The sun., 1900-12-21
THE PHOTOGR4PHIC ART.
Amateurs vs.. Profession ais.

To THE EDITOR OF The SUS-Sir. To the
assertion In THE SuE a few days aso that
the professional photographer habically
speaks with fine seorn OF dae smat~ur. but.
rs a marter OF fact. many OF tile rnateurs
Of few years erpefence are vastly superior
in the work 10 Che pro fessionai himself, :"
Mr.. r. y. Richardson, operator. Brooklyn,
takes exception and suys IL IN fable that has
appeared in minor periodicals for years aud
did not require all answer. but when it has
the authority Of THE SUN an answer seem.
necessary. Then he proceeds TO rip the
amateur up the back with that same fine
scorn which few minutes before he has de-
clsred TO be a fable. thus confirming the
first part of The SUNS assertion. He says
the best amateur photographers have never
eQualled the best profs ssio mails. and right
here Mr. Richardson fools himself again. for
many OF the best professionals are from the
ranks Of the amateurs. and Mr.. Richardson
seemingly not being aware that the only
amateur is that the first adopts it a. pro-
iession docs II ior money!. the other for
the pleasure lie he Obtains from 1t dor love-.
cause he loves To do II generally, in the end
does II better than the one who does the same
Now as to Mr. Richardson's other assertion;
In the first place. the foundation Of q good
photograph Is it's disrosition OF light and
shade. In this the amateur is very deficient
Ho about the professionally Look through
your family album and you will find nine out
This one particular. And why is this so?
He has every requisl II on hand 70 make good
picture; thsrei1re & there , can be be but one reas2n
profession title TOO soon. He ia working for
money now he has not me to think or ex-
pertinent. and he will probably never do any
better.
Now, look over your amateur portraits
sT:, the vhy f." 'han sa likely is5 is
up with every requisite: he must take his
pictures In any, old room. no top light, but
70 make a poor picture: but he does fairly
weli-does better all the time and is more
bs 4Sn fn4msr Esy m neTsr te become n an
amateurs work posins 4 horrible" Yes
Next comes the time Of exposure, which
Mr.. Richardson SAYS is easier than the hr.t
Neither do most Of the profession Is
great many Of then expose two plates go
t,,cy may use the 1. best Ii they were sure
matter is. the amateurs who la e been practis-
ing year or two got their exposures about as
under far more adverse circumstances. and
II occasionally We 1.-THE amateursl get badly
.1poscd ra,G; ra,;o We know how and hav, the
RE%e aHe o the he iSns the aerts I @ '9F the the
sccourt of TO dollars and ceots they would
10 .tni," he esys. IN developing which
b,com,s aiwost mechanical. tie amateur
viii Mr.. Richardson please explain why
an amateur who ha, been working and eN-
under all possible conditions should not ho
able 10 develop plate "a well At least a
professional who has been working per-
hsps only half that time in studio under
favorable conditions onlyP
As 10 Mr.. Richardson assertion that the
amateur can beat tho professionals ~ some
things. viz. 'iogCvgraIs-. ~mUdgytypes
wool effects well. some of them can,
hut more Of them cannot AMATEUR
JAMAICA. y. Y. Dec 10