Evening star., 1950-01-01
Camera Angles
New Year Resolutions for the Amateur
By Alexander J. Wedderburn
curotor Of Photography
The Smithsonian Institution


The Smithsor
Are you working on that list Of
resolutions for the new year?
This time let's add a few that
will help make better pictures
during the next IL months. l
think that, without exception, we
can ali stand to have few i'm
provements along this line
either in technique or style, or
perhaps a bit Of added effort and
care will do the trick. Let's ex-
anime our faults Of the past and
forswear them for the coming
year.
Let it be resolved then:
Never to start out on a picture
taking expedition without first
having checked equipment to
make sure that it is in perfect
operating condition. This will
apply particularly to the camera,
but let us not overlook any OF the
other accessories, either. First 60
over all the working parts and
see that all is in order. The shut
ter is most important; if it sticks
or fails, you might just as well
put off your picture-taking until
you have it fixed. And be sure
that the lens is clean and free
from moisture between the ele.
ments. Try out your flash CUR
and any other accessories tina,
will be used.
Not to leave the house without
making sure that the camera is
loaded. With a roll film camera
test the winding mechanism to in
sure against jams due to faulty
threading or worn-out film cas-
settes. Also take along an extra
roll or two of film. just to be or
the safe side.
Know Your Film Speeds.
To always know the speed o.
the film in the camera and tt
calculate exposures accordingly
Too many beginners, to our wa,
Of thinking, have no idea Of ths
meaning of film speed. how it ap'
plies to exposure problems, anc
what effect it has on the resulting
picture. A good many photogs
if you can describe them tha'
way, use one film one day ane
another type another day (eacf
of a different speed) at the SAME
exposure and then wonder why
one roll turned out so differently
from the other.
Always to use tripod and ex
posure meter, if at all possible
The tripod will save many a sho
from the devastating effects o
camera movement, tilted hori'
IONS and other faults Of com
position due to an unsure hand
The exposure meter will. if uset
properly, insure usable imag'
from an exposure standpoint eaci
time the shutter clicks.
To use better Judgment thi
year in the selection Of subjec
matter Don't snap away at an,
scene that you may come across
let each shot actually meal
something to you. Ask yoursel
before taking each picture if 70
will really want to keep it in you
collection. If not. leave it alon
and wait until you find seen
that is really worth preserving
Try to improve your composition!
If you are not quite satisfied wit
what you see in the finder O
your camera move backward o
forward or to one side or tn
other until the picture is perfect
then take the picture.
DON'T Expect the Impossible.
Not to waste film when poo
lighting conditions prohibit thu
possibility of a good exposure
Thousands of dollars worth o
film is wasted every year by folk
who hope" to get something
even though conditions are i'm
possible. If you know what YOU
lens. shutter and film will dt
fand you should by all means,
under given lighting conditions
you may just as well face up tt
the fact that. there is no uss
hoping for the impossible. If tn.
light isn't enough. save your film
for another day.
Never to attempt taking q pic.
ture with a camera that you art
not thoroughly acquainted with
This mistake is responsible fol
more failures than any one othel
reason. Always know your Gamers
before starting out. Study thu
book OF directions that comes
with it or have some one who
knows the camera explain all it,
operations. Go through q few
dry runs" with it until you are
sure that you know the func.
ton of each part and gadget
Then load up with Aim and &C
after your pictures.
To always have your Gamers
checked by an expert before going
on a vacation, it will cost you very
little, keep your camera in gooc
shape and may save you the
disappointment of no vacation
pictures if something goes wrong
at the last moment. You'd better
take along plenty of extra film,
too, when going to a strange place
since you may find it more ex-
.pensive there or-even worse
non-existent.
Keeping the Lens Clear.
To check the lens of your
camera before each shot. Wipe
off fingerprints, dust, dirt and
also be sure that the lens cap is
off. Otherwise your roll of film
may come back underexposed,
blurred or with nothing at all