CAMERA NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1018, 2 November 1912, Page 4

CAMERA NOTES.

[Bv “Focus,’']

Just a few words to introduce this column. Through the generosity of the editor of this journal, I shall be permitted to continue weekly discourses, appearing in each issue of Saturday, on topics connected with the camera world, and I trust that they will be acceptable, and of some practical value, to those who are interested in camera craft. Tin-; rkchntly-rormed club. It has often been the subject of comment on the part of Hnglish photographic journals that the advent of summer is responsible for the re-appearance of many amateurs whose acquaintance with the pastime is limited to a few dozen exposures, and consequently the production of prints which cannot be altogether classed as artistic or technically superior. The responsible camera worker, however, is he who continues his study of its intricacies regardless of the season or weather, and it is he alone who can claim to be the enthusiast, the real keen worker, who finds something more in the hobby than merely “snapping 1 whatever happens to be in the field of view when the shutter is released.

There is no doubt that these comments on the part of photo graphic writers have ample justification, and it is on this account that a club, such as has been formed locally, will score. It is at such meetings as will be held in the future that the spasmodic “snapper’’ will come in contact with the more practical and genuine “camera man,” and profit thereby, and the facility that such an institution offers to the novice to share equally with the experienced worker the latter’s knowledge, gained by many failures and much study, is indeed an opportunity that should be fully realised by those who may be termed inexperienced.

another side. To the proficient, also, such a club has its attractions. Already an addition has beeu made to the schedule for the Horticultural Society’s Autumn Show in the shape of a photographic class—hitherto not existing through lack of interest—and the money to be allotted as prizes among the different sections of this class will amount to a guinea or more. Truly a good commencement. Although it is not anticipated that the entries for the photographic class in the Spring Show will show an increase on previous years, it is safe to predict that, through the influence of the Club, the space that will be repnired at the Autumn Sir w will be considerable. CAMERAS AND BRAINS,

A writer some twelve mouths s go suggested that amateurs could be divided into two classes—“those who had cameras aud those who bad brains.” The former, no doubt, were those who took up their “shadow-catchers” during the sunny days of summer, but the latter were responsible for the work which justified the term “photographer.” The number of “sunny day,” or “butterfly,” photographers is remarkable, and a fact still more remarkable is that they allow their kuowledge of camera work to remain so limited. To suggest the use of ortho., panchromatic, or plates of the non-filter or anti-screen variety, is to talk ol unheardof nu necessaries. Yet, to the conscientious worker aud the man who understands, a thorough knowledge of all these varieties of colour-sensitive plates is necessary.

A FKW WORDS OF ADVICF. There is only a lew short words of advice necessary to the “dabbler” —throw it up, or search beneath the surface for those interesting fields which become more alluring as you explore them. What is more interesting than to suit the plate to the subject ? and what is more pleasing thatrto get j a negative full of subtle' and correct gradations ranging from the deepest shadows to the high-lights, with correct rendering of colour values, from a subject composed of a predominance of colours more or less non-actinic to the “ordinary” or “special rapid ?” •