The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-17
AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHY.
Innovations Brought About By the Dry Plate
indianapolis Cameras Rank High.

Henry Kothe has some views on amateur
photography. ITO the advent of the dry
plate" said Mr.. Kothe. lis due the present
ease with which photographs are produced
by the amateur. The wet plate is now al
most abandoned. though still used in all
the photo reproductive processes. IN prefer
ence &, the dry plate. 1t would be standing
In the way of progress to deny the infinite
amount Of good which has been accom-
plished by the substitution of the latter.
Not only has 1t proven n benefit to the pro.
fes,ional photographer under the sky.
light. but has paved his way to the success
tut prosecution of outdoor or exterior pho
Biography. which was almost an imposst-
bility under the old method. An entirely
new field of utility for the science is that
which makes II useful In the hands OF the
amateur"
lis it not true that amateur photography
10 getting more and more populsr!"
1T certainly 10. and it may be of interest
to point out some of the uses TO which the
camera is subjected In addition 10 ordinary
view taking. A greatbeneft Is derived by
the medical science in the employment of
the Gamers at hospitals TO register the
modification Of diseases by taking proofs
the disease and comparing them . with
photographs of others similarly affect
ed. IL, upon comparison. we md the
same indications in q whole series or IN
valids suffering from the same disease. We
then have q fact of extreme Importance,
for they show the indications imputable to
that disease. 1t has been made possible.
as show by Dr. NJ. l.. Wander Strsken. of
Kansas City. by the examination OF q num-
Der OF patients, and u comparison OF care
fully selected photographs. for one of the
French medical schools TO describe certain
pathological phases of unique interest. To
the artist. botanist and geologist the cam
- h.a 5000. &c hlA Is To
demonstrate of what Importance the cam
era may be to the manufactures, L will
mention that while Clans Spreckels, the
sugar king. was living In o Francisco. it
complete control of his large refining plant
in Philadelphia, as photographs showing
progress We're mailed TO him daily.
The great number OF cameras now upon
the market confuses the prospective anna
tenr. To select a certain camera because
your friend happens to own one, or because
it il the most widely and effusively adver-
tieed, Is q mistake. The most desirable
camera Is the one when Will serve best
the particular purpose for which il is in
tended.
"You want one of three kinds: First,
o tourist; second. q tripod view. or third,
n hand camera for general purposes. For
No. !. / should the Kodak as
the proper camera If you contemplate
going on q long journey and wish TO
use it as q machine to get q pictorial record
OF that trip without caring to know why OF
how the negatives were made. i would.
however, caution you at the same time to
procure IL from q dealer who is competent
TO explain thoroughly the modus operandi.
else you will return with a long string of
failures instead of negatives. For No. 2
the tripod view camera is tue one best
adapted for those wishing to take pictures
from tve.eighths TO eight-tenths of an inch
In size and expecting to study the science
TO some extent. In selecting il q good lens.
q light, durable camera and tripods are all
the necessary equipments. For No. 3 the
hand or general purpose camera. This
is by far the most useful of all
heretofore mentioned. In selecting
this particular kind care should DO taken
that il be as compact as possible; that the
mechanical arrangement be simple and
complete. and lastly. that the lens be q
perfectly rectilinear one. Under the last
series / would mention the Hetherington
MAGAZINE as tho most perfect one on tho
market. This 10 made in this city. Though
there are unlimited numbers of hand or de-
tective cameras my experience has shown
me that to produce twelve perfect mega
tives from twelve dry plates exposed sue
cessively In one camera can be boosted OF
only by the manufacturer of this camera"