I am new to RF cameras and I would like to have some books about technique, examples, pictures etc etc. What are your favorite and most informative books regarding RF photography?

Thanks.

-- Eric Kragtwijk (e.kragtwijk@hccnet.nl), May 12, 2002

Answers

A favorite of mine is "Leica M Photography" by Brian Bower. It tells about the evolution of the Leica rangefinder camera, offers a comprehensive and beautifully illustrated review of the bodies, lenses and accessories, contains a most valuable chapter called "the Leica Philosophy", which discusses the special qualities and artistic possibilities of the rangefinder camera, and is filled with numerous gorgeous examples of Leica photography in color and monochrome. I treasure it. -Ollie http://www.web-graphics.com/steinerphoto

-- Ollie Steiner (violindevil@yahoo.com), May 12, 2002.

Americans by Robert Frank

Photoportraits by Bresson

And the Enciclopedia of photography by Kodak ¿? no no no sorry

100 hottest bunnies by playboy

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), May 12, 2002.

Daido Moriyama: Stray Dog.

I don't know what camera
-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), May 12, 2002.

Don't know why the rest got cut off.

Anyway, I said:

I don't know what camera(s) he used, but it's certainly an informative book.

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), May 12, 2002.

Ralph Gibson "Deus Machina" A fifty year retrospective of America's greatest living Leica Photographer. Especially look at the earliest work. As fresh today as it was then, with images so modern, that look as if they were shot yesterday.

-- Glenn Travis (leicaddict@hotmail.com), May 12, 2002.

Although perhaps a bit dated, Color Magic by Walther Benser is all about pictorial photogaphy with the Leica M. I'm sure it's out of print, but maybe could be found on Ebay, used book stores, etc.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), May 12, 2002.

I wasn't aware that Elliot Erwitt had passed away, but apparently that is the case, if Ralph Gibson is America's greatest *living* Leica photographer.

-- Dave Jenkins (djphoto@vol.com), May 12, 2002.

Bower's Leica M Book and Matheson's M6 book ar 2 that come to mind as especially helpful to the newcomer. Eastland's M compendium is also, if you ignore the horribly erroneous paragraph advising that the frame preselector lever can be used to alter the M6's metering angle.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), May 13, 2002.

Bower, hands down! But, don't overlook Osterloh's "LEICA M", if you can find a copy. I have two

-- George L. Doolittle (geodoolitt@aol.com), May 13, 2002.

why not Ansel Adam's series: the camera, the negative and the print.

-- pat (modlabs@yahoo.com), May 13, 2002.

Anything by Ian Banks, 'The bridge' being his finest........but there aren't any pictures, just writing and small writing at that, so not of much use to you lot?

-- Philliterate (philkneen@manx.net), May 13, 2002.

I liked The Wasp Factory. But that was one of his middle initial books, he sort of pretends to be two writers.

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), May 13, 2002.

Pretending to be 2 people! What kind of madman would do that??

Ian M Banks is his sci-fi name. My sci-fi name is Grugand Hoozerguest.

-- Phill (philkneen@manx.net), May 13, 2002.

Spend as much time as you can absorbing intricate technical information. The more you can find about the most precise methods for developing and printing as well as optical textbooks and the like, the better -- really learn the "guts" of the photographic process. I think looking at books of photography is a waste of time. I have to concur with Andrew Nemeth: most working photographers aren't worth spit, they're just regurgitating hackneyed ideas, often in retrograde black and white. The photographers who get published and exhibited are just being pimped by some curator or gallery owner for their own nefarious reasons; rest assured that talent has nothing to do with their "celebrity." You are the best photographer you will ever meet. Believe it, live it, make sure to tell anyone who will listen.

-- Keith Davis (leica4ever@yahoo.com), May 13, 2002.

Keith seems to have been smoking the same stuff as me.......anyway. I read in the bath, in bed, on the bog, on the train or when I'm driving my car in the fast-lane of the M6 (a motorway, not a camera you sad nerds), so I don't need a book of technical details in b/w printing.

-- Phill (philkneen@manx.net), May 13, 2002.

The best 'rangefinder technique' books that also have real - good - pictures in them (as opposed to really boring landscapes shot with every focal length from 21 to 135, cf. Bower), that I've ever encountered, are from the "Masters of Contemporary Photography" series - "Photojournalism: Mary Ellen Mark and Annie Leibowitz"; "The Photo Essay: Paul Fusco and Will McBride"; and one about Elliot Erwitt, but I can't remember his 'theme' in the series.

The "Contemporary" part of the title is a little dated now - they came out in the mid-70s - but I see them in just about every used book store. Very thin books, but with an amazing amount of information and great pictures. Both paperback and hardback - usually with brown covers but some editions in dark blue.

Other great photo books that happen to be made by Leica photographers - most of which you'll need to look for in used book stores:

"Greek Portfolio" Constantine Manos (orginally 1970 or so but reissued within the past 2-3 years.

"Ward 81" - Mary Ellen Mark

"Conversations with the Dead" and "Pictures from the New World" - Danny Lyon

"Made in Germany" and "Black in White America" - Leonard Freed

"Firehouse" by Jill Freedman (Nikon and Leica mixed)

Anything by Elliot Erwitt

These last have little/no technical information - you'll have to learn through osmosis and by just looking at really terrific pictures.

The Leica Manual from the early 70s (Silver cover). It's slightly dated but has some good word essays by Bill Pierce (now of digitaljournalist.org). The 'featured' camera is the M5 - which gives an idea of the age. But RFs haven't changed that much.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), May 14, 2002.

...I just remembered Elliot Erwitt's 'theme' in the MCP series: "The Personal Image".

I note, Eric, that you are in the Netherlands - Most of the books I listed are only available used, and were American in origin, so I hope the used book market is healthy over there.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), May 14, 2002.

Thank you all for your responses, you have been most helpful!

-- Eric Kragtwijk (e.kragtwijk@hccnet.nl), May 14, 2002.