The Keepers of Light: A History and Working Guide to Early Photographic Processes

This book is the primary source of knowledge for those who are new to alternative photographic processes. It is a must read for those who wish to know the history of photography, and who wish to dive into alternative processes. It gives a brief history of each process, and then practical knowledge to aid the reader in accomplishing each process. I would recommend this book to all my colleagues and friends interested in photography.

. . . And it looks it. I can't tell you how many times I've referred to this book. It is one of the most - if not the most - useful book for nonsilver photographic processes I've ever had and I have quite a collection of this type of book. I don't think you can go wrong owning a copy of this volume.

Well, after asking endless questions to some of the "so called" self-acclaimed "experts" in the field of wet plate photography; Crawford's book was a breath of fresh air. I only wish that I could have come across this book early in my search. Instead I had to wade through BBS systems with adults who like to dress up and play "war" (i.e., the Civil War). With this book you will be able to bypass all of the fruitless searches you will have if you ask present day practitioners, who do not want to share the process (or are more likely unknowledgeable themselves). Save yourself the problems, efforts and misinformation. Buy this book!

I lost my first copy and just bought another. Learn the history and the how-to's of several non-silver printmaking methods. If you're interested in these processes, this book will give you an excellent overview and get you started on making your own prints.

I have based most of my photographic life on this book it is from this I have learnd most of what I know about oldphotoprocesses like Cyantopi Vandycke oilprint and many other tecniques. The book eksplains very good how too do what ever you want to do