Robert Hirsch - Exploring Color Photography: From Film to Pixels

Exploring Color Photography

Robert Hirschs Exploring Color Photography is the thinking photographers guide to color imagemaking. Now in its sixth edition, this pioneering text clearly and concisely instructs students and intermediate photographers in the fundamental aesthetic and technical building blocks needed to create thought-provoking digital and analog color photographs. Taking both a conceptual and pragmatic approach, the book avoids getting bogged down in complex, ever changing technological matters, allowing it to stay fresh and engaging.

Known as the Bible of Color Photography, its stimulating assignments encourage students to be adventurous and to take responsibility for learning and working independently. The emphasis on design and postmodern theoretical concepts stresses the thought processes behind the creation of intriguing images. Its extensive and inspiring collection of images and accompanying captions allow makers to provide insights into how photographic methodology is utilized to visualize and communicate their objectives.

The text continues to deliver inspiring leadership in the field of color photography with the latest accurate information, ideas, commentary, and history, and a diverse collection of contemporary images and expanded cellphone photography coverage.

A Photographic Problem Solving and Writing chapter offers methods and exercises that help a photographer learn to be a visual problem solver, and to discuss and write succinctly about the concepts at the foundation of his or hers work.

The companion website, www.focalpress.com/cw/hirsch, has been revamped and updated to feature more student and teacher resources, including a new web-based timeline: As It Happened: A Chronological History of Color Photography.

Robert Hirsch is a photographer, writer, curator, and the director of Light Research (lightresearch.net). His books include: Light and Lens: Photography in the Digital Age, Seizing the Light: A Social History of Photography, Photographic Possibilities: The Expressive Use of Equipment, Ideas, Materials, and Processes, and Transformational Imagemaking: Handmade Photography Since 1960. Hirsch is a former associate editor for Digital Camera (UK) and Photovision, and a contributor to Afterimage, exposure, Contact Sheet, The Focal Encyclopedia of Photography, History of Photography, The Photographic Collector, The Photo Review, and World Book Encyclopedia as well as the former executive director of CEPA Gallery. Hirschs work has been exhibited in over 200 solo and group shows.

Exploring Color Photography

FROM FILM TO PIXELS

SIXTH EDITION

Robert Hirsch

with contributing writer Greg Erf

Patrick Nagatani and Andre Tracey. Alamogordo Blues. 1986. 24 60 inches.

Diffusion transfer prints. Courtesy of Andrew Smith Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.

Senior Acquisitions Editor: Kimberly Duncan-Mooney

Editorial Project Manager: Mary LaMacchia

Production Editor: Emma Elder

Marketing Manager: Sloane Stinson

Cover Design: Mathew Willis

Interior Design: Alex Lazarou

Illustrator: Greg Erf

First edition published 1988

This edition published 2015

by Focal Press

70 Blanchard Road, Suite 402, Burlington, MA 01803

and by Focal Press

2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN

Focal Press is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business.

2015 Robert Hirsch. Published by Taylor & Francis.

The right of Robert Hirsch to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Notices

Knowledge and best practice in this field are constantly changing. As new research and experience broaden our understanding, changes in research methods, professional practices, or medical treatment may become necessary.

Practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience and knowledge in evaluating and using any information, methods, compounds, or experiments described herein. In using such information or methods they should be mindful of their own safety and the safety of others, including parties for whom they have a professional responsibility.

Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Hirsch, Robert, 1949

Exploring color photography : from film to pixels / Robert Hirsch. Sixth edition.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references.

1. Color photography. I. Title.

TR510.H65 2014

778.6dc23

2014022954

ISBN: 978-0-415-73095-2 (pb)

ISBN: 978-0-415-73092-1 (hb)

ISBN: 978-1-315-84986-7 (ebk)

Designed and typeset by Alex Lazarou.

Additional materials are available on the companion website at www.focalpress.com/cw/hirsch

Contents