AMATEUR MOVIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 843, 11 December 1929, Page 16

AMATEUR MOVIES

AUCKLAND CAMERAMEN AT WORK FILMING OUTBOARDS (By Homovie.) Interest in the hand movie camera which can be transported as easily as its still prototype is increasing and during the coming holiday season many of these fascinating little instruments will be seen in action. Mr. A. Warbrick, of Milford, has been busy lately with his hand movie securing an interesting series of pictures dealing with North Shore. He has obtained a charming series of pictures of Milford Beach and Takapuna, illustrating beach scenes. Last Sunday he paid a visit to Narrow Neck and shot a number of scenes. Movies of the Wakatere Canoe Club’s activities were taken, and some excellent action pictures of sailing canoe races were photographed. There was a good breeze blowing and the tiny craft were working under lively conditions. The light was not too good, but it is hoped that results will prove satisfactory.

Mr. Warbrick is taking these pictures to advertise the North Shore, and later will exhibit them in the South.

Outboard motor racing enthusiasts were able to see themselves the other night as others see them, thanks to a friend who had taken movie, pictures of the outboard motor racing at the Whau River. He had secured a most interesting series of pictures, and those who had been taking part in the races, on seeing the pictures, were surprised at the extraordinary antics their craft had performed. Members of the club were delighted with the pictures, and it will not be surprising if some of them do not join the ranks of movie cameramen.

Incidentally, the screening of pictures of motor-boat racing and similar sports offers a solution of the difficulty many clubs have in getting members interested enough to attend meetings. It has been found with many organisations that whereas members will turn out in force on race days, when it comes to the business end of the stick they will not attend meetings. With the announcement that after the business had been completed moving pictures of the club’s activities would be screened, it seems almost certain that the members wpuld roll up to see pictures, in which they themselves figured, and a much healthier interest in the business side of the clubs’ activities would result. It is an idea which may commend itself to various sports organisations.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

Answer: Your positive prints are excellent, gradation good and “time” and “stops” used were correct. What you feel lacking is the composition of your subjects. While stereoscopic results are quite possible with a lens camera, a semi-stereoscopic effect can be obtained by having trees, shrubs, fences, or other protruding objects in the near foreground between the camera and principal objects to be photographed. For illustration, an old-fashioned cottage and garden alone will not give the depth and natural effect as will the cottage and garden photographed with a fence or trees in the near foreground. The same applies to buildings, street scenes, parks, a monument, light poles, etc., which introduced in the near foreground, will give such perspective to the picture as will be more lifelike and interesting.