The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-25
VANITY IN PICTURES.
What Photographer Suffer From
Some Women.


Some Women.
From the New York Mail and Express.
There couldn't possibly be a better
place to study human nature than in
a photograph gallery" said a we'll
known photographer the other day. "Of
course, YOU have heard this before, but.
really, we do meet some queer charsc-
tiers and have experiences that are anus
ing, even though they are trying.
For instance, some impossible sub
ject will come in. We win do all that
the photographers skill is capable Of
retouch, take out the wrinkles and
make her as pretty as possible. Then
when she sees the photograph she looks
grieved. hurt and indignant all at once.
Why, that doesn't look a bit like
me!' she will exclaim Then, if she has
friend with her, she will turn and
say Well, my coloring is my chief
charm, anyway, and, of course, it's all
lost in a photograph. Yes you may send
them UP, but they're the last I'll ever
have taken.
Another type is the woman who never
expects to have a good photograph, be-
cause my features never look so well
in repose, but when 1 talk, don't you
know, my face is full of animation Of
this proposition, but every homely wo-
man makes it her excuse, and keeps
emphasizing it. L much prefer the candor
of a young woman who came in the
other day and announced that she want
ed pretty picture, and didn't care
whether it looked like her or not.
I'm going to send this away to some
relatives / haven't seen for years, and
viii probably never see again, but I
mt 70 1ACly
Immediately exclaim: why, how Eliza
beth has changed!''
Men Sent by Women.
"a man is generally driven TO have
his picture TAKEN" said another photo
grapher; the old men are made to come
by their daughters and the men by their
sweethearts. You know there is a great
fad among young people just now for
locket pictures. girl doesn't hesitate
at all to say: want a locket picture
for my fance,' while a man will simply
say he wants a little picture, until we
pump it out of him that it is for a
locket. In my ouinion, very few men
care for their own pictures but simply
have them taken when some woman in
sists on it. They will come in and get
the proofs, saying: Well, 1 don't know
anything about this, but I'll send back
the one that's wanted A girl on the
other hand, never wants a man to see
her picture until it is entirely finished
and all the lines taken out"
1t is becoming a sort of fad with the
best photographers now to make por-
traits of elderly men and women leaving
every line and wrinkle in, and the public
is growing to learn the artistic value of
this work, which, of course, is a great
advance from the stereotype pleasant
look of by-gone days.
Unsymm e ricaI Facts.
IT am not at all in sympathy with
the idea that the public is a fool" said
Mr.. George G.. lockwood, who has
photographed many celebrities in his
long professional career. IAN artist IS
supposed from his experience and edu-
cation in art to be better able to dispose
of lines and form and adjust lights than
the layman, but the public pays the
freight and certainly has the rights
that a photographer should recognize.
Many subjects, however, are blind to
their peculiarities or faults, and it may
surprise you to learn that the human
face is rarely perfect bit of symme-
try, the two sides often differing widely
But this is a long story. Even families
do not know of peculiar distinctions III
the faces of their own household. l once
took photograph of lady whose face
was remarkable III tnlS respect inc NAA
ference between the corincular and cor
ner of the mouth being fully half an
inch. l did all that my skill could sus-
gest in lights. posing, etc, but could not
conceal the unsymmetrical lines. Nneh
she saw the proof she threw 1t down
ind gnantly, exclaiming: surely my lace
is not crooked! But it was.
II have found little difference in the
degrees of vanity in men and women
ing element entered when a plain oo
farmer who probably had not looked into
a mirror for generation, came in 1or
a photograph and became not only fussS
and obstreperous. but very critical
The Kittenish Old Lady.
ut is very hard for some to kno"
they are growing old. once woman OF
ffty-five, with very kittenish ways, came
to me. / studied her face carefuly' ioi
knew she did not realize her looNs
Finally made her portrait, copylhe - -
of Sir Thomas Lawrence's paintings Inc"
we retouched and retouched again
moving every line and wrinkle ~
shadow. The result showed y01ne
woman surely not twenty-five
actually shamefaced over 1t, ana WI
dered how she would take II. She looA7'
at II critically. .o,l
:" We'll really. Mr. lockwood ! zee,
encouraged. ! always do look o.a h.
my pictures, but II you'll Just re'oU'
this little ,-..,on
Members OF abe dramatic proie'r,,
are so educated and drilled IN posns 81.
they surpass all others as ciHss. "a
lie men usually look on Il ns duly
he executed a. promptly ~ P
They realize that Il f. better 10 be s'io'
than eoroely. Yet a great many no.
great regard for their cloths ma.
recently / photographed very
eulshed man. The likeness was
ient. bot ln The left coat sleeve a..
wrinkle end on account Or thlH
slsied On sitting again"
.r,. 49,. - rlsn Wears UhH