CAMERA NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1033, 30 November 1912, Page 4

CAMERA NOTES.

AN ARTICLE FOR THE UNATTACHED PHOTOGRAPHER.

[By “Focus.”]

Writing in the “A.P. & P.N.” for September, tbs Rev H. 0. Fenton, it. a,, writes an article headed, “Why I Joined a Photographic Club,” an extract from which is given below. Apropos of the formation ol a club in Foxton, the following may prove instrumental in enlightening those who have not already enlisted as members as to the benefits of federation among camera workers : “It is just ten years since I first joined a photographic club. As I look back on that period and see how vastly 1 have gained by doing so, I think it is worth while to jot down the reasons that induced me to join in the first place, and to keep up my member drip ever since. Ten r cars ago I was able occasionally to make a negative that technically was very fair, but my percentage ot wasters was huge. I invariably printed on P.0.P., and made hideous mistakes in toning, while time has most unkindly shown the impermeuaiice ol the majority of my prints,” The writer continues to explain that at that time such technical terms as “subduing of high lights,” “accents,” “Howard Farmer,” “bolting silk,” etc., sounded elevating, but .presented to his mind the haziest notions of what they represented in practice. “What exactly was meant by such criticisms as ‘merely lopo graphical,’ ‘very neatly pictorial,’ aud how was I to make a print that should be quite pictorial? Finally, how was I to reduce that percentage of wasted negatives aud prints ? Clearly, by gelling advice from persons vyho knew more about it than I did myself. To be of real service that advice must be demonstrative, and not merely verbal or written. Where could I, a stranger in a strange laud, get this help? Obviously by joining a club. So to the secretary of the nearest chib I applied for membership; and here I found various old hands willing to give assistance, and many beginners anxious to join with me iu learning. ... I came iu contact with practical work and practical workers, who were perfectly willing to impart their tips aud dodges, while lectures and_ demonstrations were regularly given by men who bad specialised in their various subjects.” The Rev. Fenton so recognised the advantages appertaining to such clubs that, on being moved from one district to another, considered it one of his first duties on reaching his new place of residence to make application to the secretary of the nearest club for enrolment as an active member. His knowledge of photographic methods rapidly advanced, aud he was soon able to determine correct exposure, aud thus the prolific cause of spoilt negatives was removed ; then the easiest way of developing these correct exposures was unfolded, aud this led to a great increase iu the printing value of bis negatives. His knowledge was extended, under the tuition of proficient members of the club, to the mysteries of “Howard Farmer,” “Saskett,” aud others, and the after-treatment of negatives became simplicity itself. “It was an enormous help,” be continues, “to see some recognised authority iu the photographic world hold up a print aud explain why the trimming off of two inches from the top would improve the picture, or why the camera should have beeu placed a tew feet to the right, or why the view should have been taken wbeu the suu was iu some other position. . , . . Without the club’s assistance I should have muddled ou like so mauy other button-pushers. I might perhaps have secured a few printable negatives out of every dozen, but there would have been nothing to distinguish my prints from the commonplace results produced in such vast numbers by the ordinary amateur. While the benefits ot a camera club are large, the subscription is generally small, and probably would be soon counterbalanced by the saving in material.”