THE CAMERA COLUMN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1290, 19 November 1896, Page 12

THE CAMERA COLUMN.

[By Snapshot.J

All readers requiring advice or opinion on matters connected with the Art are incited to make use of this column. Communications should he written on one side of the paper j only, with as few worcis as necessary for the proper elucidation of the subject, and addressed to “ Snapshot,” c/o N.Z. Mail. } Queries should be brief, but MUST give j full details, and should be accompanied by samples of faults, &c., where practicable. “Snapshot” will also be glad to receive samples of prints for criticism and notice. urns. } The attendance at the monthly meeting 1 of the Wellington Camera Club was not as / large as one would expect considering the subject and the gentleman who was going to speak on it. Mr Stephens said m commencing that he had intended his remarks more for the tyro, than for the advanced student, and showed us how to adapt our cameras for the purpose of enlarging and also lantern slide making; and those present were given the benefit of the experience of some years.

It is surprising how some people will rather pay To for material for wasting for although it is called experimenting by some, it is nothing else but waste —than condescend to ask a friend or buy a shilling* manual. Mr Stephens told us of a young lady that ho met who was in great trouble. She could not got any good results because her developer was ivrong ! He went with her to her dark room and tested the developer and found it to be O.K. Looking at the negatives lie found that they had been very much over-exposed. “ What exposure did you give ?” “ l’en seconds.” What stop did you use ?” And his young friend asked in astonishment “Doesn’t’it stou when you put the cap on ?”

There are a good many people like this young lady —ignorant of the very rudiments of photography. They blame the developer, the plates, the lens, the camera, everything, in fact, but themselves, until they confess their ignorance and seek the advice of a friend.

After Mr Stephens had finished his talk the rest of the time was spent in conversation about various matters. This is t.ho form of meeting that I am particularly partial to, for it is through conversation with tlioso who have studied theory, and are acquainted with fact, that tno beginner can profit most. Now for one or two illustrations.

One gentleman, who makes the majority of his lantern slides by reduction, on being asked what exposure he gave, quite astonished his questioner by saying 15 to 20 seconds, using daylight. I well remember my first experience in making lantern slides. “About eight to ten seconds, afoot away from a fishtail burner, with a negative of ordinary density,” was the instruction, and —well it’s not necessary to give the results.

Another gentleman advocated the use of a standard developer, that is a developer in which the bromide, the pyro, Ac., were always in the same proportions, with the use of an eichronometer. He said that this was the only way in which uniformity of negatives could be obtained. The law laid down is that the time which elapes between the pouring on of the developer and the first appearance of the high lights if multiplied by a certain number gives the worker the exact time when development is complete. For instance: When using pyro and soda to convert the water into a developing agent, if the high lights appear in two minutes the development is complete in six. As ammonia loses its strength very considerably this method cannot be applied to it.

This gentleman also stated that ho never on any account altered the proportions of the ingredients of his developer—whether pyro, metol or hydrokinono —although for snapshots and underexposed plates he diluted it with water—and finished up by saying that ho was willing to show his negatives with anyone. And this all conies from a man who is no novice!

At a recent garden party held in South London tho whole lawn, on which some five hundred people were dancing, .vas illuminated by acetylene gas, the arrangements being made by the munufactureis of" the I n can to Gas Generators. The American insurance companies unanimously refuse to take risks on buildings that are lighted with acetylene. No doubt they will soon get over this prejudice.

The Port Nicholson Yacht Club were so well satisfied with the result of the art union which they held in connection with the photographic competition in the early part of this year that they have decided to offer £2O for prizes for yachting pictures taken during the present season. Messrs A. de B. Brandon, A. L>. Filey and Chapman, who gave such satisfaction as judges last year, have been asked to again take that position.