THE CAMERA COLUMN.

New Zealand Mail, 28 July 1898, Page 17

THE CAMERA COLUMN.

[By Snapshot.] All readers requiring advice or opinion on matters connected with the Art are invited to make use of this column. OUR EXHIBITIONS, NORTH OTAGO PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY] The following were the different entries in the competitions held in connection with the first exhibition held under the auspices of the above society : —Portraits, 17 ; landscapes, 25 ; marine subjects, 24 ; objects in motion, 3 j architecture, 4; animals, 6 ; enlargements, 24. I learn from the “ Oamaru Mail,” that Mr J. S Holmes, the president of the society, acted as judge and made the following awards:— Portraiture. '•The Little Machinist” (G. F. Green, Napier), 1. A beautiful picture, pose of figure very natural, light good and definition splendid. “ A Portrait Study ” (G. F. Green, Napier), 2. An excellent portrait, posture not as natural as first, and definition above the eyes not so good. “The Village Schoolmaster” (Buckley Joyce, Wellington), 3. A fine portrait, but light and shade too strongly contrasted. Taken together, this is a good class, but the first three stand out. Landscapes. “Tranquility” (Buckley Joyce, Wellington), 1. A very pretty subject, the reflection in the water being excellent; sky not so good as second prize picture. “ The Bridge” (H. Bicknell, Oamaru), 2 A most artistic picture, the subject being well in the foreground, and clearly defined; sky very good indeed. “Eventide” (Buckley Joyce, Wellington), 3. The sky is very good again here, but the foreground is rather poor, being underexposed. 'Phis was the best class in the competition, and several frames are worthy of mention. Marine Subjects. “Driven by the Wind and Tossed” (G F. Green, Napier), 1. The spray of the . waves dashing on the rocks is excellent, but the sky is mud ly an i the picture un--1 evenly mounted. “St.Clair” (D. L Patterson, Oamaru), 2. A nice picture; the sky good, but the light on the sea is somewhat theatrical in effect. “Stormy Weather” (I). L. Patterson, Oamaru), 3. The breaking waves are very well caught. Several good pictures in this class are rather spoilt by catoiii jg the t-u i-i-jut gleaming on the sea. Tu« * il.ct m y be | pretty, but it is not artistic, and photo- | is essentially Art. | Objects in Motion. | “Coming through the Bush” (G. F. Green, Napier), 1. A very beautiful piece of scenery, which with the sheep makes it one of the best pictures in the exhibition. “ i>rovers at Work ” (Miss F. M. Gifford, Oamaru), 2. Also a pretty picture. “Mustering Sheep” (G. F. Green, Napier), 3. Arc iitecture. “Tima.ru Church” (Miss F. M. Gifford, Oamaru), 1. A very nicely toned picture, but definition still excellent. “General Post Office, Wellington” (W. Beswick, Napier), 2. The lines are rather hard, as they are apt to be in this class of work; no atmosphere; -water good. “ Boys’ High School” (J. Swan, Oamaru), 3. Line 3 also hard here. Animals. “ Feeding the Pet Lambs ” (G. F. Green, Napier), 1. Not such a pretty picture as the second, but better study of animals. , “Coming through the Bush" (G. F. Green, Napier), 2. The same as in previous olasa. - I

“ Interest” (H. Bicknell, Oamaru), 3.As a class the first two stand out. Enlargements. “ A sloepy land where under the same wheel, The same rufc would deepen year by year.” (A M. Macdonald, Invercargill), 1. This picture is much in advance of anything else in this class, and it is rare such a fine enlargement is seen; sky excellent; subject pleasingly near the foreground. “On the TYyndham” (J. E. Vernon, Invercargill), 2. “ Driven by the Wind and Tossed ” (G. F Green, Napier), 3. As a claims rather disappointing, though some good pictures are shown, which are almost as worthy of mention as tLe second . and third prizes. Lantern Slides (Set of Six). G. F. Green, Napier, 1. A very superior collection. “ The Little Machinist ” portrait was the best; of the set. It. II Gathcart, Oamaru, 2. Also an excellent set, mostly of pretty little spots in the Oamaru Gardens. D. L. Patterson, Oamaru, 3. A rural scene was about the beat of anothtr good lot. There were eight entries altogether.

NEWS AND NOTES.

Speaking of the first-prize picture in the Landscape class, the North Otago Times” says that it was really a beautiful piece of work, but was unfortunately marred by the disagreeable colour ! The picture in question was printed on green carbon, and judging by the fact that nothing was mentioned in either of the local papers about the carbon work sent by the members of the Wellington Camera Club, and which was greatly admired and praised by the press of both Otago and Southland (that of Mr Thomas Pringle calling for special mention) one is forced to the conclusion that carbon is an unknown quantity in Oamaru. I was expecting the press critic to say that the colour was due, in all probability to the picture being toned in sulphate of copper ! I wonder if the Oamaru judge is an Orangeman, The frames for the Queensland Exhibition will havo to be despatched by the Wakatipu leaving Wellington on Wednesday, August 3rd. Wo do not hear much about any “ boom” existing in photography at present, but, judging from the very satisfactory dividends declared lately by two of the leading firms in the trade in the Old World, it seems as if business was in a very healthy state, to say the least. The gum-bichromate paper is now obtainable commercially at Home, and not, as the French article has been, as a matter of favour. It is made and sold by the GumBichromate Paper Co., Loudon, is supplied in several colours, and will keep for two or three weeks. I fancy I hear some colonials say, “ Thank Heaven, for it won’t keep long enough to stand the voyage to New Zealand.” But we can prepare our own !