The Washington herald., 1911-05-07
ART PHOTOGRAPHY
STUDIES SHOWN
Splendid Exhibit Enjoyed at
CorcOran Gallery.
SPECIAL EXAMPLES DESCRIBED
Great Majority of Exhibitors from
the District, Including Profess
sfonals and Amateurs-Absence OF
Freak Elects Regarded as q
Striking Feature of the Affair.

At the Hemicycle Hall of the Corcoran
Art Galleries last night the Capital Cam
era Club threw its doors open to the pub
lie to inspect the twentieth annual ex-
hibition held under its auspices. And 1t
is not too much TO say that, in point of
artistic conception. technical treatment,
composition, and variety of subject, the
collection of nearly 800 photographs ex-
hibited by about ninety artists, is most
creditable to the zeal of the members.
the skill of the contributors. and, above
all, to the rigid scrutiny and high ideals
of the jury.
The great majority of exhibitors are
residents OF Washington and include both
professional and amateur competitors.
For, by the rules of the club, since there
are no awards made, so there are no re-
strictons other than that the work sub
mttted must be the unaided production OF
the exhibitor. So amateur competes with
professional and landscape, portrait, and
genre, are intermingled in well-balanced
proportions, a thing which is rather un-
usual IN Photographic exhibitions.
A Striking Feature.
Perhaps, the most striking feature of
the exhibition is the absence of freak
effects, which seem to have lost the
vogue, which, in the opinion of the ar
tistic photographer, that class Of work
should never have enjoyed It is plain,
too, that the jury in its selections has
been guided by the ESSENTIAL qualities of
composition and technical workmanship.
Nhlc hare conspicuous features of nearly
Inc entire exhibit. ImpresSionism has lit
tie or no place in the collection and be-
ycnd the effects Of gum paper and one or
two instances of color secured by this
agency, the whole may he classed as an
unusually conventional application of the
legitimate to photography.
One of the best pictures in the COL
lection is summer Time" by D. H.
Brooklns, of the Chicago Photo Fellows
in which there is observable an oil quail
ltY, which is also noticeable in perhaps
a less degree in the The Meadow by
Edward H Smith. of Philadelphia. A
group OF night views in Washington by
Winfield Scott Cline, of this city. at
tracts much deserved attention. and it
was a pleasure to hear the generous
comment of fellow exhibitor, last night
TO the effect that ''one would have TO go
long way 70 beat that group
Raises a Question.
The quality shown in The Skies
canopy by Robert Debruce of Pitts
burg, attracts much attention, and cur
losity is often expressed as to whether
the remarkable sky effect is more due
TO murky Pittsburg. than to the artists
skill. A Vista" by T. l.. Crandall. of
this city, represents the Washington
Monument as seen through the pillars
In the pOrtico OF the Continental Han
and is one of series of fifteen striking
pictures by this artist. Mr.. Crandau Is
one Of the most favored exhibitors in
point of acceptances by the jury.
Behind the Blind" by William II.
Herpe' OF richmond Hill. Long Island,
Is a novelty in Photographic work
The entire series of eight pictures nv
this artist displays a variety of design.
treatment, and style that stamps the
artist with unusual versa tility. Ten
remarkable portraits by Miss Virginia
NJ. Prall, of this city. form a collection
OF unique treatment and conception
HAT in the Road by Paul Wierum,
OF Chicago. carries with it a suggestion
OF Mauve oil. both in subject, atmos-
phere. Frances Benjamin Johnston,
formerly Of Washington, and closely
identlned for some years with photo
graphic work here. now exhibits from
New York and is represented by Moth
er and Children at the Pool"
CHARLES E Fairman, president of tn.
club. has group of five landscapes thar
H.
did technique. William P Herbst. a for
mer president, has 4 group of six, of
which "A study" representing an ex-
ceIentIy suodued photograph of a female
mead. is evoking much praise. Francis C.
Crow. treasurer of the club, is repre-
scnted by The Hermit's Fireplace" and
sunset, which are oc tine handling and
conception. Miss Anna Fallon. with
twelve eXcellently conceived and executed
contributions, has most successfully
passed the jury.
Exhibit Is Study
But Photographic exhibition is a study
and not an impression, and the estimate
that is formed al one visit may be
tempered or enhanced at the next, and
even to praise moderately on the opening
night is hazardous and only tentative at
the best.
The exhibit IS oper on Sunday from
l:S0 to 4:3O; on Monday, from y to and
from TO S:39, on other week days, from
TO and frcm s to $50