WELLINGTON CAMERA CLUB

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 152, 24 March 1938, Page 8

WELLINGTON CAMERA CLUB

4 Character Studies Discussed A number of good character studies, entries in the March competition, were displayed at a recent meeting of the Wellington' Camera Club. Some of the exhibits were considered by the speaker for the eveiiing, Mr. H. A. McDonald, to be more in the nature of portraits, and this led to an animated discussion on tbe differences between the two subjects. It was finally agreed that, although a gdod character study could be made of a child, this was difficult, and usually turned into more of a figure study. The ideal subject was one whose face showed something of the trials and troubles he had undergone. Mr. McDonald’s own opinion was that it was advisable to show the sitter’s hands, which he considered in most cases gave an .indication of his work, life and temperament. To bear out this argument, Mr. McDonald had made a number of comparative prints of his bromoil of a Maori chief, trimming each to include more or less of the figure and the greenstone mere lie was holding. The hands in this case were as expressive as those of a violinist in another of Mr. McDonald’s pictures. It was also as well to show a little of the background and surroundings of the man or woman, especially if these were characteristic. The speaker instanced a picture of an old man sitting outside his shack, pointing out that had the figure .been posed against' a studio “set-up,” a good deal of the interest would have been lost. Howeyer, it was not by any means necessary tofehow every board and detail in the Cottage (or its equivalent) ; all that was required was a slight indication, by means of differential focussing, of what might be termed the "natural habitat.” The championship and first and second awards in the A grade went to Mr. McDonald ; Mr. J. M. Kershaw was runnerup, and Mr. J. W. Chapman-Taylor won the third award. In the B grade Mr. \V. Abbott was first and Mr. C. Jackson second.