Digital

Making Digital Negatives for Contact Printing, by Dan Burkholder   This is the premier book on how to make digital negatives for alternative processes. As Kodak Direct Duplicating Film becomes scarce Dan Burkholder's techniques will be invaluable when producing enlarged negs. This book is required for the spring semester of Experimental Darkroom Techniques

Photoshop CS Artistry : Mastering the Digital Image, by Barry Haynes, Wendy Crumpler, Sean Duggan. Barry Haynes, Apple pioneer and photographer with over a decade of experience working with digital images, has been using Photoshop since it was created. His work and experience shows in this latest addition to the Photoshop Artistry series. The writing is clear and thorough. Each section covers some aspect of Photoshop in detail, whether it's explaining formats like TIFF and PDF, gleaning information from histograms, or using levels and curves for color correction. Within the explanations are exercises set in bold type (with project files on the CD-ROM), giving the text the one-two punch of "learn" and "do."

I find these books amazing, and feel that they should be required reading for anyone doing serious Photoshop work. I am still using the version 6 book, there is also a Photoshop 7 book available.

Alt Techniques

Coming into Focus,: A Step-by-Step Guide to Alternative Photographic Printing Processes by John Barnier (Editor). A comprehensive, how-to guide to antique and contemporary photo processes, from daguerreotype to digital, Coming Into Focus is an essential reference for the amateur and professional photographer.

The Film Developing Cookbook, by Bill Troop & Stephen G. Anchell.  This the best book for photographers interested in quality film developing. Here you can find everything you ever wanted to know about developers and other photo chemistry. It is a must if you study the Zone System or any other Experimental Darkroom Techniques.

The Darkroom Cookbook, by Stephen G. Anchell.  This book is the text for my SVA class, Experimental Darkroom Techniques. All the developer formulas we study during the first semester are published here as well as basic darkroom safety and techniques. Mr. Anchell also has good formulas for Cyanotypes and Calotypes.

Historic Photographic Processes, by Richard Farber. is a comprehensive user's guide to the historical processes that have become popular alternatives to modern and digital technology. Though many of the techniques, applications, and equipment were first developed in the nineteenth century, these same methods can be used today to create hand-crafted images that are more attractive and permanent than conventional prints or digital outputs. Fine-art photographer Richard Farber incorporates extensive research with clearly-written directions and resource lists to provide in-depth information on eight of the most enduring processes in photographic history, including salted paper, albumen, cyanotype, kallitype, platinum/palladium, carbon/carbro, gum bichromate, and bromoil. He guides the reader through each step, from selecting the appropriate paper and sensitizing it to exposing, developing, and toning the final print. Each method is accompanied by a short explanation of how it was originally used and its significance in the evolution of photography.

This book replaces the now quite dated Keepers of Light first published in 1979. Since that time, and to the credit of Keepers of Light, alternative photography has grown considerably. This book is excellent and takes in much of the later developments and knowledge of the field. --Richard Sullivan

Pinhole Photography : Rediscovering a Historic Technique, by Eric Renner,  The only comprehensive book on pinhole photography. Includes more than 170 photographs and illustrations, in color and B+W. It is an entertaining history and a practical handbook. Included in the how-to chapter are directions on how to make and use pinhole cameras, explanations on avoiding common mistakes, calculating exposure times, charts and formulas for optimal pinhole exposures, making and measuring pinholes, filtering, various wide angle camera designs including wide angle, 1:1, telephoto, multiple pinhole, and extensive writings on the use of zone plates. Also includes lengthy chapters on the history of pinhole in art and science.

Photographic Facts and Formulas, by Edward John, Wall, Availability: . This book is definitely worth searching for it is the best source of information about Alternative processes, toning and developer formulae. This title is out of print. Although it is no longer available from the publisher, Amazon.Com will query their network of used bookstores for you and send an update within a week

Keepers of the Light,: A History and Working Guide to Early Photographic Processes by William, Crawford Paperback (March 1980) —out of print

The Gum Bichromate Book : Non-Silver Methods for Photographic Printmaking by David Scopick. A pretty good book about Gumbichromates.

Making Kallitypes : A Definitive Guide A very complete guide to this wonderful process. by Dick Stevens

Historic Photographic Processes  by  Richard Farber  reviewed by Sandy King, "There are more than sixty images that illustrate the processes, and the book is well researched and documented...This is a nice book, and at over 240 pages and nicely illustrated."

Overexposure : Health Hazards in Photography/Everything You Need to Know About Photographic Materials and Processes to Make Your Workplace Safe by Susan D. Shaw, Monona Rossol.   Allworth press, "Overexposure is a guide to all risks that photographers, lab personnel, and others involved with photographic chemicals face — and how to protect health and safety. Coverage includes setting up a safe workplace, a review of which chemicals are harmful in various types of photographic processes", health issues in conservation and restoration, and right-to-know laws.   recommended by John Deluca

The World Journal of Post-Factory Photography edited by Judy Seigel This is the absolute best source of "Alternative " photography information available anywhere in the world. A two year bi-annual subscription costs $24.00 (overseas add $6.00 for airmail) send email to editor@post-factory.org to subscribe.

Zone System

The Negative, by Ansel Adams, Robert Baker.  If you are serious about making better negatives you should read this book. No matter how you feel about his landscape photography or zone system  Ansel Adams makes many valid points about exposing and developing negatives.

Ansel Adams Guide : Basic Techniques of Photography : Book 2   by John P. Schaefer This introductory book aimed at the serious novice photographer is base upon Ansel Adams' theories about and techniques for visualizing and making a photograph. Using the impressive store of Adams' writings--including his noted advanced series--Schaefer offers the master's views on the artistic, practical, and technical aspects of photography. 378 illustrations, 38 in color; 152 technical drawings. 

The Zone System for 35Mm Photographers : A Basic Guide to Exposure Control  by Carson Graves   "My congratulations to Mr. Graves for a worthwhile contribution in a field where so much that is written only muddies the waters."--Bob Shell, Shutterbug "Here is the Zone System without tears."--Popular Photographer "Now there is a book available that tells exactly how the Zone System can be used in smaller format photography, and how uncomplicated it actually is...What better motivation can there be for a photographer."--Walter Frost, The Boston Globe

Aesthetics

Within This Garden : Photographs by Ruth Thorne-Thomsen" by Miller-Clark Denise, Terry Ann R. Neff (Editor) This book has amazing examples of  pinhole photography.

Man Ray: Photographs by Jean-Hubert Martin, Man Ray, Man Ray uses techniques to make photographs rather than making photos about techniques. Published by Thames & Hudson,