Omaha daily bee., 1897-06-20
DEVOTEES OF THE CAMERA
Care and Caution Necessary to Success in
Amateur Photography.
PERMANENT PLEASURES OF The PAsTlME
SuEgestions the Choice of scenes.
the Taking of Pictures, Develop
ment of Negatives and
Care of Apparatus.

It costs no more to make q good photo
graph than il does 10 make d poor one. In
the one case there is pleasure TO ones SELF
and TO his friends and in the other there is
disappointment, and results which show that
labor, money and time have been spent in
vain. No one can oyerestimate the pleasure
Of thoroughly good photograph, or measure
the disappointment Of a poor one, says &
writer in the New York Independent. When
it is considered that the one is just as easily
made as the other, the question will quickly
be asked How can this be done and by
what method or methods" And the ques-
tion is just as quickly answered, BY taking
care, and by watching closely every move
from the time the plateholder is filled until
the print is mounted for inspection" II can
truthfully be said that success in photograp by
means simply care and caution in manipula-
tion.
Photographic appliances are carefully made
and are very nearly perfect in construction.
Competition has accomplished wonders for
the amateur photographer, and he can obtain
safe apparatus for his work al low prices.
To make a good photograph the apparatus
must be good and safe. The principal points
are that the camera and the plateholders
must not leak light. II is OF no consequence
in making good picture whether the camera
is neat and pretty or clumsy and awkward.
If the plate can be kept absolutely free from
light except such light Ss is admitted
through the lens on exposure, the first great
point in a good picture has been attained.
A light struck plate is one of the greatest
and surest causes OF failure.
The careful work in making a good photo
graph must commence in the dark room
when the plateholder is filled II should be
done as nearly in the dark as pos sble The
plate must be carefully busted witt q csmel's
hufv reURk R.-a & a.
the fingers and then placed in the middle
Of the holder so that il may he removed
without danger OF catching on the sides. The
holder Itself should be kept from the light
as much as possible, either by use OF Il
black bag for each one, or by putting in a
closed case, only 10 be removed sufficient
time for use in exposure II should never be
left about in the light, and particularly In
sunlight. II anyone will place filled plate
holder in the sunlight, and lay on II knife
or key or any object, it viii be found that
despite the supposed sale slide or shield q
picture Of the article can be developed al
the end OF an hour. And il can easily be seen
that carelessness in handling plateholders is
the cause of very many Of the dull FIAT pic
lures which are so often made. In placing
the holder in the camera during exposure OF
the picture, the focusing cloth should be
kept over it, and especially over the end
from which the shield has baen removed
TIME FOR CARE AND CAUTION.
When the picture has been decided upon
and the plate Is ready for the wiihdra wal of
the shield the time for the greatest care and
caution has arrived Everything should be
looked over minutely. Be sure tust the
camera is still and firm and watch for q lull
in the wind Then, when you know thar all is
right, remove the shield gently and make the
exposure. The holder should then be re-
turned quickly TO its safe place ana not
exposed 10 light until in dark room and in
@ light which ie known TO be safe II these
directions ar; followed there will be no light
struck plates and more than half the battle
Of good picture has been won. II must be
understood that the importance OF care in
getting the plate from the dark room back TO
the dark room again with no light, or pos
slbility Of light, except what has come
through the lens, is paramount 10 everything
else, and II is absolutely impossible TO take
too much pains or 10 use too much care. If
you want good picture. fight with all your
might for the right which your plate has OF
being kept in absolute security.
Second in importance in making q good
photograph is the tame Of exposure. The
time must be right for the picture 10 be