Photographic Facts and Formulas is a comprehensive technical reference manual for photographers, first compiled by Edward John Wall and revised by Franklin Ingalls Jordan. The 1947 revised edition (often considered the third edition) gathers essential photographic data, practical formulas, tables, and procedural guidance that photographers working in analog processes would need for darkroom and alternative process work.
Structured as a practical formulary and handbook, the book covers a wide range of technical topics critical to photographic practice:
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Optics and exposure fundamentals, including lens properties and exposure calculation principles.
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Development and chemistry, detailing developer recipes, chemical proportions, solution strengths, and processing conditions.
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Alternative photographic processes, such as printing-out papers, carbon, gum-bichromate, and bromoil techniques, with specific formulas and notes on handling and results.
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Photomechanical processes, intensification/reduction procedures, and special printing and transfer methods used in fine printmaking.
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Guidance on stereographic photography, lantern slides, and the characteristics of various papers and materials.
Rather than a narrative-style book, it serves as a reference manual—essentially a detailed compendium of precise figures, chemical recipes, measurement conversions, and photographic tables that photographers could consult when planning shoots, preparing solutions, and executing complex processes.
In summary, the 1947 edition of Photographic Facts and Formulas is a technical reference aimed at practitioners, combining scientific precision with hands-on formulas to support both mainstream and alternative photographic techniques in the pre-digital era.
