The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-10-28
THEY PRESS THE BUTTON
Jersey City Has Many AM
ateur Photographers
Who Have Much Ar
tistic Skill.
IF CAMERA CLUBS MEMBERS
A Week of Notable Weddings
Local Chat-Musical Items.

IL Is uOI ASTONISHING buAb 30 nauy
young women have ''taken up" amateur
photography as a pastime or as a serious
pursuit. On the contrary. the only wonder
is that more hav not begun to spress the
button" even if they should not feel
enough confidence in their developing
powers to s'do the rest" Photography is
rapidly coming to dispute the claim OF
printing to the title Of the art preserva-
tive. y When a merry company have gone
Cor a days pleasuring on the lake or on a
coaching tour, the detective camera is
sure 10 MAKE one of the party. n a
social club would be indeed unique that
did not end its session by having its
picture taken by flash light. The botan-
izing young woman preserves her fragile
scenes of her summer rambles and the
girl with a hundred dearest friends, the
counterfeit presentment of every one.
OF all the young ladies who have en-
tered into amateur photography. the
Misses Coffin of Glenwood avenue, are.
recognized as by far the most proficient.
Some o years ago their father pre-
sented them with q remarkably line In
strument, thinking IL would serve as a
AAGoAo IA a. al 46A - a.
But by the time that month or so WAS
over. the young artists had become
thoroughly infatuated with the process.
and ever since their cameras have been
pointed at bits of beautiful scenery,
groups of gay young people, objects Of
local. historical or legendary interest,
until now a series of portfolios, filled
with the results of their work, show to
what good use their time and talent have
been employed.
The suninitiared are apt to think Of
photography as a purely mechanical pur-
suit, where patience is OF more value
than artistic talent. On the contrary,
the artists eye is needed in the selection
of the bits of wood or water to be caught
by the camera, the arrangement of
groups. and the composition of special
subjects. The Misses Coffin are acknowl-
edged to be the most successful in
grouping of all our amateur photograph
ers, and a glance at the series of views
brought from White Lake, Sullivan
county. will convince anyone that these
are the work of true lovers of nature. re-
ceptive of natures beauty. response We TO
natures moods. They generally finish
their own pictures, sometimes sending
them to q professional.
The true artist is very shy of claiming
attention, and were it not for the excell-
ence of the work of these young LADIES'
very few people would know to what an
Il VA Ivy O1h ~a kN@
suit. On the walls of their beautiful
home on Glenwood Avenue are many
mounted and framed views, souvenirs of
summer journeys. and con vincing proofs
of the fine character of work done.
Miss Lulu TAFT is another amateur pho
tographer of renown, and Miss Ida
Greaves has just begnn to press the but
ton. Before Miss Ethel Potts went to
boarding school, she had caught the pho
tographic fever from her father. Mr.. j..
Herbert Potts. and had spent a great
deal of time preserving beautiful views
and interesting groups, especially in
Duchess County, N. Y. Among the
most delightful OF all the pictures pro-
duced by Mr.. Potts or his daughter, are
those of his youngest daughter Elizabeth,
q dainty golden-haired. blue-eyed little
Eenan. VINO looks just as If she had
and counts only three summers for her
age.
THE 1 CAMERA L
One Of the most enterprisiug of the new
organizations that have sprung into ex-
istence during the past year or SO on the
Heights is that of the If Camera Club.
This club was organized for the purpose
of furnishing to its members an Oppor-
tunity for the more complete study of
amateur photography, and at the present
time is in q most fourishing condition.
Its president, Mr.. Joseph Cottier, of
| Stevens 1uSGlbule, Is Tue
leading spirit of the enterprise. He has
given during the last five years much of
his time to a careful study of the scien-
tifc side of photography and, though
young in years, is already a recognized
authority upon the subject. He has made
several exhibits of his work in New York
and Brooklyn which have received special
commendation from professionals.
Mr.. A. B. Guilford is Secretary of the
club and for the last year or two has fol-
lowed amateur photography as a relax
alton from his school work.
Mr.. Stephen Reed of 57a South street
has been interested In the science ever
sin ce he was a boy in knickerbockers. He
has spent much time and money in the
work, IS The most inventive genius of the
club outside of the President, and prob
ably has the best all round outfit on the
Heights.
Mr.. Henry Pelzer is the finest worker
among the members in portraiture. His
WORK may De set beside that of the best
professionals without disparagement.
Another of the skilled workers In the
club Is Mr.. James E. Knapp. What Mr..
Knapp does not know regarding the best
formulas for developers for toners and
ixers, Is not known inside the club.
j.. Frambach, of West Hoboken. is one
of the newest acquisitions to the club.
Mr.. Frambach has been interested III
photography for years. He is a diligent
and conscientious worker in the art. He
has a fine collection of samples of his
work on exhibition in the club rooms.
One of the most brilliant of the younger
members OF the club is Mr.. Charles
Edwards. He is very successful in his
efforts to bring photography into a practi-
cal atmosphere. His views of the
military parade in New York last month,
the best of which are in the club rooms,
are particularly striking. Henry Lynch of
Summit avenue is a young and earnest
deyotee of the art of photography. The
club rooms are frightened by many
fine specimens of his work.
Harry Gravatt, of West Hoboken,
though new to membership in the club.
has already evidenced much skill and de
yotion to his work. His latest effort is
A full line of neg tives of the West Hobo
ken parade on October 81.
Mr. John Whyurd. the wheelmau on
Palisade avenue, Is another of the work
lug members OF the club, as are also
Messrs. Walter Sickels. of New York ave.
nue., Samuel Knapp. of North street,
James Butterfield, of Paiisade avenue,
William Ludwig, of New York city.
Inc club will give its semi-annual sec
oud exhibit of lantern slides in Kessler's
Hall on Thursday evening, November II.
Messrs. Reed, Guilford and Edwards
form the Entertainment Committee. aud
they nave prepared a most delightful
treat for the lovers of the artistic ana the
humorous. The programme Is arranged
in two parts, and is to consist of orches.
tral selections. vocal selections. exhibition