The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-01
NATEUR PHOTOGRAPHERS.


rprehe nsion MS to the Cost of an
Outfit.
here seems to be some Misrepresentation
tong those who have never made inquiries
,uucerning tho matter rs to the price OF
amateur photographic outfits. Often the
question is asked of the picture takors,
..Low much does il COST" while others
labor under the idea that the camera alone
will cost them something like 500 and the
necessary accessories a large amount more.
Undoubtedly many who would like to take
up the amusement are deferred by these
wrong ideas concerning the expense of
maintaining the so-called fad" if thoy
cnce became interested in it.
The fact is that an amateur Photographic
outfit is not necessa lily expensive and that,
rs in fishing tackle, the prices cover a long
range on the sliding scale. Five dollars to
two thousand is the record Oh finely made
trout rods. In amateur photography the
start ia about the same and the
end not far distant. For ~ the amateur
may make his beginning. This will in
clude a small camera and a developer of
the old-fashioned pyro-not old fashioned
from disuse, but because go many new de-
velopers have been offered to the picture
makers that they have firm adherents.
The 81 camera often proves n little prize
and pictures are TUNED out from it that are
the peers of specimens from the $40 lnstru-
ment. This cheap camera 10 OF the stand
ard tripod stamp. Passing n little further
up, to the S15 mark, the detective n hand
cameras may be obtained. Twenty and
twenty-fve dollars will secure to the novice
in the art an excellent outfit and reliable
apparatus. There are many of these III use
and some excellent work is being done with
them. Perhaps it is wiser for the amateur
to commence with, say, n sos outfit. Ii he
tires of the work he has not wasted much
money, for his camsra will always bring
something if not misused.
If he falls in love with the work of taking
and making pictures he can purchase Il
more EXPENSIVE outfit and enter the highest
grade of work. There are few amateurs,
however, who go beyond the thllty.tive-dol-
lar and forty-aollar cameras. When you
buy one of these Instruments a few plates
are included and a ruby lalpp for the dark
room and Il developer, rs we'll as n book
which tells you how to DO it. In purchasing
camera care should be taken thAt the lens
is a good one, for much depends upon it.
IN the cheapest cameras one In a measure
has to take chances Oh the lens, though
often u little treasure IS found.
In the camera much depends as regards
the price upon the amount OF finish and
woodwork, which of course does not affect
the working qualities at all. Every firm
of Photographic supplies sellers OF course
hin their own cameras the best, but there
ars certain standards that the amateurs
have come to regard as the finest and which
they purchase whom 1T Is possible.
In the book of instructions the would-be
Photographic Gend will find formulas of
the several processes necessary for him to
know and explanations how to develop tho
plate. If he has not facilities for rigging
up a dark room and developing his plates,
there are plenty of places in the city where
he can have this work done at moderate
prices. In such cases all he has to do is to
focus the lens and rress the button in true
Kodak fashion. and the photographer will
do the rest Of the work, furnishing the print
of the picture or mounting it hand
somely if desired. OF course, every picture
taker ought to learn to develop his w
plates. 1t is also cneaI er and more salts
factory. The pleasure of seeing the image
gradually appear on the plate during the
process of developing liz we'll known to those
who do all their " work. while the specu-
lation as to what the result will be lends a
charm.
This is the best time of the year to COM
mence the work of photographing. az the
summer season affords excellent oppor-
tunity in visiting resorts and picturesque
spots for procuring the views. Hundreds
of plates may DO exposed if necessary aud
laid away for future development. 1t IL not
necessary to develop them ut once. The
of one summer will decide to
ths amateur whether he will care to go on
with the art. Discouragements will, OF
course, be met with, but if the disappointed
Young man or woman will bear in mind
that there is q reason for everything and
patiently Try to find out what was the mat
ter with his picture, success is sure in the
end. Often the very first picture will
p owe Il success, and again it some
times happens that misfortune will
follow misfortune, until the operator
becomes wild with despair of ever
securing a decent print. Frequently
ths young tyro will wonder and wonder
what is the matter. and finally in his wrath
send the materials flying, when perhaps the
whole cause of his trouble is simply that he
has forgotten to change his plate and tried
to do what has never been successfully ac-
yet, that is. to take two pictures
on the same surface of a plate and obtain Il
satisfa Glory result. The most careful be-
often make these mistakes. One
good picture, however, pays for a great deal
of care and bother, and satisfies the anna
teur if he has any liking at all for the work.
young women 1T is al especially de-
pnstime and a good instructor in
OF OBSERVATION as We'll as neltneSS
and care. Rarely the purchase of n camera
is a loss. Some good is sure to come from
the work.
Mr.. q. Il. Baker, in a recent number of
the British journal of Photography, has n
word to say in regard to the photographers
and asks the question whether
Photographic work unduly tries
the eyes and what precautions are necessary
to preserve the eyesicht from strain. That
there may be soma danger to those with
weak eyes in continued pouring over the
developing chemicals and the Sudden en-
trance to the light from the dark he thinks
probable. 1t is undoubtedly wise. accord
Ing to Mr.. Baker, for such persons to ar
tho position Of the darkroom SO that
the operator has to come into Il moderately
lighted room before the full light Of day
has to be faced. or if that is impossible, to
use a pair OF medium-tinted spectacles.
optical or muscular change is 10 be
The eyes of some people are
by fumes. and therefore it ia of
great moment that the dark room ehould
be we'll ventilated.