Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-07

means OF practice outdoors.
MUST USE QUICK LENSES.
To begin with. the operator must pay
special attention to his lens and plates for
interior exposures. The latter should be
very rapid, the same as are used for instan-
taneous exposures ia. the open. As rule it
is best to give the lense the "full opening"
j. e., no diaphragm, or stop, in focusing.
Or, if any stop is to be used, it should be a
large one. If person or n particular
object in room is to be photographed
almost any lens will answer, but for a
general view of room the wide angle lens
is the only one to use. This style of lens
gives only slight exaggeration of perspec-
as it makes the room look larger than it
really is, without giving the distorted lines
common to pictures made with other lenses.
1t is as necessary to keep the direct rays
of light from striking the lens in taking in
teriors as in outdoor exposures, if not more
30. For instance, do not point your camera
toward the windows unless they are on the
SIDE of the room you wish for your back
ground, and then only if you can darken
them and get your light from another quar-
ter. It stands to reason that if the camera
Is pointed IN the direction of a window
through which bright light is allowed to
shine the plate will be quickly affected by
that strong light and only to the extent OF
the space occupied by the window on the
plate.
WILL DEVELOP LIKE FLASH.
twill come up in developing like flash,
leaving the rest Of the plates under-exposed
and indistinct, il in fact anything at all is
to be seen. Therefore keep your light to
your back or to one side. Windows may
easily be darkened by hanging shawls,
piano covers or blankets over them until
near the end of the exposure, when they
should be uncovered for a second or two,
just long enough to show that the windows
exist in the picture.
Large pictures, mirrors and other bright
objects in the room should also be we'll
looked after, so that no reflection of light is
thrown from them upon the lens or each
other. The arrangement of the furniture in
the room is a most important matter. The
tout ensemble may present q pleasing effect
to the eye, but the eye alone cannot be
trusted in this case. Look at the reflection
of the effect on the ground glass of your
camera and see that there is a harmonious
appearance there. A cozy armchair may
look all right in the foreground to the eye,
but perchance you will find that it is in
direct line with the lens and large part of
the background, thus shutting out much OF
the desired part of your picture and giving
the impression afterward that you had been
photographlng an armchair rather than a
room.
GETTING THE FOCUS.
Having arranged the articles in the room
to best advantage, secure an even focus by
focusing on an object situated about three
quarters of the way from the lens to the
back of the room and a little to the right or
left of the center. When this has been done
put in the smallest diaphragm the lens con-
tains and begin the exposure. The length
of the exposure should be generous in all
cases. To secure good results as to detail,
etc., where the light is not too strong or
evenly distributed, at least 45 minutes
should be allowed. 1t will be found neces-
sary sometimes to allow two or three hours,
when the end OF the room is rather dark. II,
as noted above, any of the windows have
been screened, cap your lens when you con-
slider the exposure long enough, take down
the blankets or shawls and uncap the lens
for u few seconds.
A few attempts will show the operator just
what length OF time he needs co get these
interior views. No two rooms are alike,
and it is therefore impossible to lay down
fixed rule. Rooms with bright colored
walls naturally require shorter exposure
than those whose hangings are dark and
somber, and the extent of light as governed
by the size and number of the windows in a
room is different in every case. All this
pertains to the photographlng OF the room
itself. If only person is to be taken, the
method is much simpler. The suggestions
regarding the direction of the light, OF
course, must be observed just the same as in
outdoor exposure. The subject is to be we'll
liphted. not the camera
PHOTOGRAPHIC A PERSON.
Place the person so that the light from
the window will fall directly on him, or her,
ON the full face if possible. IT that is not
practicable, place the person sideways to the
| window and on the far side hang sheet or
| large white substance at q distance of three
| or four feet from him, so that the light will
| be reflected from the window aud both sides
| of the face will be illuminated. 1t Is we'll
| to screen the light from the lower part of the
window, unless it is not very strong. If The
| light is used only from the upper part of the
| window it will sometimes be found that
heavy shadows are thrown from the nose
| and chin downward. These can easily be
soitened by rejecting the light from white
sheet of paper laid on the floor.
The lens should not be stopped down
with small diaphragm for pictures of this
| sort. A good wide opening Is better, be-
cause it is almost impossible for person to
sit still more than half a minute. With a
good light, well illuminated subject, a
rapid plate and large stop in the lens,
pictures OF this description require only
| from to Is seconds exposure.
FLASH LIGHT PICTURES.
Interiors of all kinds can be made quickly
| by means of fash lights, and while they are
not as soft and satisfactory as those made
| in daylight, very good results can be OBJ
tanned. The difference ls,about the same as
everybody has noticed between daylight and
arc electric light illumination. Objects OF
all kinds take on a more or less ghostly
appearance under the influence OF electric
light and cast very sharp shadows This il
true also to large extent with the fash
| lights used in photography. But any
amount of fun and much real satisfaction i.
to be had by taking fash pictures ofgroups,
ETC., in the evening.
There are several good "fash.lamps" now
in the market, which combust the mag
nesium powder quickly and at any desired
moment. It is not, however, necessary ia
have one; the powder can be used in little
dill box with fuse attachment. All dealeri
i a 4. IL l. q