ART OF THE CAMERA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20332, 13 August 1929, Page 11

ART OF THE CAMERA.

AN EXHIBITION OPENED,;

WORK OF LOCAL ARTISTS.

SPIRIT OF OUT-OF-DOORS.

An exhibition of photographs, the work of local artists, was opened yesterday in the Auckland Camera Club's new rooms, Security Buildings, Queen Street. Over 120 prints are on view, contributed by somo 15 mcrnb'ers. A considerable time has elapsed sinco the club held a purely local exhibition, the annual exhibitions in the past having been of a competitive inler-club character.

As a representative Auckland effort, the present collection quito rightly devotes most attention to recording Auckland beauty spots and tho exploitation of typical New Zealand scenery. Outside the landscapes, however, there is little that commands attention and nowhero will there bo found anything at ail unorthodox, Beyond a small portrait section, riotablo for a fine feminino study by Mr. G. Kelscy, of a faco wrapped in winter furs, Mr. R. S. Lediard's artificially posed head and arms of a girl and Mr. G. Fail's enlargement of a snap of tho Duchess of York, the pictures strive almost without exception to capturo tho spirit of tho out-of-doors.

No ono has been more successful in holding mood than Mr. J. G. Holland and all his pictures aro models for tho camera artist who wants to make tho most of simple material. The most beautiful of his efforts, such as "After Rain" and "Tho Lagoon/' arc insignificant in subject, yet admirable in their composition and diffused blend of tones. Mr. R. S. Lediard, another artist who makes the unpretentious beautiful, has achieved somo striking rock and sand effects in "Sand Hills" and "At the Manukau Heads," and in "Solitude" has idealised tho crudity of a back-blocks shack on the edge of the bush. Pictures such as these aro welcome evidence of a national lovo oi tho humbler kinds of beauty that lie too often hidden in the shadows cast by the greater majesties of New Zealand scenery. '

In the sarao school is Mr. W. F. Busson's "Golf Road" and a calendar print of One Tree Hill and Mr. JR.. B. Walrond's leafy glimpse in an olive grove. Mr. W. J. Brooks obtains a noble effect from an insignificant patch of country road winding through hilly country. Mr. A. E. Gee produces a striking perspective of an avenue of trees at Hanmer Springs. At least two exhibitors have been impressed with the pictorial qualities of the Tea Kiosk in the Domain, Mr. iH. N. Ross framing the subject sharply in the trees, Mr. Busson suffusing it mildly in a winter haze. Mr. Ross also exhibits one or two hard but striking night scenes. Seascapes, however, aro mainly represented by the work of Mr. G. Kelsey, whoso "Early Start offers an unusual treatment of sea and sky. Miss H. Garlick has caught soma horses in heroic rural settings but the effect; is spoilt by bad composition. Mr. Busson has some picturesque still lifes, but in the whole range of pictures on Mew nothing will take the ©ve sooner than the two beautiful bromoils, one by Mr. Lediard of a cemetery scene under Grafton Bridge, the other by Mr. Holland of a bend in a river. Both aro gems of an interesting art. , The exhibition will remain open for the rest of the ■week.