Early Photography Books

 

Below is a selection of books about early photographic history and early photographic processes. There are photo-heavy books for the casual reader and there are information-laden and technical books as well.

 

 

Great Civil War photo book focuses exclusively on the photography of Mathew Brady and Brady's men including Alexander Gardner, Timothy H. O'Sullivan, James Gibson, George Barnard, D.B. Woodbury, William Pywell, George Cook, David Knox, Stanley Morrow, and others. "Mr. Lincoln's Camera Man" is comprised of 368 pages and over 300 photographs, many previously unpublished. This book shares Brady's career and experiences before, during, and after the war and includes some great commentary on his interactions with some of the many famous generals, celebrities, and politicians he took photos of. The photos are mostly of famous portraits, battlefields, soldiers in camp and in action, important buildings, siegeworks, and battlefield dead.

 

The book describes much of the eastern campaigns of the war as they relate to Brady, but this is not a detailed history book on the military operations of the Civil War. Nor is it a very technical description of the photographic process or photographic equipment used. This is, however, a great book to have in your Civil War library for the pictures alone.

 

Photographic historian and collector Ross Kelbaugh offers an inexpensive introduction to Civil War Photography. This book explains the differences between the types of early Civil War photos, including tintypes, ambrotypes, stereographs, and CDVs. 50 illustrations, many previously unpublished, in 48 pages. Includes a Collector's Guide section with 15 tips for collectors of CW photographs. As the title suggests, this is a book for beginners or those brand new to early photography.

 

 

Called by some the alternative process bible, "Coming in to Focus" teaches many different photographic processes, aimed at the aspiring modern alternative photographer or the professional commercial photographer looking to expand and explore different techniques. A basic knowledge of photographic terms and concepts is preferred; however, those newer can start with easier processes to learn such as the cyanotype process.

 

Chapters include becquerel-developed daguerreotypes (Gerard Meegan), calotype negatives (Richard Morris), salt prints (Terry King), traditional cyanotypes (W. Russell Young III), albumen (Mike Robinson), the wet plate collodion process-ambrotypes and tintypes (Mark Osterman and France Scully Osterman), monochrome carbon (Sandy King), platinum/palladium (Ted Rice), kallitypes (W. Russell Young III), printing out paper (John Barnier), gum bichromate (Terry King), rawlins oil and bromoil (John Barnier), fredrick temperaprint (Peter Charles Fredrick), new cyanotype and argyrotype (John Barnier), digital negatives for alternative processes (Charles H. Palmer), three-color gum prints using digital negatives (Sam Wang), using step scales (John Barnier), enlarging negatives (John Rudiak), and paper (W. Russell Young III). Also included is a conversion chart and a section of resources.

 

Coming in to Focus not only combines the expertise of the author, but also the accumulated knowledge of many considered experts in their fields. Each author differs in style and some use more modern techniques and some stick to strictly authentic ones. Each view is left intact to show an array of styles. The chapters include a brief history of the process, what kind of equipment (tools, bulbs, lamps, contact printing frames, etc.) and chemicals you will need, lighting needed, and how-to procedures of the photographic processes. This book lays a solid foundation for the alternative process.

"The Daguerreotype: Nineteenth-Century Technology and Modern Science"

 

"The Daguerreotype: Nineteenth Century Technology and Modern Science" is 252 pages, complete with figures and illustrations. Chapters include image making before photography, Points de Vue and the daguerreotype, the technical practice of daguerreotypy, scientific interest in the daguerreian era, the daguerreotype as a scientific tool, scientific interest after the daguerreian era, the image structure, the image formation, the image deterioration, the removal of corrosion, preservation and display, and a model for the interpretation of early technology and works of art.

 

This book covers a good deal of history about daguerreotypes and takes a more technical approach than most similar books, making this an ideal choice for those looking to intensely study and learn the process. This rights many wrongs about early daguerreotype preservation by using a scientific investigative approach and is intended also for curators, photographic scientists, and photographic historians. This is a detail-rich highly researched book that should be in any serious daguerreotypist's library.

 

 

Adele Kenny targets historian, dealers, collectors, and early photographic enthusiasts in this detailed book. In 176 pages with over 460 illustrations, "Photographic Cases Victorian Design Sources" descibes the development of early photography and details the shapes, sizes, and designs of their protective miniature cases.

 

Chapters included are case sizes, miniature cases, early photograph types such as camera obscura daguerreotypes ambrotypes stereographs tintypes paper photographs and carte de visites (CDVs), artists and casemakers, elements of design, die-engraved designs, leather- cloth- and paper-covered wood-framed cases, thermoplastic Union cases, novelty cases, interior case designs, reproduction cases, values over time, and patents.