National Republican., 1885-09-05
AMATEURS WITH THE CAMERA.


AT no time since Thomas Wcdgcwood
secured the first photograph ON a plate un-
der an insects wing as camera has the
art Of picture taking been SO popular as at
present." says the New York Tribune.
Convenient and cheap apparatus attracts
thousands Of professional aud business men
10 the study Of photography as n pastime.
II is estimated that no less than 5000
amateurs are enjoying the study in this
country. A number Of ladies are interested,
and for their fastidiOus taste special chem
Cals, used in developing plates, have been
prepared to avoid staining their hands.
Daguerrc and Mefccc revolutonized pho
Biography by the publication Of their cXpcr-
mcnts in 1880. In 1877 and 1873 the Rev.
DR.. II. NJ Maddox and Mr. Bennett, Il hat
maker, caused another revolution by mix
ing bromide Of silver with gelatinc, boiling
1t and spreading the mixture on glass plates
to dry. These are the instantaneous dry
plates which take photographs in Il fraC-
rOn of a second. Their cheapness (thcy
are sold for 1 cents each, their accuracy,
and convenience delight amateurs, who
can now carry on experiments with an
outfit costing only SO although $25 cX-
pended in an outfit proves more satsfaC-
tory in securing good work.
Few clubs existed among amateurs until
about the beginning of 1854. Among the
regularly organized clubs in active opera
tiOn, with laboratories, reading and expert
mcnting rooms, the Society Of Amateur
Photographers, New York, with S5 mem
bers; the Camera Club, Cincinnati, with So
members the Amateur Photographers
Club, Chicago, 40: the Amateur PhOtogra-
pliers Club, Philadelphia, 35 Amateur
Photographic Society, Pittsburg, 30; Pacific
Amateur Photographers Association, San
Francisco, 80; Association Of Amateur Pho
tOgraphcrs, Lowell, Mass, ~; Camera Club,
Hartford, Conn, 20, and Amateur Photo
graphic Society, Baltimore, 90 are clubs OF
II high class, Their membership represents
asmall fraction Of the amateur Photographic
community, for scarcely one Of the clubs
named is two years old, and the organiza-
lions are not yet well known. To enjoy the
privileges which they offer costs from S5 to
S!5 annually, \ club member has adyan-
tagcs offered by intercourse with minds
bent In the direction of his own; he wit
nesscs frequent valuable experiments, and
Is Informed of all the front rank dongs in
the world Of photography. In the season
entertainments, with lanterns and slides,
furnish photographers and friends many an
evenings amusement at the club rooms
Free use Of well-lltted laboratories is another
inducement for Joining Il photographers
club.
Like the painter, If he has the time and
money, in the summer the photographer
hies away to country scenes, An outfit caI
he packed in an ordinary cigar box. From
a car window, steamboat deck, or stage
coach the little camera win record sccncs
faithfully. The mail carries the plates tC
town. The professional photographer print
the pictures In weeks time AN album
full of pictures of a journeys scenes or
visit are prepared to the satisfaction of til,
operator.
Professional photographers say that anna
teurs are iniuring their business. This Il
not so. The amateur is Il help to the pro
fessional The mind Of the business artis
Is occupied almost constantly with routine