CAMERA NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1163, 15 June 1894, Page 9

CAMERA NOTES.

PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION. The Wellington Camera Club's first annual exhibition of photographs was opened on Friday afternoon by Mr J. Duthio, M.H.R., in the gallery of the Fine -Arts Association. The Club, lie stated, was formed on the 25th of November, 1892, at a meeting called by Mr W. F, Barraud and Mr Beswick. At the inception of the Club they were fortunate in securing Mr C. Hulke as ita first president. Mr Hulke was a man of infinite energy, and he threw his wholo heart and soul into any work he took in hand, and the Club was very much indebted to Mr Hulke for his efforts. The following year Mr Barraud was elected president, and ho also had been of great assistance to the Club. The Club held monthly meetings, at which competitions were held, and members had an opportunity of comparing their work. Practical lectures on photographic processes were also delivered, and discussions followed. The Club was not confined to amateurs, but included professionals, and discouraged the sale of portraits or groups by its amateur members, so as to work in harmony with the professional members. The Club now numbered 55 members. They had only to look round cu the 860 exhibits on the walls to see what great progress had been made in Wellington in so short a time, and they had, too, excellent contributions from Nelson, Auckland and Christchurch. In portraiture the professionals excelled, but in scenery the amateurs wero not far behind, and he felt sure they would bo highly pleased with the views. The clear skies of New Zealand gave operators a great advantage over those in the Old Country. A glance from the daguorrotypes of 35 to 40 years ago, which were exhibited in a central case, to the Nelson bromides on the wall behind, would show the advance which has taken place in photography. The objects of the Club were deserving of the highest sympathy. The art of photography was refining in all it 3 relations. It brought art to the masses, and provided improving recreation to those who practised it. He wished success to the Club, and then declared the exhibition open. In the second year of its existence the Wellington Camera Club makes its first public exhibition. And it is an exhibition of which all who are concerned in it must feel justly proud. To the public it has been quite a revelation in its way. People who are not accustomed to take more than a passing interest in photography are rather too much inclined to look upon the whole tribe of amateur photographers with a kind of benevolent indifference. They see them on Saturday afternoons and on holidays hurrying out of town with their cameras, and wonder that so much genuine enthusiasm should be wasted. They sometimes encounter them at family parties or at club gatherings taking " views," and think they are conferring a favour in allowing themselves to bo " taken/' These are the popular notions regarding amateur photography. One visit to the Academy of Arts at the present time will serve to dissipate them. It will engender a feeling of respect for the amateur photographer, it will amply explain the enthusiasm he feels in the pursuit of his art, and it will show how richly that art repays with works of abidingbeauty and perennial interest the devotion that it receives from its votaries. The past and present of photography are forcibly illustrated at this exhibition. As one enters the hall he is confronted by a camera of fifty years ago—when dry plates were unknown, and the sitter's patience was sorely tried by long exposures. This venerable relic is said to be the fetish of the Wellington Camera Club, and that it is compulsory with them to make deep obeisance to it. The past is also" represented by a collection of daguerreotypes in a show-case at the end of the hall, by some views of Wellington in 1860 lent by Archdeacon Stock, and by some other views of Wellington in 1867 lent by Mr W. H. Davis, who was the leading professional photographer of the nascent city in those lays. An especial interest attaches to all these exhibits,

Bat our purpose is more particularly to deal with the present. Assisted by contributions from Auckland, Nelson and Christchurch, tho Club has been able to cover the four walls of the building with landscapes, seascapes, portraits and interiors, embracing in method of production all the processes at present in vogue. Of course, the members of the Wellington Camera Club furnish more than half tho exhibits, and comparison between the different clubs is made easy by tho classification of the productions under the separate districts whence they come. The work of the local club starts from tho left hand side on entering tho hall, extends along the whole length of the eastern wall, and turns tho corner at tho end where tho Nelson collection begins. Christchurch is sandwiched between two divisons of tho Nelson collection, and Auckland occupies the northern half of the western wall and the space to tho right of the door.

Mr W. F. Barraud is the most notablo exhibitor in the Wellington section. His work is prolific, and the standard of quality is most creditable. His bromide enlargements form one of the features of the exhibition. They are the best of the kind to be seen there. One has but to look at Mr Barraud's enlargement from a half-plate view of Ngaruahoe (the North Island volcano) to recognise at a glance the superior quality of his work. It is singularly clear and distinct, the light being picked out most artistically, and overy detail of the picture being brought into the fullest relief. Another fine enlargement by Mr Barraud is a view of the Awatere Valley, with a flax swamp in the foreground and the river in tho middle distance. There are ?lso some excellent views of shipping, a c : ">ar picture of Parliament Buildings and a set of 14 photographs arranged in four frames. These include views on the Wanganui River.

Three that are particularly worthy of notice are "Evening Mist, Lake Taupo/' " Harvesting " and " Breakers." Mr T. M. Hardy also contributes some fine specimens of enlargement, chiefly of views taken in England, as for instance Whitby Harbour, Kirkstall Abbey, Bolton Abbey and tho old wall of the abbey. These last two views are remarkable for the skill and fidelity to nature with which tho details are brought out. The view of Cheviot House is clear and well-defined but the effect of the picture is marred by a bare sky. Mr F. B. Miur is a professional photographer in Mrs Hermann's establishment, and naturally enough his contributions consist chiefly of photographs. Ho is very successful in portraits of children as any one will readily admit who looks at his enlargement of "A Young Coquette" a winsome little girl with merry, laughing face. The group of three little children, entitled " Pickles," is another case in point. There is also a photographic group of three young ladies, the head and bust of one of them being apparently set in a picture frame which one of her companions holds in her hand. It is a clever artifice. Mr Muir has likewise some choice views of Lake Manapouri—kodak enlargements—besides a capital grouping of the members of the Club at their first annual meeting. It is an enlargement from a kodak plate taken at 10.30 p.m. by magnesium flash light.

Mr A. T. Bothamley is an industrious artist. He lias, too, a keen eye for artistic groupings and effects and is careful of his light. He mounts his pictures, also, very neatly and simply. There are about 50 of his views on exhibition, printed on the old albumenised paper. They are conspicuous for their clear and well-arranged lights and their skilful treatment. The subjects are various views in Tory Channel, Queen Charlotte's Sound, Wellington harbour; bush, river and sea pictures, and a series of three illustrative of pastoral life. One of the best 13 a sunset effect in Wellington harbour. There is a very nice view of Kapiti from the mainland, with the mast of a sunken vessel standing up out of the water in the foreground, and a sombre sky throwing a cold shade over the chopping sea. Mr Bothamley has also an enlarged view of a yacht under sail, and heading towards the patent slip. It is entitled "See How She Scoons," and is a capital specimen of an instantaneous photograph. Mr W. Beswick is represented by 18 views, well-executed, carefully selected, and displaying good workmanship. They are printed on gelatino-chloride paper, familiarly known as P.0.P., which facilitates good detail work. The subjects have been found in Wellington harbour, on the railway line near Silverstream, at Wadestown, and Dunedin and Auckland. They are all marked by good, bold effects. The one entitled u By Purling Stream" is very attractive, and the Roman Catholic Cathedral at Dunedin is faithfully reproduced. There is nothing finer in the exhibition than the Nikko paper-prints of Mr H. E. Taylor, draftsman in the Survey Office. They are soft and delicate, full of detail and admirably composed. It may bo remembered that last year Mr Taylor carried off the prize for the greatest number of points at the Club's monthly competitions. His pictures are simply beautiful. They comprise views around New Plymouth, Wellington yachts and shipping, and views at Waikanae. This last series are inserted in a blue paper which detracts from their proper effect. Mr W. C. Stephens, the energetic secretary of the Club, shows a first-class enlarged photograph of Mr J. H. Pope (chief inspector of Native schools) seated in smoking cap and dressing-gown in front of his sidereal telescope. It is a speaking likeness. Mr Stephens has also a variety of smaller works, all manifesting careful treatment. The little river study, "Three Men in a Boat," a picturesque sketch of the bush road, Kereru, the deserted Maori church at Silverstream, and a skilful reproduction from a steel engraving of Turner's, "Oberwessel on the Rhino/' »re all deserving of notice.

Mr F. J. Halse has a bromide enlargement of the Wadestown Bridge. It makes a very fair picture, but the lights are not so well managed as they are in the smaller original. Mr Halse has also a frame containing nine interesting views, nicely composed, "but rather sharply vignetted. Mr A. McKay, of the Government Geological Department, sends a number of views which possess a quite peculiar interest from the fact that they are specimens of the work produced by the aid of the "tele-photo lens," which Mr McKay claims to bo his own invention, although Dallmeyer, tho well-known lensmaker, has recently patented it as his own discovery. By an adaptation of the properties of tho telescope to the lens, distant objects are brought into near perspective in the photographs, instead of being mere indistinct specks. The most attractive of all Mr McKay's pictures is his view of a clump of mountain daisies (olearia traversii) growing on the side of a rocky gorge. For clearness of outline and perfectness of detail this picture is a littlo gem.

Mr F. J. Denton has some very fair specimens of bush scenery, of which " The Bush Track, Kereru," may be singled out for its judicious treatment of light and shade.

Mr J. W. Davis (Newtown) shows two frames of pictures. The effect of one of them containing nine views is marred by the blueness of the cardboard surrounding them. The work, however, is creditable. Mr W. Parker has on view two admirable bromide enlargements in portrait work.

Mr E. H. Freeman, a professional photographer, furnishes two frames of cabinet photographs, which are beautifully finished, the retouching being most artistically done. Light and shade are blended with the greatest delicacy, and tho colouring is singularly soft and pleasing. There are three frames of rather pretty views (Lake Taupo and Wanganui River) by Mr W. R. Symons, and two frames of platino-bromides (a new kind of paper) by Mr T. Y. Wardrop.

Mr H. W. Laing (stationmaster at the Lower Hutt) is represented by three views, among which an excellent picture of the Wanganui bridge cannot escape notice.

Mr A. D. Stewart has tv, o frames of views printed on Nikko paper. The effects are charming, and have been much admired. The vignetting, however, is rather sharp. Mr E. W. Daniell shows some very fair landscape pictures, and Mr T. W. Pilcher, jun., has produced some very nice work in interiors and groups. Mr A. de B. Brandon's snap-shots with the kodak are highly interesting. Mr W. H. Davis' large views of early Wellington, to which we have already made reference, are objects of historic value, and they have been a centre of attraction to visitors, and to old identities especially. Wo are obliged by the limitations of space to deal very cursorily with the ex hibits from other districts. Those from Nelson rank next to the Wellington exhibits in number. The work of Mr C. Y. Fell (president of the Nelson Camera Club), Mr A. Pitt and Mr A. W. Patterson is particularly effective. Mr Fell has a keen sense of humour which finds expression sometimes in the titles given to his pictures, and sometimes in the subjects selected for treatment. He sends, amongst many other works, four portraits of Mr Justice Richmond, all very good likenesses, one of them, a Rembrandt in style, being especially noticeable. He has also a really capital bromide enlargement of an instantaneous view of tho New Plymouth breakwater, with an immense wave breaking over it.

Amongst Mr Patterson's collection there are four Mattdruck prints displaying excellent tone, an admirable platino-type ("Moving Mists, Wakamarina"), bringing out the atmospheric effects into bold relief, and a large number of bromide prints remarkably well composed, and marked also by crispness of light. '• Dancing on the Sands" is a pretty picture, and the view of the " Lion Rock, Awaroa Lagoon," is very successful. Mr 11. Brusewitz, a professional photographer, has sent in some capital bromide work, of which the view on the Wangamoa River is perhaps the best. His three interiors are likewise excellent. The views of Mr F. W. Thorp, Mr Sclanders, Mr Startup and Mr F. S. Smith are characterised by faithful work and skilful tieatment.

In the Auckland collection Mr E. Walrond has some really choice bromide enlargements, and Mr H. E. Axthur shows a series of very attractive views illustrative of Tennyson's " Brook." His " Last Gleam of Sunlight" and "Bachelors' Holiday" are also very effective pictures. Mr G. E. Boulton (secretary of tho Auckland Photographic Club) has on exhibition some capital bromide enlargements of bush scenery, and Mr H. Winkleman contributes a large frame of yachting pictures full of detail, and produced in really fine style. Amongst the Christchurch collection Mr S. Page's bromide of a milkmaid at work is worthy of all praise. The execution is first-class. Mr W. Burke's views of interiors and character sketches —•' On the Wallaby" for instance—are very attractive. Mr J. Tosswell and Mr S. Hurst Seager also show good work. The exhibition was again well attended on Saturday, especially in the evening, when a number of musical items were given by members and friends. Mr Harton contributed a piano solo, Messrs Pytt-Jackson, Murrell and W. D. Lyon sang, and Messrs L. Cohen and F. B. played selections on the flute and banjo. Miss Muir sang " Beauty's Eyes " with very good effect.