera. During my snorkeling sessions, I happily snapped away at a variety of colorful fish and underwater scenery. When I returned home and had the pictures developed, I enjoyed them, but I realized they were nothing like the quality you would get with special equipment and techniques. Still, I had a great deal of fun, and I enjoy looking at my favorite picture of a turtle swimming around a reef.


Web:

http://www.cybereef.com/
http://www.mainstream.net/~fgz/diving/uwphoto.html
http://www.mauiscuba.com/uwphoto.htm
http://www.photo.net/photo/underwater/primer.html
http://www.utahdiving.com/photos/pic-clas.htm

Majordomo Mailing List:

List Name: uw-photo
Subscribe To: majordomo@world.std.com


Zone System

How often have you taken a picture, only to find that what you got was not what you wanted? Some people have the attitude, "I'll take the picture so it more or less captures what I want, and then I'll fix it in the darkroom." Well, that's okay as far as it goes, but if you like your pictures to be as perfect as possible, you may want to learn how to use the zone system. The zone system is a complicated set of techniques based on measuring dark and light spots, and then making certain calculations to get the exact picture you want. This system (which can take years to learn how to use well) was first envisioned in the late 1930s by Fred Archer of the Art Center College in Los Angeles. Ansel Adams read Archer's articles in a photography magazine, contacted Archer, and then developed more formal techniques for using the system. If you want to learn the zone system, this Web site can help you a lot. In addition, you will need to get Adam's book "The Negative" and practice for many hours. To make it easy, always follow these basic principles: (1) Expose for the shadows. (2) Develop for the highlights. (3) Take a break and eat.


Web:

http://www.cicada.com/pub/photo/zs/