Evening star., 1953-12-27
Comer0 Angles
Comero Angles
Resolutions
ForConnero
Fans in'54
By Alexander J. Wedderhurn
curoior Of Photography
The Smithsonian institution

CUroior Of Photography
The Smithsonian institution
AS the old year totters to-
wards its end let's take q last
look backward and evaluate
what we did camera-wise in
1858. Are all the pictures and
films we took as good as they
could have been? We doubt
that anyone can answer
truthfully in the affirmative.
There is almost always room to
improve anyone'S work and
photography is no exception.
A carelessly focused camera,
a missing bit of equipment
needed at a specific time, ex-
posures made unheedful of the
light on the subject, or even
sins Of omission as well as of
commission in the darkroom
are only a few causes for losing
excellent pictures in 1858. So,
along with other resolutions
for the new year, why not
make a few that will con-
tribute to better snapshots and
movies in 1854?
Let it be resolved then:
/. Not to shoot film waste
fully in the faint hope that
somehow or other q miracle
will happen and q good pic
ture or film will result. If the
lighting or action are beyond
the scope of your camera,
don't release the shutter.
When the speed of a moving
object demands a shutter
speed of 1/10Oth second or
faster and your shutter speed
will not exceed 1/25th, why
waste film in the hope that
somehow the action will be
stopped-for it most certainly
will not be. The same will ap-
ply to badly lighted scenes. If
the film-lens-light factor is
against you there is nothing
you can do but use faster film
and lens for similar situations
in the future.
2. To keep the camera clean
and in good working condition.
Many a potentially good pic
ture was lost because the
shutter stuck, or because q
carelessly left f1ngermark or
dirt partially obscured the lens
or found its way to the emul-
sion of one of our otherwise
best negatives. Have the cam
era checked once a year by a
technician who will clean the
inaccessible parts. He will also
adjust the shutter which quite
often will vary from the indi-
Gated speeds after a years
steady use in varying tempera-
lures.
3. To use an exposure meter
and a tripod when possible.
1t is difficult to believe that
the cost of a meter will stand
in the way Of any photograph
er. Without one the wasted
film soon more than exceeds the
price-not to mention the far
greater personal loss when i'm
portant pictures fail because Of
a faulty exposure.
The tripod is insurance that
the camera will remain steady
during an exposure that other
wise might turn out as a blur.
A. To become thoroughly
familiar with camera, flash
gun or other gadget before
using them. Know your cam
era Every new one has an
instruction booklet packed
with it. No matter how many
years you have been taking
pictures it will pay you to
study the directions for q new
one. Then, if there are points
that confuse you, consult your
dealer or a photographer
friend. Test your knowledge
by making a few "dry runs"
with the camera empty.
s. To keep the darkroom
clean and spOtIess. Dust and
dirt tracked in will settle on
wet or dry emulsionS Of film
or paper and the result will
be much spotting and re-
touching otherwise unneces-
sary. Chemical dust which re-
suits from spilled solutions can
actually ruin negatives and
prints.
8 To exercise better judT-
ment next year before snap
ping . picture. Take q good
look through the finder and
decide for yourself whether the
picture you are about to take
is worth recording on f1lm.
Will you actually want to keep
1t or Is this just another one
for the wastebasket?