PHOTOGRAPHS FOR BEGINNERS.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14406, 13 July 1912, Page 5

PHOTOGRAPHS FOR BEGINNERS.

(Bt Casterbcrt.)

(SFSCIAIJ.T WBITTKX VOR "THE TRESS.")

Frequently, in the lengthening days, wo hear the words, "I must get si camera." or, perhaps, from one who does not quite rely upon the machine to make pictures by itself, "I mutt learn to take photos" ; and in spit* of the multitude of cameras already at work, it is evident that very many more will soon find employment. By reason of the same longer days that now are closo ahead, and the brighter light which we hope will form part of them, no better time than the present moment could be chosen for a beginning: and in hojxi that they will assist beginners, a few hints are written here. Photography is a most interesting hobby, and it is not very hard to take perfectly satisfactory photos, if the amateur will take also a little ordinary care. Ido not propose to add to the difficulties of a tyro by advising an expensive kit, for until the. rndimonte of the art are understood'it might bo unwise to invest in any such thing. He or she will decide that question according to circumstances, but most beginners will feel satisfied if they can easily obtain good photos at a comparatively small expense.

in mentioning the required apparatus, I shall ehcose first from the articles required for the. easiest methods, and when speaking of .any particular part of the beginner's outfit, I do not say absolutely that it is the best, livery amateur • has preferences of his own, but 1 have tried all the things which will be named, and they have served mo very well. Naturally, tho camera is a first consideration, and I find that "snapshots" with a hand camera, are far more popular than any other photographic method. Doubtless mere artistic pictures can bo produced by a "stand" camera, but to carry a stand about with you make? « labour of tho thing at oiice, and 1 for one have always owned an inclination to keep work and pleasure distinctly apart. So let it be a hand camera at first —one fitted with an arrangement to screw on a. stand, if it is _ desired—"Cameo," "Klimax, -, "Ivlito," "Midg," their name is legion, and most of them are good if they are given a chance. A very desirable feature of a camera, is that of "double extension, , which means that the bellows will rack out far enough to allow thc\ back x>a.rt of the lens to be used without tho front; this enables tho photographer to obtain a larger image of a distant object, and also is of us,o in copying.

'Tho most important point of a camera is, of course, the lens; for which, one may pay anything, from a few shillings up to twenty or thirty ! pounds. Fortunately, however, these ! expensive luxuries are not necessary to- ! the production of a photo that will satisfy the average man, hut for this • reason it is not good policy to buy a j very oheap camera, in which a good j lens l<3 more or lees a matter of luck. ; Tho "Midg" and "Klito" are box-maga- i zinc cameras that "will contain.a dozen, "quarter-plates," and either of, them L would suit a beginner very nicely in- i deed. According to my own cxperi- j once, these "box cameras" will put up j with a great amount of ill-usage and wayside occurrences, and last for years, j The first that ever was mine happened '. , to possess a good leas in epito of, its j cheapness, and, though, it nas been < through many mishaps, it is yet useful. For instance, it survived a buggy smash, and then 1 t<>ok it -with me> in ■• a punt, wJiilo we tried to navigate a rapid river down to the sea. In the subsequent, wr.eckt.the camera .got .full. - ; of .w&ter-and .all, my photos : o£ ( the in- .. cidents on passage were quite ruined.; but next day we dried the whole thing in tho sun, and I took two- views of a river,. which were accepted Jjy the "Sketch"; so now I believe in box cameras, at least for beginners. The question ,of "plates or films" can be decided in this way. If one intends to send the photos to a professional photographer for development, certainly a film roll is more conveniently carried than a dozen or two of plates; but if you are going to do the developing yourself, Jl think plates are easiest managed. The films are 'in the habit of curling .up at tho corners while in the developing dish, and though they may be weighted to keep them down, or a box can be bought to do the roll all at once, I am sure that a tyro will find plates less difficult. Much pleasure is lost if the photos are notdeveloped at home—and soon after they are .taken let . us. * choose "llford" or "•Sovereign,"-or another good brand of plates. The developer is made at home, or it can bo done more easily by using, what are known as "tabloids'." -In the first way, tho chemicals, pyrogallic acid, meta-bisulphitc potash, soda 'sulphite, soda carbonate, inotol, bromide of potassium, and hydroquinone, must bo . bought and mixed in the proper, quantities, given on tho plate lx>x, or in the alternttivo method you buy them' ready mixed as "tabloids," of which a number are crushed according to directions, and a quantity of developer is made to suit the moment's need. There is no doubt that this is far the least troublesome way. The only other chemical that is required in simple photography is sodium thiosulphate, commonly called 'hypo," which is used for-fixing tho image after development. Now wo have a camera, plates, and "tabloidsj" and only a re<l lamp and . some dishes for ? 'developing, etc, and a printing-frame and some paper remain to bo bought. "Xylonite" dishes arc light and liandy, and about three will be required; one or two printing-frames and a reliable red lamp, which should be tested carefully before it leaves the shop. Tho printing; paper. is again a matter of choioe, either P.O.P. is used for daylight prints, or "gaslight paper" takes its place, in which case all tedious "toning" operations are avoided, and the photo is printed by the light of an ordinary lamp. "A dark room" is generally supposed to be necessary in successful photography, but as.a matter of fact it is nothing of the kind, for plates can be put into the camera, or developing may take place at night, in a room lit by the red lamp. Some arrangements must be niado for washing the negatives, and for thus purpose we are advised to use running water from various arrangements of taps and streams, but for the beginner who does not aspire to such ambitious contrivances, a common zinc bucket, and a fairly largo jug contain the washing water, will really answer tho need, even for first-cla«s work. Xow I think the preliminaries are all arranged, and next week we will proceed to take some photos.