WELLINGTON CAMERA CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 80, 5 April 1938, Page 17

WELLINGTON CAMERA CLUB

A very pleasant evening was spent by the Wellington Camera Club recently, when Dr. H. H. Smith, a visitor from America who has travelled through many of the more interesting parts of the world, showed a large number of slides. These were all in Dufaycolour and the truth of the tones to nature was remarkable—showing the rapid progress which has been made of late by the manufacturers of colour films. The vivid hues of the tropical scenery, native clothes and streets all faithfully recorded, proved the_ definite advantage to the tourist of this type of sensitive material. To enable member to check the correctn,es! °J -th? shades, Dr. Smith had included in his collection a dozen or so slides taken in the Wellington Begonia HOUSe. '■'.*;' ! • ■

As the speaker pointed out, many of his most successful shots would have been flat and uninteresting in black and^ white, on account of the trying lighting conditions ' which obtained, with the sun overhead for the greater portion of the day, the traveller is barred from the lovely; effects' of light and shade upon which most of our pictorial workers can concentrate. It is a well-known fact, however, that thi3 flat lighting is most suitable for colour work. Misty days are also more easily dealt with by colour films, which have to a large extent the property of pentratmg haze ;this was borne out by v the number of artistic pictures taken m London during the ■ foggy weather of early autumn. The russet leaves of the trees in Kew Gardens-were beautifully rendered, as also was the foliage of the English countryside. Every • black and white photographer knows the value of clouds in his pictures aid goes to considerable trouble to ■ emphasise them, but there was scarcely ! one slide which did not show to advantage even the lightest formations. After a little experience as to which types of subjects are not suited to the process (that is, generally, speaking; greatly contrasting or coritre jour views), Dr. Smith said the only, point which called for careful attention was the exposure. A.good-light meter was essential as there was very little latitude' either way; over-exposed negatives had a washed-out appearance, and in under-exposed ones the blues were too emphasised. No special type of camera was required, and the additional cost of the film was fully com-' pensated for by the realism of. the re- ' suits.- ■. \ -;"■ : ,;'■' . '■■■■■