The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-05-12
AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHY.
Progress of the Amusement During the Past
Five Years.
Rochester Post-Express.l

hOcneSter BOSt-EXpreSS.
II scarcely dare take nap during the day
nowadays" said a gentleman who had hor-
ror of photographs. "When 1 wake up L
always see camera pointed at me. Ny sons
are simply crazy on the subject of amateur
photography. Everything that can run or
swim, fly or crawl. they photograph. They
have picture OF me taken when fell asleep
in my arm chair"
at is true" said one of the most success
full amateur photographers this morning,
that we are perfect c-anks on the subject of
photography. We talk of little else and we
think of little else. 1t has become perfect
craze"
These two expressions show the progress
that amateur photography has made during
the last few years. The amusement dates
back a little over five years when pocket
camera" was put on the market. 1t was a
most successful venture for the manufac-
turer. Since that time photography has daily
gained in favor as popular diversion. For
SIS or Sl6 person can purchase apparatus
for taking successfully all kinds of pictures,
and perhaps the majority of tourists are now
supplied with camera. Most of the anna
teurs lind they wish to increase their appa-
ratus from time to time and the amusement
is for this reason often expensive.
Rochester has a number of the most sue
c,ssful amateur photographers in the couu-
try, and several of them have taken prizes
for the excellence of their work. During
the last year the number of ladies who have
yielded to the fascination of the amusement
has greatly increased. They have been even
more successful as rule than the gentle
men. They have more taste and their pa
thence enables them to overcome difficulties
which vex the gentlemen when they try for
the first time TO solve the mysteries of the
art.
Amateur photographers, said one of the
L.. -. ~ r
siocals TO do better work There are now
galleries in this town, however, which exhibit
work that most amateurs would be ashamed
of. If they wish to maintain their
position as professionals they must make
better pictures. They admit this them
selves. You know, after an amatuer has
been at work with his camara for a little
time he begins to aspire to portrait work,
and some have been quite successful. One
reason which accounts for great deal of The
poor work of professionals is the low prices
of the last few years. Perhaps as good pic
lures have baen turned out AS could ne OK
pected for the money. / don't think the
amateurs will affect The business of the pro-
fessiOnals to any extent, perhaps little.
Amateurs study a great deal, and they DO
conscientious work. They learn a great
deal, and they tell to others what they dis
cover so that every one interested in
photography is benefited. They do a
great deal of good in this way. Profession
ais. you know, look up their secrets Tor JueIr
pecuniary benefit. Many of the profession
ais recognize the Importance of the work Of
the beginners and are ready to advise them
and aid them at any time"
The amateur photographers of the city
have formed a section of the Academy oil
Science, which meets the first and third Mon
days of each month. The meetings promise
to be of the greatest interest and benefit to
the members. The ante-room adjoining the
general assembly room of the academy will
probably be fitted up suitably for purpose:
of experiment and demonstration. Manu-
facturers are interested in the organization,
and have offered to exhibit new appliances,