The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-29
PHOTOGRAPHY THE FAD
It Has Strong Hold on the
= People of Anaconda
BIG AMATEUR COLONY
Two Hundred and Fifty Enthusiasts in
It-What Some OF the Notable
Amateurs Are Doing This
Summer.

If you do not photograph you are
not up to date.
There is no longer any doubt about
it. Anaconda is under the dominion
of the little black box. The camera
fad from a small beginning has insid-
uously crept upon the people until all
must now admit the dominion of King
Camera.
The man or woman nowadays who
cannot intelligently discuss the re-
spective merits of silver, velox or car
bon paper; who has not a world of
lens lore at his tongues end; who will
not praise one brand of plates enthu-
siastically and damn another vehe-
mently is not up to date.
1t is estimated that about $50 anna
eturs own cameras in Anaconda and
that of them about 200 are deep stu
dents of the art The list is being in
creased rapidly. The several photo
graphic supply houses are doing large
business. 1t is a fascinating game
when one first begins to play it. As
it develops with study many fields of
operation open out before one. There
are amateurs who devote their time to
child pictures and figure studies, striv-
ing for excellent subjects and paying
only ordinary attention to means.
Others experiment with various devel-
opers and consider negative making the
more interesting branch of photogra-
ply. Others go in for landscapes en-
tirely, and these usually become print
ing faddists, constantly experimenting
with new papers and seeking to per-
contained
in them, mellow tinting, soft coloring
and pronounced effects in light and
shade.
Among the more studious of the am
ateurs in Anaconda is David Walker,
who commingles amateur chemistry
with photography and makes transpar-
encies and opal paper prints and does
all the difficult and beautiful things
that make the new amateur turn green
with envy. He las photographed over
considerable section of Montana, and
has a superb collection of negatives,
not to speak of the hundreds of artistic
prints he has made. He dispenses with
a dark room and does most of his
developing in darkened office at
night. Landscapes are his speciality
Robert S. Mentrum, chief of the fire
department, is another amateur of high
rank, having been long student of the
art. Among his recent achievements
is splendid and sharp moonlight pic
ture taken at Missoula and showing
the city He graded his exposure in
the imperfect light of the moon with
rare good Judgment. That negative,
however is more a curiosity than any
thing else and does not, of course,
compare in genuine excellence with the
many artistic things he has done. Like
Mr.. Walker Chief Mentrum is stu
dent of the higher branches of pho
: Biography and has done wonderful work
with special paper.
Among the lady amateurs Mrs. John
Odson is prominent. She has made a
number Of opal plates and goes in par
ticularly for sepia tones and other nov
elites in printing.
Gene Rowe is an enthusiastic anna
teur. He, David Walker and Frank
w. Harrison have been making sun
dry excursions up the hill back of the
new court house for the purpose of
photagraphing the city by moonlight.
With one-hour and 30 minute expo
sure Mr.. Rowe has secured a highly
creditable negative. He gave a two
hour exposure to plate a few nights
ago, but the moon was not working
regularly on that occasion, and the
negative was a failure. Mr.. Harrison
has had bad luck with his moonlight
views. He is. accused of focusing his
camera on a bonfire and. after half an
hours exposure, predicting great things
for his negative
Mr.. Harrison has one strong special
ty, however, and that is baby pictures.
He has secured some really excellent
negatives from infantile subjects. F.
l. Gano is another amateur+who makes
a speciality of child figures. He also
is fond of interiors and many charm
ing indoor views are preserved on his
negatives
Rev. William T. Euster is promis-
ing amateur. He is soon to make
trip to the Holyland and on the jour-
ney will use his camera extensively.
]. w. SIM is man who knows more
about lenses than most amateurs. He
is declared to be a crank on the sub
ject. Anyhow. he has some of the best
lenses in town.
John T. OBrien is the "snap shot
fiend' of the local photographing col
ony. Rapid exposures are his special
ty The excellence of his work is
shown by a large collection of sharp,
clear and interesting negatives
C. D. B. Sitter and J. P. Christie are
amateurs who work together. They
find the plan an excellent one.
The Misses Edith and Flora Smith
are energetic and enthusiastic photog-
raphers Their collection Of landscapes
is excellent.
Mrs. f. w. Peckover and Mrs.
Charles S. Richardson devote consider
able time to the captivating art with
great success.
C. c. Johnson is just completing an
up-to-date dark room equipped for en-
larging and doing bromide printing
work.
Eddie Smith has been doing some
clever work recently with 4x5 Earl
Doherty is another landscape special
list He is armed with a view camera
Louis Crook is another enthusiast.
Mrs, J. V. Petritz is a studious and
painstaking amateur who has done no.
table work.
Miss Grace Wisner one Of the best
known, of the local colony, is securing
a number of good pictures about Pho