The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-10-19
HOW TO MAKE
A PICTURE.
Practical Suggestions on the Art
of Photography.
Advent Of the Hand Camera and Its General
Popularity-The Most Favorable Condi-
lions for Taking Views

such high state OF popularity that In order
to be in the Swim" one must possess a
camera and some knowledge of photography
Therefore it is not surprising that there are
to-day more amateurs than professional
photographers, not only in this country, but
throughout the length and breadth of the
civilized world.
This was brought about by the reduction
in prices and the introduction of new outfits
which. when compared with the apparatus
of. former days, appear 10 be mere pigmes
for, instead of consisting of a tripod and
camera of immense proportions, the outfit
may be what is known among photographers
as a hand camera.
The advent of this camera caused quite a
commotion among the trade but the demand
for it soon outgrew the supply, and as a re-
suit the makers flooded the market with
good, bad and Indifferent cameras, which,
instead of costing 500, can be purchased
for from SIS TO $50 A fairly good piece of
apparatus can be had for the first named
amount, and as good a camera as any ANA
teur can desire for $50.
Many PERSONS claim that it requires IN
usual ability to properly manipulate cam
era, yet it is an indisputable fact that any
one with the average intelligence can, by a
little practice and careful observance OF
rules laid down for mis- guidance, soon be-
come a good photographer. But, of course,
all will meet with more or less difficulty.
Most of the leading manufacturers of photo
graphic outfits employ professional photo
grapherS of long experience, whose sole Oc-
cupatlon is travelling through the country to
explain and demonstrate to their profess
siOnal brethren how the greatest difficulties
in the handling OF camera can be overcome.
But il is not the professionals that this article
concerns, but rather the amateurs who
abound in our cities and shoot at nearly
everything and every one
The introduction of the hand camera,
which combines many desirable features
and advantages, together with extreme SIM
piicity III operation and capacity Tor eX-
celent work, brought the operation of taking
picture to be a comparative easy task, and,
consequently hand-cameras at once sprung
into popularity.
When first branching out into the mys-
terieS OF photography the amateur usually
purchases a 4X5 inch camera, and ii he meets
with any success he generally becomes the
proud possessor OF 6EXS12 camera, and
has been known
TO wRESTLE WITH A 10X12 PLATE,
But then the cost of his apparatus makes
no small item, and, in order to save his
treasury from insolvency, he reverts to the
smaller camera, or the starting point, for he
can get just as good results with small
camera as he can with a large one, without
Sc much additional trouble.
The best instantaneous views are taken
between April and October, when the at
| mosphere is clear and the sun in an excel
lent position for Photographic work. 1t is
advisable to refrain from taking photographs
near the noon hour, for the reason that the
| sun is directly overhead, thus causing a
flatness and loss of shadow, as light and
| shadow are the principal points that go to
make up photograph.
The greatest difficulty that amateurs find
in han linn q lie in rN~i in T
| to take a picture on cloudy day, as they
| invariably make an exposure with a quick
| shutter, the result being that the plate is
| underexposed, and also in taking views on
the shady side of the subject, instead of the
sunny side. whereas if they worked close TO
the sun, though not having it shine directly
in the lens, the result would be far better
| photograph, with stronger contrasts.
| Although some of the finest views are
| taken with sunlight, it must be remembered
that in taking group the subjects should
| be in the shade and the plate given time
| exposure in order 10 secure good likeness
j of each individual. If the group is taken
while the sun Is shining on 1t, the faces of
| the individuals will, when printed, present
| CHASTITY and unnatural appearance.
| The first thing for an amateur to do in pre-
| pairing to take a photograph is TO fill his
| plate-hOlder with dry plates, provided that
| he uses them In preference to SensltiZed film,
with the film or rough side outward. and
then 90 to the place selected for the exposing
OF the plate, set the shutter, draw out the
slide of the plate-holder and focus the camera.
In focusing the operator should remember
that most defective cameras have focus at
40 to 100 feet, and are out of focus under 40
feet If undecided as to the exact distance,
it is desirable to focus at 100 feet in order
to get depth of focus and a sharper picture.
In taking objects under 40 feet the amateur
should make it point TO see that the most
prominent object in the foreground is re-
Elected clearly and sharply on the ground
glass or indicator, then spring the shutter.
The plate will then be ready for develop
ing, and this branch of the art is now re-
duced to such simple form that anyone
canHot only secure considerable amusement
and study, but also save time and expense
by developing his own plates. 1t has been
found advisable 10 avoid all long jaw break
ing developing formula found in photo
graphic manuals. Use instead common
single solution, which, diluted with water
according to the time OF exposure, will give
lust as good results and do away with many
unnecessary chemicals and the like. When
one formula or solution Is used, it is adviS-
able to stick to it and not change, If it can
possibly be avoided, and the operator will
then
REAP THE BENEFIT
Of his own consistency. Where a single So
luton is used, the developing pan should
be about half or twO-thirdS full of the solu-
ton in which the exposed plates are
emerged
If the plate has been correctly exposed the
| detail will show in few moments, but in
case it does not the operator should exercise
q little patience, and, above all, keep the de-
yeloping tray rocking. fer unless the solution
is of the requisite strength, IL often happens
that much longer time than this is required
to properly develop the plate
When the detail has come out clear and
sharp and the plate commences to haze over,
| rtait, NV nt HI nj To haf at
| light, whether it has reached the required
/ density. 1t should then be removed from
| the bath. and all traces of the developer
rinsed therefrom before being placed in a
| solution OF four ounces OF hyposulphite of
| soda in twenty ounces oil water, known as
| tine fixing bath.
| Amateurs are very apt to underdevelOp,
not knowing that the negative always fades
slightly when undergoing the fixing process.
| Should the image on the plate flash out sud-
denly on flowing it with the developing
| solution, and continue to grow very rapidly,
| the plate has been oyerexposed, and must be
| quickly removed from the developing tray
and placed in pure water, while the de-
veloper can be weakened with water, or a
restraining solution of bromide, made by
| dsSolving one ounce of bromide of pOtas-
| SUM in nine ounces OF water.
In cases where the bromide solution is
| used, a few drops should be added to the
| developing bath, and the partly developed
plate placed therein. The development will
| proceed more slowly, but if by an excessive
addition of bromide solution t e process of
developing has been too much retarded, it
can be started again by adding carefully a
| little more of the developing solution.
When the plate has been fully developed
and thoroughly washed, it should be placed
! in the fixing bath, and allowed to remain
there until every vestige of the milky white
appearance on the back of the plate has van
ished. The negative can then be examined
by white light.
! Change of temperature in going from one
bath 10 another, particularly during hot
weather. often causes frilling of the film,
! and if the film shows tendency to frill
during the fixing process, it should immed-
| atey be placed in an alum bath for few
minutes, and then given thorough wash
| ing.
Before being allowed to dry, the negative
should be thoroughly washed in running
| water for at least ten minutes, or in still
| water for twenty minutes; then it should be
allowed to dry spontaneously and not by