DUNEDIN PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 18048, 16 August 1922, Page 8

DUNEDIN PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

INTERCLUB COMPETITION. (By the Rev. H. 0. Fenton, F.R.P.S.)

The .photographs that took pMt in the recent interdub competition are on view in the rooms of the Dunedin Photographic Society, 5 Liverpool street. Eight societies sent in twelve pictures each. _ These entries were judged by Mr Elks in Wellington, and are now being exhibited throughout the dominion. Tho exhibition shows that the standard of pictorial photography is steadily getting higher every year, and many of the pictures shown would be welcomed and hung in Loudon. Invercargill, which secured first place, sent in a very strong exhibit, oi which 1 The Old Bam,’ by Mr R. A. Edwards, is a beautiful piece of work. Miss Burrell’s ‘Moaning Bar’ is a. very strong seascape. ‘The Uriel Window, by Mr A. M. Macdonald, is excellent as regards the building, but lacking tonality in the foreground. Of the four portraits, ‘The President,’ by Mr A. Diekison, is excellently lighted, and preserves the modelling of the face. A word of warning must be given to tho Invercargill Club. 'They are putting far too much hand work on to their prints, thereby oestroying tho beautiful tone _ value that photography is capable of giving. This applies especially to Mr A. hi. Macdonald’s ‘ Moonlit Cottage,’ a print doubtless making its appeal to tho painter, but lees so to the photographer It is in no ways suggestive of moonlight. Photography both in England and America has been through this stage, and has emerged from it. Invercargill will do tho same, and gain tremendously. ■Wellington came second. ‘Four Score Pears,’ by Mr J. W. Jones, is full of character, and probably tho best of the group, with Air Johnston’s ‘ Furling and ‘ Morning Shadows ’ in close attendance. The latter is one of the few examples of front lighting in the exhibition. The possibilities of this form of lighting do not seem to have been sufficiently explored yet in New Zealand. There is a falling off in quality an Auckland's exhibit. 1 Henderson’s Creek,’ by Mr T. Wuodhead, is the outstanding print. Mr A. E. Gee’e ‘ suffers from loss of atmosphere, tho middle distance being too dark. ‘ Age and Youth’ (Mr B. B. Walrond) is well conceived as an idea. Tho technique is good, but as a pictorial effect is far below standard. ‘ Sweethearts.’ by Mr Woodhead. is a nice piece of straight photography. Hamilton lins made wonderful strides this year, and must bo congratulated on its progress. Its exhibit, however, is somewhat, flattered by the marking in at least two cases, ‘The Daisy Field,’_ by .Miss Patterson, is a study ox a boy in a daisy field. The model is wearing a most self-conscious air, and the face seems to be too much turned away; and ‘Sailing Bv’ (Miss .Xieholls) is both crude and hard. ' The Low;.’ by Mr S, Miller, should have had higher marks than some of the others.

Mr E. A. Omblc.r with ‘ln the Shadows ’ treats a difficult subject with much skill. This is the outstanding picture in the Timam section, ‘ Doris,’ by Mr Lindsay, seems to have been overlooked by the judge. Mr Guilder's ‘At Her Journey’s End ’ is hard, and the water and sky both lack quality. In the Chrintc-hurch section Mr Rowe has a. lino negative for his ‘Glimpse of the Sea,’ of which he has not made full use. ‘ln Silent Vale,’ by Mr G. Edmonds, is nice in conception. ‘Granny,’ by Mr F. CasW.t. is nice. ‘ Tho Finnic,’ by Mr N. A. Skinner, is apparently a bromoil. and should act as a warning to other photographers. Dunedin has some very pleasing pictures. There arc four quite good landscape? —Abies Gibson’s ‘ Mountain Sheep,’ Mr Chance's ‘ Paradise Roa-d ’ and ‘ Otago Harbor,’ and Mr Dawson's ‘The Cross* mg.' The latter is a little heavy in tho sky, and has not quite the quality of the others. These arc all well worth studying. Mr Shcrriff’s ‘ Through the Pines ’ Is marred by faulty composition, the large trees being ton centred, and monopolising the composition. Two portraits by Miss Allis have the feeling of the old masters. Whanga.rei is to bo congratulated on sending in an exhibit. It is quite a young club, and will doubtless benefit by seeing the exhibits of other clubs. The marking cf some of the exhibits evolves a good deal of amazement. Some most ordinary snaps made very hard in enlarging have received ridiculously high marking. The exhibition will bo open again to-morrow.