New-York tribune., 1902-07-13
LESSONS IN PHOTOGRAPHY.
SUMMER wANDERER ON THE ART
OF TAKING GOOD PICTURES

At the solicitation OF many readers OF The rrib-
uHe who are endeavoring 70 preserve summer
and incidents by means Of the camera.
series of weekly articles on phOtOgI Apply will ap-
pear during the summer. No attempt will be
made to provide an exhaustive treatise on ths
subject. but helpful hints Will be given to the
amateur. There are many little books phOtog-
raphy to be had for 80 cents or less, which dsservs
careful reading by people who aspire 20 a high
order of success
II is assumed az the outset that every one knows
that the purpose of a camera is to exclude tbs
light from sensitive plate until with certainty
and precision, IL can be exposed for any desired
length Of time to the suns rays The camera that
will accomplish this result with the least liability
TO accident mistake is the best machine, For
the mere ''snapshooter," who has ambition be.
yond getting souvenirs in the way OF photographs
Of friends and places. there is only light and
one camera-bright sunlight and a fixed focus
camera. that needs only 10 have slide drawn or
dlm wiader turned and button pressed. Tina
exposures, diaphragms. focal lengths OF lenses,
distance and definition and always viii bs
Greek to such an amateur. His good pictures will
be largely a matter Of luck. For the reason that
instrument for this kind OF work should bs
universal at the shortest possible distance Chat IS
should sharply define all objects a range Of say.
six or seven feet from the and ininits
distance beyond. only small plate can be
cessfully used A plate ga by Sls inches is about
the limit for only a lens of about three inches
focus is capable of defining objects. and a
three inch lens OF gOOd quality cannot cover a
larger plate sharply the full opening necessary
for exposures that will permit Of ordinary motion
In the picture and hand support OF the camera.
This Is why many who have de fair pictures
with 215 by 2ls 3ls by sIs cameras are disap.
pointed with the results obtained with larger
cameras purchased later
person who will not study photography win
achieve better results with 215x21s fixed focus
camera, with good lens. than with any other out
fit he can procure. A really fine lens such
plate will cost about SO a common lens, such
as is sold with cheaL cameras. always gives
tidy corners, although pretty pictures may be
made with IL. Usually birdseed foliage. in the
corners and curved walls are &c ,eptable 20 pho
tographerS who buy the cheapest OF everything
The curvatuI4 is due TO the spherical distortion Oe
cheap lenses on small cameras are single a
double lens unless Of the best quality will not
cut the image sharply 10 the corners at full aper-
is not first class the picture be made hrst
class only by dlaphragminS down tC very small
hand camera.
This is too confusing and too intricate for any
studying photography Even the camera ''fend
however, can make good photographs when he has
a good camera and good light, provided he knows
something OF balancing masses OF light and shade.
and sees that his Is level at the instant OF
exposing The plate II the camera Is tilted up
ward vertical AneS Viii incline toward each otner
the top; il downward. they will diverge at the
top, and this applies 10 the finest of lenses.
well the CheapeSt Whenever the OF a build
ing in the piCtI re narrower than the bottom the
know that the camera was tilted upward but when
camera was tilted downward A person, if the
camera is tilted downward. appears TO lean for
ward If tilted upward, he appears 10 lean back
ward. The camera, 10 show anything naturally,
should be level a little spirit level screwed 10
top edge of the back OF finer instrument is worth
all il costs