The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-09-11
Amateur Photography.

This art is source of unfailing delight
to those who once learn it, and its uses
are almost infinitely varied. Almost any
thing may be pictured flor future study
or reference, from the beautiful face OF
the young girl down to.the uglyssfacesof
the pug dog. 1t not only combines in
struction and pleasure, but profit as
well, and its pursuit is being and should
be encouraged. One great objection in
the past has been. that the apparatus was
too expensive and the arrangements for
developing the pictures too complicated,
but the introduction of the dry plate pro-
cess and the reduction of the cost of the
apparatus have greatly overcome the OBJ
lection. Ladies make, think, the most
successful photographers. Within the
last few years amateur photography has
become so popular that nearly every
community has it's interested and enthu-
siastic operator.
A camera that will do good work can
now be purchased for ten dollars, and
from that up to hundred and more.
1t is not the cost of the apparatus that
ensures good work, but the zest, skill
and patience to produce it of the photog-
rapher. For common service the three
and one-fourth by four and one-fourth
inch camera is the best The plates are
much cheaper than the larger size, cost
ing about As cents per dozen; then the
apparatus is far more portable than the
larger cameras 80
The light out-of-doors being better
than in the house, pictures are simpler
taken outside than indoors. Never photo
graph with the camera facing the sun
it fogs the plate. A little experience
will show about the amount of exposure
necessary in the various lights. In the
house quite little ingenuity in arrang-
ing the light is necessary, for a larger
exposure is needed A skylight is The
best, but when not obtainable, mirrors
can be used to reflect the light on to the
subject andssovercoWe the shadows. In
family lighted room with quick plate
at least four seconds of exposure will
undoubtedly be needed. In photograph
ing .objects that are stationary, a fine
effect is produced by giving lengthy
exposure, forty minutes to day at
times.
To develop the plate dark room, from
which is carefully excluded all rays of
light is necessary. A red lantern should
be used, for the red light does not affect
the plate. The ready, made developers
for amateurs for making their own are
better than any directions I can give.
Usually the developing has gone far
enough when the outlines can be seen
through the back of the plate. For
printing the sun is needed. The best
pictures are produced by exposure in the
morning and afternoon rather than in
the middle of the day. What is very
much better than for amateurs to at
tempt the making of it, is to buy sill
vered paper or sensitized paper from some
photographer. Fer prussiaten paper
after printing only requires washing
The silver should be left all night in
water Procure the aid of photograph
er to show these processes if possible.
Use very thick paste made from starch in
mounting, and while the picture is still
wet is the time to mount it.
A few suggestions. -Varnish the mega
tives with good white varnish to preserve
them. First warm the glass and then
pour on the varnish, letting all run off
that will do SO.
1t is a good idea to keep record of
every picture for future reference.
Trim away the unimportant parts of the
picture and bring out the subject in
which is the most interest. Farm, Field
and Fireside