The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-11
Copyright, 1900. by Seymour Eaton)
yI.-ExPOsING THE PLATE.


When we are ready to withdraw the
slide so as to expose the plate-that is,
TO allow the picture as we have Just seen
IT upon the ground glass to be thrown IN
the same way upon the face OF the dry
Mate in our holder OF the image OF the
picture to be impregnated upon the plate
we must again caution against oyerex-
posure.
we shall learn later on of exposurs
meters for mechanically judging OF ex-
posture. At present we shall enaeaVor 10
get as correct an exposure as possible by
our own Judgment, which, after all, is inc
hest exposure meter. This Judging OF cor
rae, exnosure is q part Of photography
which should receive constant study Ex-
merit knowledge is secured only through
,,lose observation and long experience.
suppcse that we have a medium plate
IN the holder, and that our view is made
IN of a clump Of trees, brook, rev
largo stones and an old log bridge. 1t is
fairly bright day and the sun is shin
ing. After studying the time OF exposure
nv looking first at the view ana tncn az
ITS image on the ground glass as alresoY
described we conclude that with the stop
our picture at its best that i've SECONDS
,s about the correct time. On lens being
closed, either by placing the cap on the
projecting hood of the lens or by closing
the shutter, we take hold OF the side with
the fingers OF the right hand, placing the
left upon the top of the camera over the
stakeholder IN order to steady the camera,
and draw out the slide completely We
must be very careful to draw 1t over per-
fecty straight, for the reason that the
end of the holder through which the slide
is drawn Is protected by spring or cusn-
ion of black velvet extending the width OF
the slide. II we draw out the slide with
a downward morton the upper end leaves
the holder first, while the lower end, still
in the slide, holds the cushion from per-
forming It's function, which is to close
up the slot when the slide is out and
thus prevent the rays of light from pass
ing through to the plate, which means that
our plate Will be logged, or light struck
and ruined.
1t is then OF great Importance that we
draw our slide out gently, yet quickly, and
draw 1t straight. After drawing the slide
II is we'll TO acquire the habit of throwing
the side OF the focusing cloth over the
side OF the camera from which the slide
has been Withdrawn, thus doubly protect
ing the end of our holder from the light.
Especially should this be done in outdoor
work.
Now 10 count our seconds, and to count
them as seconds; 1t Is remarkable how
differently as 10 time this may be done;
of course we may use watch and get the
time exact, but It Is claimed, and with
truth, by good camerlsts that, to expose
mechanically Is to lose the soul Of the pic
tire, for when once one Is master of tim
ing a picture under different phases there
is an inner feeling OF conception of the
depth Of the picture that guides the hand
and eye in making exposures. Be this as
1t may, 1t Is true that nine people out OF
ten expose by rule of eye or count. We
have found siat by very little practice
almost correct time may be given in sec
onds by colIntlng-one se-ond--two sec
onds-three seconds distinctly, and in the
usual speed of the voice in talking. TO
try to count IN saying, one, two three
will rarely land the beginner within half
of the time he expects Begin counting
us the shutter Is opened or the lens un-
capped and close the lens at the end OF
the last second" Don't be tempted to
give Just little more time" for more
plates are spoiled by the little more
time" than by almost any other means.
The exposure being made the slide is
placed. and here we must remember to
place the end of the slide exactly straight
in the opening, and keep 1t straight, for
TO introduce one corner first would ruin
our plate Just as we have seen above
In replacing the slide be sure to have the
dark side OF the slide on the outside as
this VIII show that the plate has been
exposed and Will keep us from making tn,
quite common mistake of exposing ihn
same plate twice
Right here and now Is the time for us to
begin a system of method" by which we
mean labelling each exposure and jottng
down quick memorandum of the view
taken, the plate used, the stop used and
tne time of exposure; also whether the
day Is dull, medium or light. This tabu-
latlng will mean she saving O, great
many plates and a deal Of we,r and tear
on our temper when we conn to develop
our pictures, no. only on this initiative
Trip but In all our future york. There is
no.nins SO exasperatinHspsto return home
from ,protographinx jaHa with half
dozen dsr ' ssas views 4 sau aimed IN
r,shl ana speed, sG1y t. forget In the dark
room 'whiebIaeT Witch" Let us decide
randa booR15lfS1r rip and lot down mar
ticulars somewhat as follows:
PLtTE NO. /.
view, Landscape. dark foliage; brook. loo
bridge In foreg ound, I'VE
Lens-Goers AXIS.
,Yaye-Crane "Banner."
vstop-F 81.
Time-Fve Eeconds
Light-Bright. p. m
ResuI Observation-Disclosures,
AND s. on with each exposure. OF cour.,
each plate holder must be numbered 60
ina no, l plate corresponds with No I
RENO. BY keeping a careful record of
toorn IAposure IN this manner we soon