Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-01-13
THE DRY PLATE PROCESS.
THE PHOTOGRAPHIC PASSION IS
EASILY .GRATiFlED.

"Dry Plates" the Keynote of Amateur
Photography-The Wet Plate Process.
The Element of Portability-Instanta-
neous Work-Aid to Students.
Once acquired, the Photographic passion is
easily gratifled. The inventive genius of the
century seems to have conspired for it.; en-
enlargement. Tho daintiest devices in wood
and brass the coyest lenses, the airiest tripods
the Suggest carrying cases-all seem espe-
cially endowed with that peculiar qualit,
which tempts one who has straddled a new
hobby to plant the spurs impetuously. few
years ago matters were very different. The
keynote of amateur photography, the cdr,
plate" has been supplied within eight or tel
years, since the dry plate process, though ia
use for more than a decade, was not brough;
to trustworthy perfection until it had under
gone several seasons trial. There were, III
deed, wet plate amateurs" and there are to
day some who follow the example of man,
professionals in adhering to the older method
But amateur photography now PRACTICAL.
means dry plate photography. 1t was til
amateur who welcomed the dry plate at
time when the professional was yielding
only cautious tolerance Why he wei
The principle of the wet plate process l.
suggested by its name. The glass negative
plate is coated with colodion, exposed in the
camera while wet and developed at once
This implies the presence of appliances within
short distance Of the place where the ex
posture was made. In order to make views
out of doors the photographer was obliged t.
carry all outfit which in these times woul'
look lugubriously elaborate. l have seen t,
"home made" amateur wet plate apparatus.
made very ingeniously of telescoping boxes
with an eye hole at the top, an arm hole al
each side, an orange light window in the
front for all the tinkering with the mos,
plate had to be done without white, actinic
light, and the whole, with its trays, baths
solutions in bottles, ETC., could be reduced to
. relatively small bundle.
WHEN THE DRY PLATE CAME.
When the dry plate arrived it became pos
sible to do away with all this ponderous ma
chinery. The dry plates, bought ready pre-
pared, can be kept for months before use, and
for months again after exposure before they
are developed-a phenomenon of which the
wonder is always new Thus one may carry
a camera with him through Europe pack W
the exposed plates, and, unless some custom
|
despair, insists upon opening @ few of the
| packages to discern the meaning, of their omi
nous weight, develop them all on his retur,
| home.
This element of portability is not tho onl,
feateur OF the dry plate process which had al
immediate influence upon the development o
amatuer photography. A capacity for RAPID
work was from the outset an important char
acteristic of the process. By continued ex
| pertinent the sensitiveness of the eelatint
film with which the plates are coated wa
| from time to time increased, until now al
| exposure for the two-hundredth part of {
second is sufficient to secure an adequate neg
| alive. The value of this achievement i
wider than the field of the amatuer. Within
the few years during watch instantaneou
work has been possible, both science and ar
have increased their obligations to the camera
| Every one remembers the burst of merri
ment and wonder that greeted Mr.. Muy
bridges picture of the horse in motion. Tb
motion of a sound Jared lamp flame, til
flight Of n cannon shot, the forkings of light
ning and thousand other phenomena hav
been dexterously photographed Tbroug
this medium both the naturalist and the sur
geon have gained better knowledge of mus
cular action. One anatomist uses the rap
plate to settle the long standing dispute us t
whether, in the twirling Of the fist, the un
or the radius moves tho more; another fasten
with beeswax upon the line of a model
spine row of glistening Christmas tire
balls and then takes dozen impression
within second while the model is walkn
away from tine operator. 1t is in this name
that instantaneous photography has mad
itself invaluable to students in many depart
ments Of knowledge. students who, Will
they are in sense amateur photographers
make professional use Of the product. Ale,
ander Black in The Century.