New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-04
UORK OF ANITEUR PHOTOGR5PHEhS.
HOW AND WHY SOME SUCCEED wHrIE OTHERS
FAII. TO MAKE GOOD PICTURES

HOW AND WHY SOME SrCCrED Wll1HE OIiI'HS
FAII. TO MAKE GOOD PICTURES
Those who have heen attacked hv that strange ye' rs
cinatlne masdv known a. iii" camera craze u" ""'
have not vet developed into iulfcdg"d "hondS
will fn; as they ~ on in the path tev nave chosen
that increase of knowledge and skn are gained olN
by patient application aud constant study. The
army OF button pls-rs which each recurring sea
son OF Photographic activity sees let loose upon
long suffering and lnOf.nsive public 10 great extent
neeects the keynote TO which the song Of sncceS' Is
pitched The majority % the members Of that army
are content 10 let the supply houses. camera makers
and professional photographers develop the negatives
which they have taken. and then print The pictures
required, delivering Ia" finished product 10 the So
called amateur along with a bill. ThlS !. not ANA
teIr photography
The enjoyment derived from pressing the button
and hiring else 10 do the rest Is Of bil"t
duration and attended with much "xpens-, aud Tie
ONLY satisfaction Is gained by soalding the developer
when the negatives do not turn ont" right. The
feeling Of triumphant success which attends The pro
ducton of Il finished and mounted print BY ones own
hand IS wholly lacking. and with his lacking the chief
charm of amateur photography Is lost. and there Is
nothing which can take lis place. The artistic treat
ment Of all artistic subject affords field for work
into which few may venture and hope for success, nm
less they fully determined 10 master al The de-
tails OF the work Til, involves not necessarily an
extreme elaboration Of all the fine points " profrs
sIone work but at least a thorough acquaintance with
the optical and chemical principles involved. and
personal knowledge Of the results obtained from dit
ferent methods of application There are those who.
with a cheap camera. single lens, and home made
developing and printing outfit will show results
which the amateur possessed Of ID bnhlcsting boN,
a Dsmryer lens, aud other equipment 10 match has
long since given mp.
Why this j. 50 Is easily explained The about
a lf.r.. urfi- Ia mann
lie realizes the artistic value Of The lac desires 20
preserve, knows partly by Intuition and partly by
education. just What Will makf Il good picture and how
10 handle IT, and with that knowledge Of The outdoor
part Of the work. brings 10 tie darkroom and develop
ing tray the patient watchfulne-s and which only
enthusiasm can call forth. and whicl alone will bIing
ont the desired end. Tie other. serihs some cJn-
binafl which he thinks will slow 8tfrdcNcly I'm II
picture, catches il the n.y. regardless VI the guam
uy or amount OF light amd consequent variation of The
length OF eXpOsurc neglect being absolutely Of
his focus swings his camera tile wrong way, over
looks the relative importance VI the objects within
HIS field Of view turns lbs plate holder over t. "A piu
fessonal who has interest In the work brl Ond
getting his price for H. and when blurred. distorted.
ndlstinct picture sometimes happens. picture
at all is returned 10 him, blamcs everybody aud every
thing but himself who j. most 10 BE- blamed
To the owner II camera who desires do cr,dtiblc
work hi, bit VI advice Is given: Make haste slowly.
Patience Is the KEYNOTE. Read up the WORK yJu
are trying 10 do. Learn from the failures u others
how 10 achieve success for yourself. Form club, and
strive 10 emulate the work OF Your jciatr~. DO
your work yourself. and II you fan the first first
dozen times vi trying, remember that IN" iaut 1, far
principles involved than with the principles themselves
When success comes which II surely Will. you VIII
be- amply repaid for all the labor appended aud the
true amateur does not look for Il monetary return.