Scientific and Useful

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5, 3 August 1907, Page 35

Scientific and Useful

FAST-SHUTTER PHOTOGRAPHY.

On the whole, the most suitable camera for foeal-plane shutter work is, I think, the reflex, though I am not at all sure that the camera used at the eye level, with a large “direct vision” finder, is not in some ways equally satisfactory. It is a question for the individual worker to decide. If he can dispense •with the increased power of accurate focussing that the reflex provides, the collapsible form of camera, with shutter built into the body, will be found cheaper and probably equally effective. Tables of exposures for objects moving at certain speeds at certain distances from the camiia are not given here, and I do vac advise the amateur, if he finds them elsewhere, to place much trust in them. They are correct enough, I dare say, but how few shutters there are that give exposures even approximately the same as those marked on the indicator! Far better will it be for the photographer to find out the peculiarities of his own apparatus, and learn to know what it will do and what it will not do. One or two general remarks on exposure may be useful, however. Always work the shutter at the lowest speed that the movement of the object will permit, so 'as to avoid unnecessary risk of under-exposure. The larger the moving object appears upon th» plate, the quicker must be the exposure; and an object moving across the field of view, “broadside on,” that is to say, will require a quicker exposure than will an object moving towards or away from the camera 'at the same pace. If you find that with the exposure required by the speed of the object the plate would be hopelessly under-exposed, the best thing to do is to st-and farther off, get the image smaller on the plate—you can then give a slower exposure without risk of . blur—and enlarge subsequently the small image obtained. Use the fastest plates you can get for this class of work. Under best conditions of light you can always stop down the lens, if necessary, and the extra speed will be very useful on a dull day. For development I use dilute pyro-metol. and give plenty of water and time, if the exposure has been at all inadequate. But many people favour rodinal, and pyrosoda, skilfully used, is perfectly satisfactory. If you use the developer to which you are accustomed, you will probably not go far wrong. Thorough knowledge of your apparatus 'and materials is more than half the battle in photography. , ,

THE BOW OF A “DANSEUSE.”

According to the wise men of the Academy of Dancing, the graceful exercise or Terpsichore is like to lead to matrimony; it may also lead to the lawcourt amt to the inditing of angry letters. A case in point is that of Mlle. Trouhanowa—yet another Russian of a tumultuous turn.' Mademoiselle danced toplease. Herod—and the Parisian public —incidentally, she displeased Herr Strauss, conductor of the orchestra. It was not the dancing he objected to. but to the habit of the artist to make her bow to the public in thanks for their cheers. ‘ It makes me look ridiculous,” said Herr Strauss, “because there are two Salomes—the one who sings and the one wao ounces. The bow of the dancing ■Salome is inartistic -and spoils the illnsin" 1 ’ ,That was his argument—manlike. But he had reckoned without Eve. I shall make my bow or I shall take my leave.” said Salome No. 2 —and she took her leave and wrote to the papers about, it. she bald some plain words or the composer and some more for ’he other lady. There is « certain justice on her side. . n J a 3 r M ridiculous for The “danseuse” of „ ormal, y acknowledge the plaudits al,-. 1 -T ,P ul, ' ic » when her identity is or I"' , * mer Be<l8 e<1 in that of the interpre,,ie r °le, but it is surely equally tidioulou. for an y artiste to bow at all.

Three bows do not make one right, of course, but they constitute an excuse. If Herr Doktor takes his bow, why not the dancer? We have had our fill of dancers’ disputes. Is there not the classic instances of the lady who summoned M. Samuel, of the Varietes, because he put her into skirts instead of the traditional “tu-tu”?—the tulle and tiny dress of the “bailerinc.” And the learned judges of the courts gave her reason.

NOSE BLEEDING

Continued and obstinate nose bleeding Iras been at times very difficult to stop, and a simple and effective remedy will no doubt prove welcome to those who live in the country, or at some distance from medical attendance. A severe case of nose bleeding occurred recently abroad, and after resorting to every expedient without success the doe- ' tor, as a last resource, tried ham fat. Two large cylinders of bacon were forced up into the nostril, resulting in almost immediate relief, and an entire cessation of the hemorrhage. This easy remedy should be remembered by those who are subject to frequently recurring nose bleeding.

CANADIAN CHEESE,

There is one of our products of which Canadians have no doubt, and that is cheese, writes Miss Jean Graham in the “Canadian Magazine.” Denmark may be able to show a better record for butter; but when the subject is cheese, Canada knows that it is unmistakably, if not easily, first. At home we arc using cheese in a variety of ways unknown to our grandmothers. Its desirable qualities in any of the dishes known as “savouries” are becoming known, and the demand for all the fin'r varieties of cheese has increased fourfold in the last ten years. We all know that Welsh rabbit has been considered as dangerous a midnight dainty as threatens the human digestion. But this is all a sad mistake, an idle prejudice. Properly made, the Welsh rabbit is a thing of delieiousness and a joy for ever. Everyone knows that macaroni demands cheese, and that applepie simply, craves such an accompaniment. Celery also is a lonely course without a small jar of delectable eream cheese in the neighbourhood. But tomatoes, especially when baked, are especially enjoyed by many vegetcrians if there is just a suspicion of grated cheese; in fact, this dairy product is just beginning to come into its culinary own, and is going to find its way into salads, savouries, and even soups to an extent undreamed of m the comparatively cheesele ;s days of the past. The traditions of Cheshire may yet yield to the modern wonders, of the Canadian product.

TELEGRAPHY IN CENTRAL AFRICA.

Wireless telegraphy is to play an important part in th? linking up of the continent of Africa. In the Cape to Cairo telegraphic! system, started by Cecil Rhodes in 1892, the original scheme was to join these extremities of the continent by means of an overhead wire, and the scheme would probably have been carried out but for the advantage offered by the new system in one portion of the route. The work has proceeded northwards as •far as Ujiji, on Lake Tuma nyika. and from this point communication with the southern extremity of the northern wire at Port Victoria on the Victoria Nyanza will probably be completed by the wireless system. The country in this region is almost entirely unknown, but it is exceedingly broken and‘rugged, and would present enormous difficulties to the establishment and maintenance of an overhead wire. The distance in a direct line is about four hundred and fifty miles, and the spanning of this space by wireless telegraphy should be comparatively easy and very much cheaper than bv the original scheme.