The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-25
HIGH PRICED PHOTOGRAPHS.
$500 PAID FOR THREE STUDIES
or WILD FLOWERS.

And $500 for Six Pictures OF Domestic
Animals-Amateu rs Got These Prices
Effect OF the Good Work ar Anna
teurs upon the Professional Artists.
Fashions in photographs change rapidly.
None OF the really fashionable photog-
raphers enjoys long popularity. although
some are able to make reputation enough
to carry them through decade or. two,
In that time they are expected to earn
money enough to make them independent.
Even allowing for the fckleness Of public
taste and the desire to be photographed by
the newest man in the style. it is surprising
to observe the number OF new names In
the business on Fifth avenue. Nearly
every block contains one or two photog-
raphers who have gone into the business
80 recently
The newcomers are, in almost every case,
recruited from the ranks Of the amateurs
They usually begin by taking pictures es
q diversion. Increased skill and practice
make them able to compete with the pro-
fessionals.
The naturalness and informally Of anna
teur photographs in comparison with the
work OF the old-fashioned professionals
gain vogue for the artists.
Most Of these photographers have the
opportunity to learn the profession, and
even to make some money out Of it, while
engaged In other work. One man, who
earns from two to three thousand dollars
a year with his camera, spends most OF
his time in the practice OF the law. He
gets $40 dozen for pictures which would
cost $s5 in the Fifth avenue shops. AS he
tolf bia nar IN, the homo nf ha altar
he has no Office rent to pay and does all his
work, in fact, in a room OF his apartment.
But the larger part Of his earnings CON es
from orders for advertising purposes. One
for three pictures of wild flowers Of dt-
ferent seasons, to be used by an insurance
company In a calendar.
These. photographs took really very little
work, although 1t was necessary for them
to be stilfully finished, The price paid
for three studies of wild roses, golden rod
and chrysanthemums was $500.
Il got 5000, said another photographer.
with another occupation as his real busi-
ness, for six studies Of animals. They
are to be used as souvenir, and the com.
pany wanted young calves pigs, colts and
other domestic animals just AZ they are seen
in the country.
THAT work was like a vacation. All
had to do was to travel over the country
around New York looking for my animals.
by the end Of that time had just the groups
wanted and had enjoyed myself while
was getting them. And the pay was good
for the amount of work had to put in
1t u this kind of amateur photographer
that generally passes over to the profess
sional stage after a while The change
is made easy by the ability to get work
while in the period of transition,
While the established photographers
who were in the business before all these
men 0nd women with their so called ideas
Of art photography broke into it, said one
Of the men whose name was for years over
Fifth avenue shop, pretend to have q
contempt for the amateurs as they call
them, their influence on the old-timers
has been very positive. Those who have
refused to accept the new methods have
found it hard work to get along.
Customers want the new pictures. They
like the naturalness Of the pose, which is
often in reality an affectation; they like the
use of the colored prints and the entire alb
sence OF the old fashioned look pleasant
idea with your head all the time in the grasp
of an iron frame
If it had not been for the amateur pho
lasted longer than it did. 1t was bound
to go, Of course, in the end, but the anna
tours FASTENED the change.
The women artists among the gradu-
ates from the amateur class are just as
successful as the men and have in several
cases made regulations for themselves.
The photographs 30 common to-day with
their effects of light and shade like engrav-
ings and etchings were made first COM
after they had been accepted there. The
first of these pictures to be had in New
York were the work of former London
amateur who came to New York;