THE CHRISTCHURCH PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIV, Issue XX, 17 November 1894, Page 462

THE CHRISTCHURCH PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION.

TH E Christchurch Photographic Societies Exhibition, the first of its kind held in New Zealand, was a pronounced success, and is likely to become an annual affair. Few things have become so manifestly popular in so short a time as photography. The increased perfection and cheapness of apparatus, the growing taste for * pictures,’ and their interest and value as mementoes and descriptions, make the camera a favourite instrument everywhere. Humourists may j >ke about the photographic fiend, bnt really it is much more of an angel. No excursion now is perfect without it. I write * it,’becanse nowadays it is no

always a * he,’ for the ladies are as enthnsiastic picturetakers as the men, and show quite as mnch patience and taste. If the photographer is a fiend it is a most genial and pleasant creature, for it gives us pictures of grand mountains, visions of cool ravines, rushing rivers, glorious seas, faces of friends, libels of enemies. One had only to walk quietly through the Christchurch Exhibition to see a very big portion of New Zealand. Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, Hokitika, Canterbury, Otago, all sent exhibits, and a close observer could easily tell what the beauty spots were like in each district. Much of our little known mountain and forest scenery is shown to us by the photographer, for now the camera goes with the explorer and the daring climber of Alpine heights. Messrs Park, Mmnering and Ross show ns country which bnt few men in the world have seen, and in doing this they give some people glimpses of country they never will see.

The Exhibition did not show many pictures that reached a high standard of artistic composition, but this is principally a matter of circumstances and conditions. The camera is naturally a truthful portrayer, and though it may take liberties with cloud effects, it cannot, like the artist, make foregrounds, and bring into pictures effects that spring altogether from tie artistic brain. Still, in selection of views there was evidence of much artistic taste, and the presence of so many pictures of beautiful scenery, chosen with snch fine judgment, shows that the photographers as a body have cultivated their artistic perceptions. There was a greater amount of originality shown in the Christchurch section than in anv other. C. Bickerton with * His Oaly Suit,’ Mr W. Burke with his characteristic

* Swagger ’ pictures, J. J. Kinsey’s ship board pictures, and some of Mr Malcom's work showed a keen perception of human nature. There was perhaps more artistic beauty in some of the Auckland work than in any other. One of R. B. Walrond’s pictures of ‘ Muonlight on the Auckland Harbour’ was strikingly beautiful. Still there was good work from all parts of New Zealand.

There seemed a certain lack of purely characteristic pictures. Of course, the general views are broadly characteristic, but only few showed that close attention to particular details which show the real life of the country. The foaming rapids of our great southern snow rivers, the bold faces of their terraced banks were lost in views that showed miles of country. The deep ravines with their wonderful tangle of tree ferns and creepers were lost in stretches of forest, and so on with many of the pictorial views; but what was most lacking was the study of more minute effects

—the grace and beauty of the native clematis, the stateliness of tree ferns, the slender beauty of ranpo and toi toi, the character of our forest foliage, and the wondrous richness of forest undergrowth. Mr R. Page seems to have done more of this purely artistic work than anyone else, and in doing so his skiil and keen perception as a photographer give some good results. The variety and wide reach of individual exhibits was very noticeable. Mr Milcom, for instance, shows views of Nelson scenery, Canterbury views, Christchurch Gardens, Wairan River scenes; W. Burke shows West Coast and Amari, Banks Peninsula and Canterbury scenes; while Malcolm Ross shows psi haps a wider range still. The foreignc tllccti >n of photographs lent to the exhibi-

tion showed that although New Zealanders are not yet in the highest standard of technical excellence, yet that some of our camera-ites are not a long way behind the older part of the world. This loan collection was a very fine one. Mr E. W. Roper has gathered a remarkably interesting and valuable collection of views during his travels about the world. He shows great judgment in selecting just the most striking and characteristic views, and has evidently considered no expense too great for what would give the means of showing his friends and his fellow countrymen interesting pictures of interesting parts. The other loan pictures lent by Bishop Julius, Peter Cunningham, C. M. Phillips, W. Easton, E. W. S'eager, and H. Van Haast contain some fine examples of work.

It must be remembered that most pictures of the exhibi. tion were the work of amateurs, many of whom have taken to photography purely as an amusement, and when this is considered one cannot help admiring the general excellence of the work, the mark of infinite care and patience. There were some pictures, of course, that showed the photographer simply as a view grabber, but very few. The New Zealand photographer, amateur or not, is developing a standard of excellence which makes care and thought absolutely neces sary, and nothing will do more to maintain and elevate this standard as such an exhibition as we are describing. A most attractive feature of the Exhibition were the limelight views and lectures given by some of the exhibitors. Mr E. W. R iper's delightful lecture on his travels in the E mt, and especially his racy description of people he had met, with the excellent lantern slide pictures, was a treat to many people, and so were W. Burke’s clever sketches of swagger characters and lantern slides of swagger scenes. The Exhibition was very well patronised by all classes of people, and the wish that it might become an annual affair was generally expressed.

The robes oi humility often deceive ; and the shoemaker's downcast look may indicate simply a wish to find out how long the wayfarer can go without ordering a new pair of shoe*. Conscience flourishes best on continuous hard service and should not be allowed to take a holiday for a single afternoon.