Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-08-13

That the camera cannot lie is true,
but even more IL is true that in tho
hands of a skilful photographer deft
MANIPULATION of the lenses or OF the
instrument itself can make or mar
the face or the form that is posing,
says tho New York journal.
Even the photographer has his tricks
They are tricks that have an art be-
hind them, and turn the camera FROM
dumb mechanical instrument which
can SGT down ON its plate only what is
actually before ii into discriminating
mechanism selecting at will, changing
ugliness almost into beauty.
Nobody ever saw the picture of an
actress that was not attractive. Some
photographs of reigning queens OF the
stage are far more beautiful than
others, but not one fails to catch the
eye from the point of Wow of lowell
ness, facial or of contour. In tens of
hundreds of photographs taken of
women in private life few show any re-
markable charm.
And yet the women OF the stage, on
| the whole, are not more conspicuously
| fascinating than those who have never
trodden the boards. The reason of the
difference in their photographs is
| plain and simple. 1t is the trickery
/ Of the photographic, who, laughing
meanwhile within his sleeve, go cley-
erlv works that be changes. presto! an
ordinary woman into q beauty OF the
time.
1t has remained for some French
photographers TO give somewhat IN
detail the actual science OF these tricks
OF photography. The question is one
|
An egg, for instance, if the photog-
rapher have sufficient skill, can be so
photographed that 1t will appear in the
shape OF a ball In the same manner
nose or neck may be made to seem
short or long, face longer or rounder.
a figure stout or slender, short or tall.
1t requires amazingly clever work,
of course. hut the possibilities of il
have been demonstrated time and
again.
or lowering the camera by any manner
of means. 1t is tho science of selection.
In every PERSONS face certain charac
teristlcs stand out as absolutely thu
best in their counienancP. 1t may bt
the chin, the eyes, the nose, the mou'f
or tho forehead. Again, in every fac,
there are features that are weak AM
need strengthening, hiding or SOM
, sort of buistcring up. With TIN
! trained eye that Is gained through
, / wears of experiences the Photographic
sees this at once. He may mot see /
completely; il may REQUIRE posing afte
:, posing and trial after triRl ut certal
= angles before he gets the proper effect
g but he finds-and this fact tue Frenc
. photographers have just maflo known
that there are some combinations i
q every face tina. will give Il Practical
= perfect photograph.
!. ii the chin rerutieB hadiy, by IA del
!, fitting of the head and training {
his camera TO te right angle. it is
4 strong. attractive chin that appears i
the photograph.
:. The prominent nose that throws a
~ the rest of tho iace out Of countenant
h be brings his machine TO bear upo
until he gets no angle at which it
40 softened and brought into relation pi,
a turcsguely with the rest of tho face.
u A siewise turn Of the head and
- large broad-lipped mouth may be PHI
/ GEOGRAPHICALLY made into the yerie
rosebud or .Cupd's bow" that
4 woman ever had.
y, An ugly forehead may be toned dow
no into u most fetching one by catchir
,p lne llBht upon III ny turnlnp tnc net
Is up or down, and u whole face had
80 every Characteristic SO DO metamo
a phosed by picturing it sidewise SO th
~ the tip of rosy ear may be seen.
o Sometimes the photographers ire
% paper with chemicals SO that it can
stretched ever SO slightly after the pi
~ ture is printed on it. 1t is thus pc
10 sible to stretch an ordinary cabin
"a print an eiphth nf an inch Tins WOr
-; ing wonders in the picture. BY il
Il round, chubby face has been lengt
IL ened into Greek oval of great beaui