Evening star., 1951-04-22

made since October /, 1850, are
eligible for entry in the 1851 con-
test. And, as we have said, you
can use any make or size camera
that you have at your disposal
whether it is a high priced. multi
gadget affair or a pinhole camera
of your own making. In the long
run you will find that the thought
and planning behind the picture
will mean a lot more than the
camera used to snap it. A ma
jority Of winners from previous
years made their prize photo
graphs with box cameras or other
inexpensive instruments.
Color Film Is Out.
In, this competition you won't
have to worry about whose brand
of film to use. Any black and
white film may be used but the
snapshots must not be made on
glass plates or on color film. If you
wish you can make your own
prints but snapshots printed by
commercial photofinishers will be
just as acceptable.
Most photo contests are very de-
|manding in regard to sizes Of
prints and require that the pic
lures be mounted on salon mounts
Ior cardboard with the conse-
Iquence that many are discouraged
from entering. Not so this one. In
the first place. the huge salon
prints have been banned from
this competition and no prints
larger than 10 inches in the
larger dimension will be accepted.
Aside from this, you can enter
your prints in any size that suits
your convenience-either contacts
or enlargements. None should be
mounted.
In still a further effort to keep
this contest within the reach of
lall amateur photographers it has
been ruled that no art work or re-
touching on either prints or mega
tives will be permitted. Nor will
composite shots such as montages
Ior multiple printings be accept
able. These restrictions are for
the simple purpose of keeping this
IA snapshot contest with the prizes
within reach of all entrants rather
than for few who are experts in
the salon field.
Be sure to save the negatives
from which all your entries are
printed. These will have to be
produced later, if you should win
one of the $25 awards at the close
of the local competition. The neg
atives and prints that win the final
prizes in Washington will then be
sent on to the National Snapshot
Awards.
Care in Processing.
You may be sure that competi-
Ition will be keen in the snapshot
contest and you undoubtedly will
have to be on your toes to get
lat the prize money; but it might
just as well be you as the other
fellow. Strive for a high standard
both in the camera work and in
the finished print. First, make
every effort to get your pictures
sharp and clear: And pay par
Iticular attention to getting ac-
Icurate exposures. Then, if your
compositions are well planned
and lightings are good you are
well on your way towards winning
Ia prize. b.
If you do your own processing,
lgive special attention to develop
ing the negative to the very best
that it is capable of producing.
Then give your prints as much at
tention as you did the negative
and you should wind up with some
winning entries. AS we have
Ipointed out you can send in prints
in any size not exceeding 10 inches
on their longer dimension. So if
your pictures are processed by a
lphotofinisher and you think you
can improve them by trimming or
cropping with shears, by all means
do so. This may make the diff
ference that will win you a prize.
And don't forget-you can send
in just as many entries as you
wish each week of the contest.
One of them may be the one to
cop the top award in the finals.