The times., 1899-10-08
.DEVOTEES OF THE CAMERA
The Growth of Local Interest in
Amateur Photography.
Washington and Its Environs a Rich
Field for the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
OF the Favorite spots for the snap
shot Individuai-SpIend Prog
ress OF the Capitals Camera Club.

Interest in amateur photography In
Washington is growing at a phenomenal
rate. More people are to be seen on
bright days with cameras in their pos
session than ever before A deeper inter-
est Is being taken in the art of photogra-
ply. The average devotee is making a
more painstaking study OF methods which
will produce better pictures aud which has
| tendency to result in raising the stand
ard of amateur photography In short,
| amateur photography. at least in Washing
ton, is progressing along the most COM
mendable lines.
There is probably no more fruitful field
in the country for the amateur pbotogra-
pher than the District OF Columbia and in
the surrounding country Washingto-
| mans seem to be awakening TO that fact,
| as many local dealers in camera supplies
viii testify
Visitors coming here for few days or
weeks have long realized the fact and hun
dreds come equipped with their picture
| making apparatus that they may obtain
appropriate and lasting souvenirs by pho
tographing the public buildings. the SUI
perb landscapes. and as many public men
as possible.
| The Capitol Monument Treasury. State
War. and Navy buildings. and scores Of
other public and private structures form
excellent subjects for the photographers
art. The buildings of the city are not the
only subjects worthy of the enthusiasts
attention, however The many public res
ervations afford charming bits of land
scape which are reproduced time and again
on Photographic plates to be proudly
shown by the visitor to his friends at
| home.
| The country surrounding the city is rich
in beautiful scenery and contains many
spots unsurpassed for picturesque beauty.
| Along the Potomac from Little Falls
for miles up the valley and In the
vicinity OF Rock Greek are many pleasant
| hooks whose beauty is even rugged in
places In all parts of the surrounding
country around are to be found places OF
at least local interest which, when repro
duced add materially to any artistic photo
graph collection.
Alexandria is especially rich in historic
buildings and quiet. pleasant streets. All
these opportunities are now being taken
| advantage of, and there seems TO have
| been a popular desire to secure cameras
and supplies within the past few months.
The new movement is perhaps remark
able for one thing. and that is in the COM
mendable tendency, which has shown itself
Enthusiastically. to study a subject carefully
before using the camera, with a view to
obtaining the best results by securing the
most favorable position from which the
subject can be viewed In this way more
I - l.
teurs than ever before The amateur OF
old placed and snapped his camera a dozen
times where the present deyotee of photo
graphy makes but a single exposure. The
amateur has learned to go about il care
fully, TO study his subject, and after much
deliberation. to secure a really good pic
ture. The results have been extremely
gratifying.
This practice of studying a scene or sub
jeet deliberately is productive of vast
amount of artistic judgment. The pho.og-
rapher soon learns TO comprehend at a
| glance the best features of the scene or OBJ
ject he contemplates photographing- He
| learns to select the most advantageous
position from which 10 secure his picture
| He acquires the ability 10 appreciate the
detail which, though it may appear insig-
nificant to the eye, is often the making OF
good photograph.
tice of closely studying that which he in
tends to photograph, he is better able 10
appreciate products of the painters and
sculptor's art. Such study makes photogra-
ply an instructive as well as an entertain
ing pastime.
| Despite the fact that there is such a
widespread interest in amateur photogra-
ply in Washington, there is now bet one
organization here which stands for the
promotion and development of the art.
The Capital Camera Club is the only or
ganization of its kind in the city. 1t has
large membership whose interest in pho
Biography is such that everyone may with
out exception be styled an enthusiast. The
club has a suite of rooms in the Walter
Building at 1910 F Street northwest.
The clubrooms are built especially for
Photographic work. The studio is fitted with
north slant light of the most approved
pattern, and equipped with an SxIO cam
era, with Darlot portrait lens, and Voight-
I lander colinear lens, camera stand back
| grounds and accessories; with dressing
room and darkroom for changing plates.
/ On the main floor are ventilated develop
! ing rooms with running water. electric
| white and red lights, etc. Lockers are
| conveniently located. with stands and
shelves for working any of the printing
out or developing papers. and good enlarg-
ing and reducing camera, with attachment
| for making lantern slides. In the library
are works on photography from the Abb
! C's to the most advanced stages OF the
art accurate; and on the reading table,
! not only Photographic literature. but cur
rent magazines and scientific papers as
| well.
During the winter season a series of
addresses on Photographic and kindred
subjects are given in the apartments OF the
club. There will also be lantern slide and
print exhibitions.
The committee having the winters work
in charge are arranging for the ensuing
season complete lecture course on pho
tographic subjects, on art and its photo
graphic adaptability, the scientific utility
of photography. and kindred subjects.
Each speaker will be as far as possible,
\ master in his line There will also be
! in December or January an exhibition
open to the members of the club only,
in which the product of the summers work
will be shown. In May there will be a
public exhibition open to everyone who
! wishes to show pictures These exhibi-
tions have heretofore been successful in
every way and in view of the increased
activity of the present season the coming
exhibitions promise to eclipse all prev
ious attempts.