Evening star., 1928-05-28
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES &. TRACEWELL.

I Ing the action OF various chemicals
upon both film and paper.
Many chemical experiments are open
to the inquiring mind OF the boy, but
most Of them are mere experiments,
interesting, 1t Is true, but productive
Of no particular result.
Photography offers a chemical reac-
ton that combines all the interest OF
the laboratory experiment with the
pleasure Of securing actual, practical
usable results.
There is a real kick" In mixing the
chemicals, Just 4 ounces Of water for
| this one, precisely 8 ounces for that
one. Temperatures of developer and
fixing solution must be accurate.
| A boy learns to be careful, to avoid
being sloppy, to recognize the need for
absolute cleanliness in the process.
| At the same time, IL he studies the
| work even slightly he comes to have
an appreciation not only of nature but
of what man has been able to wrest
and utilize from nature.
~
| He learns that one element Is In
| the developer to reduce to metallic
silver the parts of the picture which
have been affected by the light Of the
| exposure.
Another "peps" up this action, still
third tends to hold 1t back slightly,
so nicely has man balanced the invisi-
bic actions of these chemicals, which
come to the experimenter Of today In
neat glass tubes
+ Another ingredient is a preseryative.
The fixing Of the fllm is done with the
"hypo," which eats out the silver not
acted upon by the light. This standard
photo chemical also "fixes" the prints
made from the negatives, one sort OF
paper being simply very SLOW" film,
| except that the emulsion Is coated on
paper this time.
These interesting experiments -
broadly termed amateur photogra-
phy"-may be carried on at very
small cost. Excellent cameras may be
purchased for so little as 81 or even
less.
Developing and printing outfits are for
sale at comparatively small cost, but the
budget may be trimmed considerably
here II one knows how. The beginner
does not need exactly everything that
he might find convenient, of course.
II his Dad has the money, OF course,
fancy trays and so on will do no harm.
II boy is buying his own things he can
get along with three OF mothers soup
bowls The chemicals will not harm
them IL they are washed out thoroughly.
The absolute minimum is a camera,
a roll of film developer, hxer, printing
paper, printing frame and ruby Ian
tern. A very neat little lamp is to be
secured for as little as 40 or IS cents.
This, with the addition OF printing
frame at the same price, brings the to-
tai outfit" for developing and printing
TO the large sum OF 80 cents. Perhaps
a copy of a good book ought to be In
ciuded in the outfit. For but little over
81 absolutely everything necessary for
producing IL good prints may be Sc
cured-and the camera. lantern, frame,
book and most Of the developer and fixer
are left.
Everything may be secured, that Is, ex-
cept what experience teaches, based
upon the use OF ordinary intelligence,
This, OF course, is the crowning achieve
ment and the great interest OF anna
teur photography. A boy who takes a
few pictures may be building up q ca
reer. II not. he has INDUCED in some
most interesting laboratory work, had
a lot of fun and undoubtedly got his
moneys worth several times over.