Evening star., 1947-12-07
- Camera Angles
Progress Makes
inexpensive Hobby:
Out of Photography
By Alexander J. Wedderburn
curotor Of Photography. the Smithsonian
Institution.

BY Alexander }. WedderDurn
Curotor Of Photography. the Smithsonian
Institution.
Not so very many years ago tht
amateur photographer had to carry
his darkroom with him to get any
kind of picture at all. 1t was moi
uncommon to see a weary figure
trundling his paraphernalia along 8
street or country road in a wheel.
barrow, determined to get that pic.
ture. Others carried their home
made darkroom tents on wagons and
consequently were able to extend
their fields of operation beyond
those of their less fortunate neigh
bors.
These pioneers or amateur photog-
raphy were faced with many other
annoying problems Heavy cameras
slow lenses. fragile glass plates and
the necessity for immediate mega
tive development were only a few
of their troubles. Nevertheless, the
tremendous popularity of photog-
raphy combined with the untiring
efforts of George Eastman and
other far-seeing manufacturers,
served to bring into being present.
day photography as the most popu-
lar and inexpensive hobby in the
world.
Today, photography is fun. And
for those who are interested, it can
be well-paying hobby, too. The
problems faced by the neophyte
cameraman of the present are rela-
lively few and simple. Just about
any one can take a picture. For
those who merely wish record of
a pleasant experience or trip, the
box camera and the corner drugstore
or neighborhood photo -finisher are
all that are necessary. A few in
structions on loading the camera
and its operation and you are ready
to take your first picture.
Camera Knows Answers.
On the other hand, for those of
us who are interested in turning
out pictures which are pictorially
pleasing and technically correct, a
more detailed study of the basic
of photography is neces-
sary. 1t may be stated as fact that
the casual or amateur photographer
does not need to sit up nights worry
ing about gamma. the characteristic
curve, circles of confusion, lens
formulas or other highly technical
data that are the problem of the
All of these, and many
other details, have been taken into
by the manufacturers
of cameras and photo supplies in the
and production of their
products.
Thus. We find the built-in range
finder combined with an optical view
finder to eliminate guess-W work in
focusing and composition. Film
emulsions are made with such wide
latitude of exposure that errors,
which a few years ago would have
ruined picture, are now COM
pensated for to an astonishing de-
gree. Easy-to-use chemicals, ready
or with simple directions,
make it possible for the ineXperi-
enced camera fan to enjoy the very
real pleasures of developing and
printing his own pictures. With
universal developers now on the
market it is actually possible to
place your film in the tank and 60
away and forget it. The negative
is automatically developed and
fixed, eliminating the greatest
worry of all darkroom students
he fear of running good film
through over or under development.
Granting that there is nothing
mysterious or difficult in the process
If getting started on the pleasant
'oad to Photographic achievement,
here still remains the question of
expense. Can the average person