Vol. 27: Medium-Format Photography I: Pentax 645

Vol. 27: Medium-Format Photography I: Pentax 645
Author: Shawn M. Tomlinson
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 258
Release: 2018-12-14
Genre: Art
ISBN: 0359293352

I discovered very quickly that the Pentax 645 was much easier to use than the Hasselblad 500c. I got more photos per roll, too, even though they were smaller than the 6-by-6cm of the 500c. The were/are 6-by-4.5cm, which is where the "645" comes from in the name.One thing I did notice was the clarity and sharpness of that prime lens. To my eyes, it was just as good if not a tiny bit better than the renowned Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm f/2.8 prime lens.I started shooting with the Pentax 645 a lot because unlike the 500c and the two Mamiyas, it isn't a pain to use. It acts a lot like a 35mm SLR or even a DSLR, much more so than my three other medium-format cameras.This book can help to get you started using the Pentax 645.

Vol. 29: Medium-Format Photography III: Mamiya C3 & C330

Vol. 29: Medium-Format Photography III: Mamiya C3 & C330
Author: Shawn M. Tomlinson
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 196
Release: 2018-12-22
Genre: Art
ISBN: 0359310699

There's something odd about twin-lens reflex (TLR) film cameras, but very appealing. I can't really explain it. TLR cameras are bulky, awkward to use and, well, kind-of weird. Still, I love picking one up and taking it out to shoot. Mamiya TLRs comprise a rare line of TLR cameras in that they were the only pro TLR cameras that had interchangeable lenses other than Contaflex. That fact alone made me long for one a long time. When I bought my Yashica Mat EM, there were Mamiya TLR cameras available, but usually at two to three times the cost. Like the other medium-format (MF) cameras - Hasselblad, Bronica, Pentax, etc. - the Mamiyas were far out of reach. That is until around 2003 when photographers were ditching their film cameras, and selling them cheap. They may not be as cheap now, but they're still worth the prices. As I said, shooting with a TLR is an odd experience, but one definitely worth experiencing.

Zirlinson Publishing: 35 Years 1983-2018: A History in Cover Art

Zirlinson Publishing: 35 Years 1983-2018: A History in Cover Art
Author: Shawn M. Tomlinson
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 72
Release: 2018-12-16
Genre: History
ISBN: 0359296319

It has been a long, strange road, and probably has no end clearly in sight. Many more books are in the works as I write this in early December 2018. For example, I have published nine novels to date, and am writing nine more, with plans for some beyond that. The Shawn M. Tomlinson's Guide to Photography series has 29 titles in print, with another five or six nearly complete, and plans for 30 to 40 more. I'm also trying to rework and rearrange those books into omnibus editions by chronology and by theme.I never will get every book done I want to do, but it keeps me busy.I always planned on putting out a catalog of all the Zirlinson Books, but kept getting waylaid for one reason or another until now. This catalog is available as a print book in color. The color print book will be cost prohibitive for many people, so there likely will be a black and white version available, too.

Vol. 26: Medium-Format Photography: Getting Started

Vol. 26: Medium-Format Photography: Getting Started
Author: Shawn M. Tomlinson
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 210
Release: 2018-12-14
Genre: Art
ISBN: 0359292844

Simply put, medium-format photography is quite a bit more complex than shooting with 35mm film SLRs or 35mm-style DSLRs. It takes a bit more skill - and experience - to handle medium-format cameras. Not only do you need to learn to think differently about how you shoot, but you also have a whole new type of equipment to learn. Medium-format cameras produce bigger images, which allows for more detail and greater enlargement. And because they, in general, were designed for professional photographers, the lenses tend to be of better quality that most 35mm lenses, which also adds to the detail in the images. In this book, we'll take a look at medium-format SLRs and TLRs, and we'll even touch upon some other types. We'll also consider a few lenses, although these largely are a matter of choice. And there are far fewer choices for medium-format cameras than for other types. Time to do some weight training and heft those medium-format cameras and lenses into position. Let's go.

Vol. 03: The 12 Steps of Photography

Vol. 03: The 12 Steps of Photography
Author: Shawn M. Tomlinson
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 190
Release: 2018-03-22
Genre: Art
ISBN: 138768678X

Everybody gives out tips for better photography. Well, maybe not your boss or the guy who fixes your furnace (although mine does), but most photography websites, forums and magazines fill their pages with tips for becoming a better photographer. There's a reason there are so many tips out there: photographers want them. On the other hand, we who have some little knowledge like to give them, too. Most people like to pass on what they've learned. I've been a photographer for nearly four decades. I've published thousands of photographs. I write a photography column (Photo Curmudgeon). I love photography. I read tips from other photographers often. Sometimes, I read something new, or at least put in a new way so that it sparks an idea. No one can tell you how to develop your photographer's eye. Only you can figure that out. What I can do is give you some pointers about how to develop your own photographer's eye, and how to get better as a photographer.

Vol. 04: Photography: The Black & White Book

Vol. 04: Photography: The Black & White Book
Author: Shawn M. Tomlinson
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 194
Release: 2018-03-20
Genre: Art
ISBN: 1387682857

Photographer and writer Shawn M. Tomlinson, author of the Photo Curmudgeon column and books, makes creating black and white and toned photos simple with this how-to guide. "In a world dominated by colorful images, black and white and toned photographs can stand out as something different, something somehow more beautiful," Tomlinson writes. "To really work in the 21st century, a black and white or toned image must be special. It must express something not there in color. There must be a reason to change the reality of the image by turning it grayscale, not just that you can. All that said, there is absolutely nothing like a truly great black and white image." The author covers the basics of B&W and toned photos including processing techniques, printing, presentation in eBooks, and much more. This is an expanded and revised edition of the original eBook and trade paperback editions.

Tales Vol. 5: In the Time of the King

Tales Vol. 5: In the Time of the King
Author: Shawn M. Tomlinson
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 338
Release: 2018-06-10
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1387870564

Outside was crazy. The thick, coming storm weighed me down. It could come any minute: thunderous, hurricane rain, followed by all kinds of hell. I dashed across the lawn, into The Lab and up the stairs. The bookcase was locked. Most of our books anyone can look at. Some, we donÕt think would be wise to let out. I fumbled the key chain, looking for the tiny key that could open the door. I managed to get it near the keyhole when the electricity died. Cara may curse my pipe, but right then, I think sheÕd have been glad I had a lighter. The lighter helped me again. The deep, old books were a window to the past. We had read few. That would entail things like dying horrible deaths. Instead, we had a collection of Òabout books, Ó essays written anywhere from last year to a thousand years ago. The one I was looking for was deep red, 'AichlanÕs Deimos.' In it I hoped to sort out how to send Xith back to wherever the hell it came from before it ate Lily Dale, or whatever it does.

Vol. 28: Medium-Format Photography II: Hasselblad 500c

Vol. 28: Medium-Format Photography II: Hasselblad 500c
Author: Shawn M. Tomlinson
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 242
Release: 2018-12-14
Genre: Art
ISBN: 0359293476

It always was The Dream: The Hasselblad 500cNever mind that it was impractical for a photographer without a studio, or that it cost a bundle, or that the odds against ever owning one were big.There it was, a monolith above all other cameras.It was in the pages of the photo magazines, as advertisements occasionally, as part of an article occasionally.The two beacons of perfection, allegedly, were the Hasselblad 500c and the Leica whatever.For some reason, the Leica never caused a spark in me back then. Now, sure, but not then.Canon, Minolta, Nikon and Olympus cameras also were dreams, at the top of many of my wish lists.The Hasselblad 500c, though... that was on a level all its own.Then, suddenly, digital photography dawned and everyone was ditching their film gear. A fellow photographer said, "Hey, do you still want a Hasselblad because a friend of mine's selling one."It still was more than two weeks' salary, but it was cheaper than it had been. I had to have it.And it is an amazing camera

Retro Camera Buying Guide: Getting Serious About Photography… On the Cheap! Expanded and Revised

Retro Camera Buying Guide: Getting Serious About Photography… On the Cheap! Expanded and Revised
Author: Shawn M. Tomlinson
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 292
Release: 2018-04-17
Genre: Art
ISBN: 1387749447

A lot has changed since I wrote and published this first volume of what became this guide series. One thing hasnÕt. I still have the same enthusiasm and joy in photography I had way back at the beginning of the series. I have a lot more knowledge and experience now and, occasionally even get close to taking good photographs. ThatÕs the thing, see. I didnÕt know a lot when I originally wrote this guide. I had been working in photography since 1982 professionally. Everything I knew, pretty much, was self-taught. In general, thatÕs still true. ThereÕs no need for you to do it all by yourself, too, though. This book and this series are meant to help you get going with the basics fast. Yes, OK, I tend to relate my own experiences, but that, too, is meant to help you avoid some basic mistakes I made. And, perhaps, I write in a tad too friendly manner, but think of it as sitting down with me to have a friendly talk about a passion we share: Photography!

After: The End of the World's Not All It's Cracked Up To Be

After: The End of the World's Not All It's Cracked Up To Be
Author: Shawn M. Tomlinson
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 492
Release: 2018-06-09
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1387870165

ÒJust like me to never have any money when the end of the world comes, Ó thought Martin Fahy as he walked through the bitter, ceaseless rain. He laughed slightly and wondered what he was going to do now. Sure, he had been the one who always knew The End was coming soon, but he just couldnÕt convince anyone else. He wasnÕt a religious fanatic or anything and his predictions of the coming doom had nothing to do with apocalyptic visions or cultist beliefs. It was based largely on his continual observation of scientific predictions. And now, it all was happening. Fahy realized what heÕd always said was his prime philosophy still was true: The only way out is throughÉ