Evening star., 1896-12-16
ARTISTIC PHOTOGRAPHS
Midwinter Exhibition of the Washington
Club.
Remarkable Work With the Camera
Some of the Specimens
ON the Line.

The midwinter exhibition of the Washing
ton Photographic Club, which opened in the
parlocs of the Capital Bicycle Club Monday
afternoon, has proved to be a great sue
cess, and, viewed strictly from the artistic
standpoint is better than anything of the
sort seen in this city, with the single ex-
ception Of the National Photographic Salon,
which was held at the Cosmos Club last
spring. 1t gives an excellent idea of the
advance made in photography along ar
tistic lines during the last half dozen years
since the time when all that an amateur
sought to do was to go around Swapping
views
Upward of 80 photographs, representing
the best work of about dozen members of
the club, are hung upon the walls and
make very attractive display. They
cover wide range of subjects from land
scapes and marines to fancy figures and
groups. and are in all sorts of finish from
the old-fashioned glaze to the most up-to-
date style Of printing.
In the exhibition are a number of de-
cided novelties. One Of the most interest
ing prints is by Mr.. Charles Richards
Dodge, 'Fantaisie du Japon.' 1t is a pho
tograph of a number of fish swimming in
a tank, and is said to be the most success
full picture of the sort ever taken. Many
efforts have been made by the fish commits
sion people to photograph fish in water, but
with comparatively little success. Mr..
Dodge happened to hit it just right in the
aquarium at the Atlanta exhibition, but he
found that there was only one tank in the
whole lot which furnished the proper con-
Gitions, and even then there was only one
hour in the day when the light came
through the water in just the desired way.
The result was a picture impressionistic in
effect and artistic in the last degree.
Mr.. J. H. Harper Is the chairman of the
committee which made the arrangements
nd
share of the credit for the success which
has attended it. 1t was originally intended
TO hold the exhibition some time in Janu-
ary, but Mr.. Harper was of the opinion
that 1t would be better to hold 1t before
the holidays, and the change Of date neces-
STATED deal of extra labor, most of which
fell upon the chairman of the committee.
Mr.. Harper has some Of the prettiest and
mcst artistic prints in the collection. Some
of the best of them are studies of Mexican
life and scenery. and views in the neighbor-
mood. Mr.. Harper Is particularly success
ful with his views of buildings, and some OF
the finest pictures of the Capitol, War,
State and Navy buildings and other big
structures about the city are from his
camera.
Mr.. Chas. Schaaf exhibits several charm
iEg marines, together with view on the
Conduit road that is a perfect gem in its
way, as is also a view of Deal Lake n J.
Mr.. A. 8. Mccoy Is represented by some
CHARACTERISTIC specimens Of his best work,
".
Mr. G. b. Jewell has charming view of
the home Of Felix Morris, the actor, and a
photo-etching. which is said to be unique
In its way. The usual strong contrast Of
black and white is gone and In the color
effect suggests a pastel.
Mr.. E. Lee Ferguson. whose work has
won good many medals in the past year,
both in this country and abroad, shows
several of the photographs that were ac-
cepted at European exhibitions. He makes
speciality Of portraits and fancy figures
Mr.. A. j. Houghton also has some admira-
Bile portraits and examples Of his best land
large exhibit of his work, strong in the
line OF fancy figures and genre, together
with some beautiful pictures of rocks and
sea around Gloucester harbor. Mr.. H. E.
Crook shows an artistic piece of work a
view Of the White House grounds taken
the day after the great hurricane last fall.
Mr.. Dexter Thurber has several dainty
portraits. Mr.. w. c. Allen and Mr.. w. F.
kodak class. the latter showing a number
Of dainty bits portraying the humorous
side of photographers life. Mr. VIM
Dinwiddie has several capital portraits and
character studies in the exhibition
Mr.. A. j. Henry Of the weather bureau,
who has made some wonderful pictures of
lightning and cloud effects that have placed
him in the front ranks Of photographers,
shows one OF his best cloud pictures and
several others. including a view of Great
Falls and one Of the White Lot during the
Christian Endeavor convention. Two of
his incest bits are called winter and
Summer" They represent the same view
of the Washington monument taken
through vista of trees, one when the
foliage was all on and the other when
the branches were bare.
The committee of the club In charge OF
the exhibition consists Of Messrs. Harper,
Dexter. Thurber and Claude ]. Allen. The
exhibition Is open afternoons from to
O'Clock. and evenings from to 10. 1t
comes to q close tomorrow evening. An In
teresting feature Of the exhibition is the
mated ten of the best specimens Of his
work to be sold. the proceeds to be devot-
ed to defraying the expenses of the next
National Photographic Salon, to be held
in this city next spring.
The commercial travellers fair was OPEN
ed at Madison Square Garden, New York
last night with speechea by Chauncey M