Evening star., 1939-10-22
By Florence S. Berypman.

OLuT IOLOyIuUUIe ScCtIOH HeLt
Sunday.
By Florence S. Bergman.
If future historians are unac.
quainted with the appearances, in
terests, activities and other aspects
OF the private life of Americans, it
will not be the fault of the Nations
amateur photographers. Their CAM
eras are pointed at millions of these
aspects annually, and majority Of
the results are doubtless in the hit
and-miss" class. But during 1899,
more than 350,OO0 snapshots were so
good as to be submitted in contests
conducted by SO leading newspapers
published in more than 40 States.
The Star participated, as will be re-
called, printing each Sunday the best
OF those submitted during the week.
Each newspaper awarded prizes in
the local contest and at the end OF
the season, selected the best four
snapshots to be entered for the
Newspaper National pshot
Awards, made this year for the fifth
time
At the National Geographic So
ciety, in Explorers Hall, these 372
snapshots. considerably enlarged. are
on exhibition until next Saturday.
Nothing could be better calculated
to take the observers mind tempo
rarily of the war, which is so much
with us in press photographs as we'll
as newsreels. For depression lies OUT
side the range Of the amateur photo
grapher's camera, one is happy to
state.
The pictures are shown in four
classes: Children and babies, sports.
hobbies, recreations and pets: land.
scapes and still life; informal DOR.
traits OF adults. If any one imagines
these classifcations are circumscrib-
ing, he will be quickly relieved of
his misapprehension by going to see
them. An hour flashes by. as one
studies the interesting. charming,
often amusing, sometimes beautiful
results.
OF course, these pictures are the
top cream of the innumerable en-
trles throughout the country. Tho
SUBJECTS are not only well selected,
put also we'll composed and well
hghted. 1t is obvious from this ex-
hlbltlon, that the amateur artist has
better chance of reaching a high
level If he selects the camera for his
medium, than if he dabbles with
brush or chisel.
How the judges in the national
contest ever came to their decisions
Will remain mystery. Many of the
pictures which did not receive high
awards may seem to the lay eye as
GOOD as those which did; and doubt
less many visitors will come awav
from the exhibition with private
opinions as to what was best. For
example, the photograph of kitten
peerlng around door. which re-
celved the $500 first prize in its class,
Goes not seem so interesting or unus-
ual as one OF kitten squaring of at
Its reflection in mirror AS ma tier
OF a fact, it is remarkable that
kitten should have fetched the grand
prize at all, in this large class OF
pets. sports and hobbies, which in
cludes an extraordinary picture Of
! two college sprinters rounding the
track at top speed it is the only
photograph the writer has ever
seen, IN which runners face wears
a normal expression of health and
comfort, instead Of an agonizing
grimace.
The mist-obscured lighthouse
which won the grand prize in scenes
and still life" has many worthy COM
petltors. There is among them an
arresting photograph of large spi-
der web covered with dew which has
transformed it into a diamond neck
lace that an empress might covet.
In the two other classes children
and adults one is struck by the fact
that picturesque old people with
characterful wrinkles. hold their
own quite easily against the Young,
lovely or cute. Photographs of the
aged run gamut from the feet Of
tramp which are the quintessence
OF fatigue, to a gentle old grand
mother whose darning is illuminated
by an oil lamp. the scene becoming
the epitome of calm and restful
peace. A striking photograph Of
young woman throwing water out Of
bucket has caught the sheet Of
water and made it the most tangible
thing in the picture.
The Star published last Monday
complete list of prize winners in this
exhibition. All the pictures are
worth seeing, and those who visit the
salon at the National Geographic
Society will have beguiling hour.