The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-08
Amateur Photographic Points
CARE OF THE LENS.

| DR.. A. Miethe, in the Central Zeitung
fur optik ind Mechanic, gives some very
| useful information regarding the proper
way 10 keep lenses clean. He begins by
| saying that glass, being a comparatively
soft substance, is easily affected by the
| me dust deposited on it from the atmos-
| phere, which dust is largely made up OF
! minute grains of sand, which is often
considerably harder than glass. Optical
glass being softer than ordinary window
glass is all the more easily affected. For
the proper cleaning of optical glass, there
fore, 1t is very important that the ma
terial used should be free from dust and
possessed of the other needed qualities,
first OF which should be the capacity for
removing grease. Wash leather. which is
sometimes recommended for this purpose,
is not adapted TO the removal of grease,
sometimes even depositing it. In DR..
Meithe's opinion well washed cotton
clothes are by far the best suited to the
purpose. linen especially having hte prop
erty Of removing dirt and grease without
scratching. 1t is, however, in all cases
difficult to clean close up to the mount
with any such material as the above; for
this purpose pith, which is obtained from
rushes, elder trees and sunflower. is es-
pecially adapted Short lengths of the
pith may be easily obtained which may be
pointed If necessary. to reach the smaller
crevices. Chalk and rauge are both con-
demned, as are also alkaline solutions.
such as ammonia, caustic soda, caustic
potash and soda or potash, as in the case
of the latter they are apt to attack the
rrf1r A. -
surface entirely The fluids recommended
for this purpose by DR.. Meithe are recti-
fed turpentine, absolute alcohol and ether.
He advises that the surface should be
moistened with the turpentine, rubbed dry
with a linen rag and then polished with
ether. Inasmuch, however, as Canada
balsam, with which the lenses are cement
ed, is dissolved in turpentine. care must
be taken to keep an excess of the fluid
from the edges of the lenses.
BACK GROUND FOR PORTRAITS.
Just as soon as an amateur reaches
the portrait stage in photography he feels
the need of background. 1t is prac-
tically an absolute necessity for all indoor
portraiture, because it rarely happens that
a room can be found where both the light
and the color of the wall are suitable for
for taking portraits. While the back |
gound plays a minor part when compared
with the subject, yet to a great extent |
the artistic value of the picture depends |
upon the background. When there is a
lack of suitable background the average |
observer feeles that something is lacking, |
yet he can not locate it. The Photograph |
for making suita BILE and inexpensive back |
grounds. A frame of light material, six |
feet square, should be made, for heads |
and busts. A convenient support for the |
frame can be made by taking two pieces /
of wood heavier than the frame and |
about four feet long for uprights with |
heavy pieces II inches long for feet. By |
boring holes in the upright pieces at |
regular intervals the frame can be raised |
and lowered. For covering the frames use |
common unbleached sheeting, tackled on |
the frame while wet, to insure a tightly |
stretched surface. The background paint |
is prepared thus: Cover two pounds of |
whiting with water, allow it to stand ten
and then stir until it is free from
Jumps and has a creamy consistency. !
Swell three ounces of glue in sufficient
water, melt and add one teaspoonful of
lampblack stir until smooth. Add enough |
of this latter to the whiting to give a
pearly gray color when dry. Stir thor
oughly and apply evenly with a broad
brush This makes the foundation: varia-
tons from this point onward depend upon
artistic skill. Cloud effects will undoUbt-
eddy be the most satisfactory for portraits
The cloud effects made upon the pearly
gray foundation by means of lighter or
darker paint or both. Suggestions in re-
gard to making clouds may be obtained
from those found in pictures, photographs
or in nature. ~