Evening star., 1902-08-14
LESSONS IN PHOTOGRAPHY.
Suggestions to Amateurs for Taking
Good Pictures.

0OOd PICTURES.
From the New York Tribune.
One of the most important facts that
should be impressed upon the amateur is
that she should not try to photograph all
outdoors at once. The best pictures, whether
they be paintings, etchings or photographs,
are composed of only a few objects. Every
body knows, or should know, that a group
of three or four persons makes more
pleasing picture than a group of twenty.
There is more in it-more character, more
detail and more expression. Two or three
cows in a picturesque pasture, with brook
and single tree, make a better picture
than herd of cattle grazing on the edge
of a wood. dog and a child in natural
pose can hardly be made into poor pic
ture, If the lighting and exposure are good,
but dozen children and as many dogs
would be a difficult subject even for an eX-
perienced photographer.
One who wants good pictures should
strive to avoid crowding. Get near enough
to something to make it the prominent fea-
ture OF the photograph, and let whatever
else enters into the composition be so stu
ated as to be subordinated to this principal
theme One trouble with most of the Pho
tographS made by amateurs is that they
contain too much, and nothing is prominent
nothing so predominateS over everything
else as to afford perspective and relief. Two
trees IN foreground, one ST near as to fll
the left end Of the plate and .le other mid
way between the center ana he opposite
end, and three times as ia. from the
camera, Will make pretty r. IRE, what
ever else, provided it is not or trees,
fills the remainder of the spac- Three peo-
pie in natural postures on t. oank of a
stream. with the sky for | aground If
they are clad in dark clothne OF clump
of bushes if their apparel be lie at colored,
make very attractive picture, provided
they are at one end of the plate and not
staring at the camera. 1t Is best to place
them so that they are shown on at least
two-thirds the height of the plate, and to
nave the taller at the outside, the shorter
In the center and the other on the inner
side OF the group, with a tree, building,
flagstaff or some other tall object COM
pletely filling the height of the plate as a
background for the group, the stream and
It's distant shore showing less than half as
high at the other end.
1t is we'll to avoid monotony in composing
picture. If there are three women In bath
ing costumes they should be engaged In as
many d1rerent acts associated with bath
ing one may be sitting on the sand, an
other talking with the first and arranging
her cap. and the third wringing her skirt.
Two women, one in cycling costume, resting
gracefully on her wheel, and the other In
characteristic summer garb, with her open
k>eA e'0oA ioi iliiS tIle DaChSIouliu Aoi ACi
head and shoulders, the two in the attitude
of conversation. look well Care should be
exc exercised. els: however. sto: pave them nearer
one end of the plate WITH distant view OF
low lying field OF distant wood at the
other. Avoid getting, the, prominent object
In picture exactly atths center. There is is
no other place on the Plate where 1t VIII
not be more pleasing Portraits are excep-
tions to this excellent ruiz, and there are
ftw others. The highest part of building
should be midway hetwesp one end and the
center of the plate IL pp$sible. By highest
part is meant not Aecessarily the tallest,
but that which win Ba ta4lest in the photo,
grapn. sr .,,, II the came9as isfproperly situated
ner. In the case of a church it may be the
nearer corner with the steeple little to
one side OF the bolHer 14tlihe nearest the
camera; On a beaciA itsshould be group
OF people, buildingofa boat very near the
camera, C. n "a or or building pr pier. Whatever It
most to fill the heiSSf ~ the plate, to af-
ioro Doth perspective and relief.