CAMERA CRAFT

North Otago Times, Volume C, Issue 13181, 9 October 1914, Page 3

CAMERA CRAFT

'J ti' : (By "PyromtdoV') Tho floi Hi Otago Times linvitig nllollcd s'piuii (or the periodical ' i publimtion of news, of especial in1' lorest lo photographers, il is lionod tlinl the opportunity will be readily ' availed of for tho interchange of ideai> amongst those who havo progressed homewhat in tho art, as . well ns for the removal ,or lessening, ,of Hie difficulties' usually oncouii- > tcretl by beginners, Particulars of outing's with the ramora, reports of, club miiptiugs etc., as. well as (inquiries regarding , photographic pioccsscii will he welcomed. ' All 'coumimiicAlions should bo addressed to "Pyrumidol," c/o. "Tiinos."

NOTES. Belter results w ill usually be obtained in snapshot woik if the developer is slightly wanned until it reaches a ternpcratuio of lit) to 05 degrees, Too warm a developer will causo chemical fog. r * * In ordci to obtain vigorous negatives and avoid mottling marks, rock tho dish ,y> during development. More brilliant Jt negatives aie obtained wlicu thoy arc > quickly diied than whon they are slow in drying.

Although the military authorities have 'debarred war correspondents with their note-books aud cameras from the fiont in the Avar of the nations in Europe) it is certain that photography, iu tho form of X rays, is being, very extensively utilised by the army medical corps for the purpose of locating bullets and other foreign substances in the bodies of tho wounded.

'' Hypo.'' used to be one of the '' unconsidered trifles" in the amateur photographer's chemical outfit, but since the outbreak of war has caused it to double in price, it will have to be removed from that class. '' The war'' is being made responsible for many things not anticipated. It would be interesting to know how the 100 per cent, extra cost is distributed.

Silver stains on negatives are a constant worry to careless workers, and sometimes to careful ones. It is doubtful whether there is an absolutely certain cure, but one of the best remedies is bichromate of potash, 10 grains; common salt, 40 grains; water, 2 ounces. Soak the plate in this for twenty minutes, then wasli thoroughly and immerse iu ammonium sulphocyanidc, 40 grains; water, 2 ounces. Lastly, wash WELL (capitals, please, Mr Printer).

Photography in its latest and most popular development—cinematography—has added much to the pleasure of present-day readers of Charles Dickens' works; and not only readers of the present generation, but of those who read tho books in the long, long ago, judging by the remarks of those who witnessed the production of "David Coppcriicld" in Oaniaru this week by the- Hay wards Pictures Proprietary. To the older folk who had wcll ; nlgh forgotten many of the incidents of the story "it all came back," while the younger ones were heard to remark that' they would go home and read the story with an added zest.

One of the great objections to the use of pyro-soda developer—to my mind, one of the best for the production of negatives—is its finger-staining propensity. This, however, can be easily prevented if the advice, of Mr T. N. Allday in Photography is followed. He writes: "On my developing table 1 have a cup in which is put a few ounces of ut ut per cent, solution of sodium sulphite, to which at the moment of use I add about a couple of drachms of strong hydrochloric acid. Whcu 1 fiud tho developer has wetted my fiugcrs I dip them into the cup for a moment and'thou wipe them on a duster. When development is over there arc no sigus of stain, cither on fingers or nails, and the: usual wash with warm water, with .soap.and a nail-brush freely used, leaves the lingers quite clean and removes all chance of any stains appearing."

I iiud that nothing else answers nearly so well for vignetting purposes as the thin .'sheet metal which' forms the liuing of a tea chest. 1 cut it up into sheets and fasten on to the frout of a printing frame by means of four drawing pins, A hole can be cut in the load with a pair of scissors, and then with a few radiating cuts the lead can be bent back as required to do the vignetting. If too much appears to have been opened out, it is always an easy matter to bend a little back again, 'flic material is stiff enough to be used for a. number of prints from the same negative without any re-adjusting, while at the same time it is so soft and flexible that it can be flattened out and used afresh time after time.—J. Howie, in I'holography.

"Every picture should have a 'motive,' but only one," says Dr. Miethc; "It is a very frequent mistake to allow two or even more points of special interest to come into the same view, • an arrangement which destroys the effect of the picture by leading the attention iu different directions. Views of this kind, especially those with a double motive; are extremely common, and the fault is artistically one of the worst that one can commit. Such pictures arc much belter divided into two or even three distinct views,' as when brought together in one they arc 'entirely wrong and unnatural. The motive alone, however, is not sufficient to secure, an artistic effect in a photograph, since the most beautiful motive may be handled most unskilfully. The smallest variation in.the point of view, and especially the slightest change-in cutting out the picture, may prove of decisive value. Very often,the mistake is made, iu the effort to give the '."j'Wll.ttil. possible I'fiYcl. lo'.'llii! motive, i.f' placing it as nearly as may be in the centre of the picture. The result' of (his 'is.'.often au exaggeration, of symmetry which offends by absorbing:the ,-,T.'liplft. interest of .the view, in a small

'[loiiic'iii its caiitrfl. s ''