Evening star., 1952-03-02
IxA Camera Angles
Better Composition by EnIorging
Rv Alexander | Waddarhmrn
By Alexander ]. WedderhuI
Curator Of Photography
The Smithsonian Institution

iHo SHlttiISOn
Almost any picture can be i'm
proved through enlargement. Sell
dom is negative used in its. en-
tirety as good as some smaller
portion of itself. In the few cases
where the negative is considered
good enough to print "as is," the
chances are you can still gain
pictorially by increasing the size
Of the picture.
Most amateur photographers
have small film-size cameras. This
means that the pictures, if con-
tact printed, will be small. Now
these small prints are fine for
those who are content with a
photo album. However, a good
percentage of camera fans like
to exhibit their skill by hanging
pictures in the home or sending
them off to the salons. The con-
tact prints won't be satisfactory
in either case.
Prints that can be viewed COM
fortably from a distance should
be at least 5x7 inches and the
more popular 8X10 and 11x14 en-
largements seem to be in the
ascendent. The effectiveness of
many photographs, landscapes in
particular. depends upon detail.
This factor is submerged-almost
lost-in contact prints made from
roll films. When. the picture is
enlarged these hidden details
come to life and often will make"
the picture.
Your chances of success in
salon. competition are almost nil
If you send in a print less than
8x10 inches. Most of the entries
these days are 11x14. You will
also find that these larger sizes
will be most acceptable for pic
lures you wish to install on the
walls of your home.
Get Better Composition.
The greatest benefits to be de-
rived from enlarging, however,
come in the realm of composition.
For reasons mechanical or other
wise many a negative has more
than its share of usable compost
ton. The finder of the camera
may be slightly off and you may
be surprised to find that an actual
unanticipated margin will be in
cluded on the film in addition
to the picture you thought you
were recording. On the other
hand you will frequently decide,
after the film has been developed,
that your original idea was not
so good but that a small area of
the negative does contain a good
picture. In either case, the mega
tive can be used effectively by en-
larglng the wanted picture to fill
the print area and eliminating
the undesirable part.
A contact print is made very
quickly and only a few camera
men are capable of changing
tones or otherwise making altera-
tions during the process. BY con-
trast. printing by charging is a
Ielsurely process that win allow
ample time for manipulations Of
many kinds to improve on the
original negative. For example
you viii be able to flash, print in
nolo back and dodge one or sew
eral areas of a picture at will
mus many a negative that rem
oered only unsatisfactory contact
prints may be used successfully
70 make excellent engagements
Better still, you will be able to add
tnlngs to your picture not incIud-
ca IN the original negative. When
clouds will improve a picture Won
can add them during the process
OF enlarging. Actually it is pos
slole to use portions of several
NEGATIVES to make one finished
prlnt-a procedure, which ifI
Sklll1ully done, will defy detection
Comera stores are stocked with
enlargers made by a number of
manufacturers. These vary in
price. depending on lens, auto
matte focus and other less inpor-
tant factors. We are not going to
suggest any particular brand or
type. for this is matter that must
be decided by the individual. We
should like to say, however. that
your choice should be made with
care. With the exception of the
comera itself. the enlarger will be
the most important item of equip
ment you will use in making your
pictures.
Lens Is Important.
Your camera may have cost sew
eral hundred dollars, but if your
negatives are printed with an en-
larger Of poor quality the effect of
the expensive camera can be
largely nullif1ed. The lens of the
enlarger should be of particular
interest and you will do we'll to
insist on quality at least compar-
able with that of your camera.
Some enlargers remain in constant
focus regardless of changes made
In image size and, in the long run,