CAMERA NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1064, 15 February 1913, Page 4

CAMERA NOTES.

[By “Focus.”]

It is expected that in consequence of the amount of prize money the Foxton Horticultural Society has allotted for the photographic class in their Autumn Show this year, that a record entry of prints will be made by amateurs. The Society was forced, through lack of interest, to remove this class from their recent schedules, but since the formation of a camera club, and through the recommendation of some of its members, this class has again been included, and prize money amounting to over a guinea and a half is now allotted to three subjects only. There should, in consequence, be a considerable revival of interest among photographers, and the number of competitors at the forthcoming show should be sufficient to induce the Society to offer equally substantial prizes at future shows.

The way in which the various subjects are classified is an advancement on the previous style of entering a number of photos to be judged as “the best collection,” in that it offers more scope for the emphasis of individual superiority in any one subject. In view of the fact that some camera subjects are more difficult to manage than others, it seems hardly fair that, where all entries are judged together, a well rendered collection of fairly easy subjects should be given preference over a number of difficult subjects slightly less technically or artistically correct. The judging of photographs is a somewhat difficult duty to perform. The artistic merits of a print are no doubt the first consideration, but as all tastes in these matters can never absolutely coincide, a little margin must be allowed for a judge’s own particular fancies or idiosyncrasy, but in this matter, as in others, there are the same broad rules applied, and the artistic merits in every direction receive consideration. lam reminded of a certain young member of the Royal Society at Home who, it is said, submits his work to the criticism of an expert friend, who suggests to him where improvements may be made in his prints; duly makes the improvements, and then dispatches the corrected photos, when an opportunity occurs, to competitions where his critic friend has been appointed judge. This young photographer is known for the number of prizes he has carried off, but his method is questioned. Nothing can be done, but the same course is open to others.

The services of Mr Elliot, art master of the Palmerston North Technical School, have been secured by the Secretary of the Horticultural Society in the judging of the competition prints, and in consequence ot this all entries and prints are requested to be in the hands of Mr Patterson by the 26th instant, in order that sufficient time may be allowed to forward the prints to Palmerston N. to be judged before the date fixed for the show.