Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-25
PHOTOGRAPHIC PROGRESS
Little Advance in the Technique of
Photography In Decade.

| From the New York Tribune.
| By the holding of an annual conference
in Boston by the photogra piers Of New
| England the question is suggested whether
the art of which these men are devotees
| has attained its full growth or will devotion
new features. If one were to Judge from
| the recent past alone he would probably
| hesitate to predict any considerable ad-
vance in the near future. Almost the only
advances In the technique of photography
| in the last 1--WE or ten years have been in
| the range of lenses and the permanence Of
prints one hears good deal Just now
about stricter observance of art principles
| in this profession. Probably there is room
for 1t. but the suggestion Is not novel, The
moving picture involves only an extension
Of the field of usefulness of photography.
and not scientifically new process The
same may be said of the adoption by the
daily newspapers for purposes of illustra-
ton of the half-tone. which was once be-
| lieved to be available only for books and
magazines.
Photography in colors. concerning which
great hopes have been entertained is prac-
| tically at a standstill. Lppmanns system.
| which utilized the interference of RAYS.
| gives beautiful results. but does not admit
OF any method of duplication like printing
from a negative. No practical use has vet
been made Of 1t. With the three-plate plan.
with which Hierstadt. Kurtz, Ives, Jolly and
others have been identified, some attractive
pictures have been made but SO much de-
ponds upon the way in which the printer
does his, work when the photographer's is
done that the result is uncertain There is
no automatic check which insures absolute
fidelity Of tint. Several variations of the
three-coior process have been worked out.
One Of the latest plans involves the STAIN
Ing Of three separate transparent films in
which the lights and shades are indicated
by Inequalities OF thickness. and then plac-
cal precision. This three-ply photograph
| can be used In magic lantern or may be
mounted upon a white card az nrfnt
However, method which Is both accurate
and practicable for the photographer of
average skill is still lacking. Possibly some
entirely new line of experiment is needed
to give the desired result :
Owing to the fickleness of human nature.
and the ease with which one fad replaces
another the camera Is not so popular with
amateurs as 1t was ten years ago On many
accounts this change is to be regretted, A
photograph affords vivid record of pleas
ant times, pleasant places and pleasant
people 1t often reproduces scene of
which 1t Is impossible to get picture from
professional artists or the shops. The de-
velopment OF q negative too, is to many
people an operation Of never falling interest.
Tho way in which the invisible leaps into
visibility Is simply miraculous. Besides, the
practical consequence Of doing this part of
the work ones self Is that better plate is
generally obtained than II the task is per-
formed by any one else. For these and
vival of enthusiasm in amateur photogra-
ply will yet be witnessed. Perhaps the in
ventton OF a good method of copying colors
will have that effect.