Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1895-02-26
FlfN II THE GALLERY
TIE PHOTOGRAPHER DOESN'T Al
WAYS SEE Tl4E HUMOROUS slOE

Ha~iness Where sTacii Knowledge Of ifa
man Nature = Necessary.
"Oh. my goodness gracious. saises
alive, Thass horrid Why. xouldn'i
give picture like that TO one OF my
friends fer worlds
but Miss Blank, you FORE that
this is only a proof I"
a proof, IS it. And what were you
trying 10 prove by making me look like
thatg That ! am 100 years old OF had
been through fever before the picture
was takens"
Miss Blank, think you are l,ttle
unreasonable This is nothing but q
proof, and all Of those dark shadows and
hard lines viii be toned down. / admit,
as it is, it does not do you Justice
''Justicef Well, should say not
amt very conceited about my looks, but
if / thought / was as hideous as that
picture makes me I'd wear a mask. -
This. IN substance, is dialogue IN a
photograph gallery a few days ago. A
woman had ''come In 20 see her proofs, .
and the clerk had blandly handed the
cause of all the commotion over the
showcase, behind which she had in
trenched herself. The customer, or Sub
iect, as the photographers term their
patrons, was mad as soon as she saw
the proof But the diplomacy of the
young woman behind the showcase
would have given points TO politician.
She was thoroughly in earnest or conf
Dental or friendly or a little bit trou-
bled, all in ono breath. 1t was apparent
that she had been there before, and she
demonstrated that she was well ac-
quainted with the premises. And she
was truthful. She knew that it WASH t
fair to Judge the plate by the proof. and,
what is more, she succeeded in convinc-
ing the subject that this was the case.
Very we'll, Miss Blank, she said
when the atmosphere had cleared some-
what. I'VE will finish some of them.
and you come in and see 'em, and if
you feel then as you do now we won't
ask you TO take 'em."
As the door closed the clerk rear
ranged some photographs of party gowns
on the showcase, looked away into
space for few moments and murmured.
"Oh, bummie, and then went back and
thrust her head into the pokebonnet
continuance where she was making ugly
people look little less So and there
was silence in the room.
DO you have many cases of that kind
to handler the photographer was asked.
Well, no. not many. OF course there
are some people who are bound to kick
I Al.
characters have more self conceit than
they are entitled to. We have all kinds
of people TO handle And then follow
ed little dissertation which would in
terest subjects, and particularly the wo-
men, who have ever tried and intend to
try conclusions with the camera The
stock remark which at some time near
ly every subject utters as she comes in
to the presence of the camera cyclops is
that she had "about as soon have a
tooth pulled as to have picture taken.
But that time honored platitude has lit
tie excuse for existence nowadays, said
the photographer, because in all of the
best galleries pictures are taken by short
exposure, which is practically instsata-
neous. The people who -kncwmore about
photography and the art of getting a
good likeness than does the operator
often cause him some annoyance and a
good deal of amusement.
In deciding upon a pose for the
face. continued the photographer, I'VE
must exercise great care. In the few Sec
onds that we have to look at the subject
we must decide provided, of course, we
are allowed to decide) what position of
the face will give the best likeness. 1t
is true of almost every body that one side
of the face is quite markedly better look
ing than the other. and for this reason
comparatively few full face or front view
photos are taken. But sometimes we
have to deal with individuals who in
sist upon a pose of the face that is dis
tinctly bad. Not long ago certain man
came to me with the photograph of a
friend which showed the face in clear
profile. He said he wanted a photo of
himself in exactly that position. It so
happened that the model which he SUBJ
mitted had an unusually good profile,
and consequently the picture was quite
effective. But my subjects profile was
faulty. Indeed he had nose as was a
nose. It was gigantic. l saw right
away that profile of his face would be
anything but hattering to the owner,
and tried to break it to him gently.
But. he said, you admit that this
is fine photo, and know that the like
ness is excellent. Why can't you get
the same results from my face? / think
am quite as good looking as he is. don't
you2'
That isn't the point. said /, be-
cause didn't want to hurt the mans
feelings. You know that no two faces
are alike, and am only telling You that
profile is not your best view.
But he wasn't satisfied and insisted
on profile, so rather than anger him
| took that view of his face and after
ward one which thought was better.
The next day he came in to see his
proofs. / showed him the profile first
There was no overlooking that nose. 1t
doomed up like Mount Tom from Smiths
Ferry. pitied the poor chap. He look
ed mp from the proof at me and said:
Good Lordl Do look like that?'
The camera doesn't lie about such
things, | replied. at the same time
handing him the other proof He looked
a good deal relieved when he saw the