The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-08

beauty in nearly every face if the pho | tographer understands how to bring it out. That's where the real artistic part
 of photography is shown
 And what do you regard as the mosf expressive feature of the face--the eye or the mouth---I mean from the photogra-
 pher's viewpoint?'I inquired rf v1ttr | The eye Is the chief feature of ex4 pression and the most lively feature in
 the human countenance. It expresses emotion and feeling better than any other part of the face, and for that reason 1t should be shown always clear and full,
 said MT. Wilson. The eyelids should never be allowed to cover it. A person | reading may assume an attractive attf- tude, but it will invariably sacrifice the most beautiful part of the face.
 "The Old Masters were very fond of the upturned direction of the eyes. It is a most natural one. When subject to particular influences the eyeball readily turns upwards In sleep, languor and de- pression, or when affected with strong emotions. the eyes roll upward. Hence in the expression of reverence, in devo- ton. in agony of mind, in all sentiments of pity, in bodily pain. with fear of death, the eyes assume that position. But for that very reason eyes in that position are not specially desirable in portrature. Tt is exceedingly difficult to analyze the subtle variations of eye expression. The eye constantly takes a thousand shades from the relation of the surround I ing parts, and 1t is well nigh impossible l to trace the various expressions back to l their sources" | "A great lawyer once talking shop out 1 of court, said of feminine beauty that pretty mouth is like subsequent rati 1 dcation of power of attorney-it cures every previous defect" I reminded. | What kind of people are the most
 difficult to make pictures of?" I asked | curiously.
 The people who expect you to do mir
 acles with them, answered MT. Wilson
 promptly This, of course, largely ap- plies to the faded beauty wlo expects you to make her look as she did ten years
 ago, without giving you any details to
 work from. Then. every once in a while somebody comes along who wants to look
 Ia years younger, when 10 is absolutely l the best we can do. It's mere guess | work beyond that"
 1 Aren't vain men very amusing to a l photograp pher?" 1 asked
 ''They are the funniest things in the
 vorld,' MT. Wilson said. "rhey pose
 before the mirror, worse than a woman
 would. and they strike all sorts of at-
 titudes, and it is hard for me to find out whether they wish to look like Bismarck CT William J. Bryan in their pictures. ! They always know a lot about pho
 tography. the vain ones do. They inn agine that staring into the skylight
 makes their eyes bright, when in reality i they would look like the brass heads of
 an everyday pin. Of course, after they
 offer all the suggestions as to which is
 the best side of their face to photograph,
 and how this lock of hair should fall | tln;, oil hot nrf of inc | I get Into the game and do just what 1 I've intended to from the begining-picls out their best points and work on them. 1 When the photograph is finished they are
 usually very well satisfied
 How about making the photographs l of children?' I asked
 Its my speciality" said the clever pho 1 tographer. "Of course its necessary to | do some sleight of hand work with the
 mothers and the nurses, but in time one
 learns to handle them. Often it hap pens that l have to get the mothers to
 leave the room while I take the pictures
 of their children--because the mere fact | that the mother is present and is look
 ing so longinely and interestedly at her
 baby makes It cry or puts it in a bad humor. but if I am allowed to be alone
 with the child and do my work as I see 1t
 ! get much better results always" You haven't an idea Mir. Wilson
 went on. "how many phases of human ity can be studied in a studio. There ism
 Q type that the photographer can't spot at q glance. from the young man who is | just having his picture taken to please
 his mother, to the neat little, prim little
 school teacher, who had rather die than have her picture taken. The photogra- pher who has heen at work five years or more ought to be able to write history | cn evolution, an anthrcpology. or publish i a Monthly Maga7inr of Fashion. It's all
 very interesting and I never get tired or 1 it, although. of course, there are many
 obstacles and difficulties to be surmount- ed. All my subjects practically begin alike by confliding to me that they ve
 never yet had a good picture mAde. but