Evening star., 1955-05-08
CAMERA ANGLES
By ALEX. ]. WEDDERBURN
Curator Of Photography.
The Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian Institution
Some readers questions and
the replies follow. While we
answer all inquiries individual
ly. only those of general in
terest can be published.
Question-How can I safely
take pictures Of lightning?
Answer-Actually there is no
danger if you stay inside the
house. Place your camera on
a tripod or table for steadi-
ness in front Of an open win
dow that faces the direction
Of the storm. Then open the
lens to its fullest aperture Cat
night of course) and allow the
shutter to remain open until
a lightning flash has regis
tered on the film. More spec
tacular results may be OBJ
tanned by leaving the shutter
open until several flashes have
registered.
FIashbulb Explosions
Q. What percentage of flash
bulbs explode?
A. While there are no
known figures, the occasions
are extremely rare. Most flash
bulbs are coated with a plastic
that will prevent shattering in
the event of an explosion.
There are also transparent
safety envelopes on the mar
ket that fit over the bulb and
reflector to insure against any
possible danger. A handker-
chief will serve the same pur-
pose. It can be kept from slip
ping with a rubber band.
Type Of Paper to Use
@. How does one decide on
the type Of paper for making
prints in a home darkroom?
A. Several factors would
determine the choice. Should
the negative be overly con-
TRASHY. a No. / paper should
be chosen. This is a low-con-
trast paper made for just such
a situation. A soft, mushy
negative, on the other hand,
would call for a paper of
higher contrast than normal
contrast grade 3 CT even
higher. if needed. Normal mega
tives should be printed on con-
trast grade No. 2. Subject
matter will sometimes be a
governing factor as to paper
surface. AS an example, if the
picture is made to show fine
detail such as the fur of a cat
or sand, or wood texture, q
glossy surface would produce
the best result. But if the pic
ture were of an elderly person,
a heavily teXtured matt sur
face would help soften the
facial lines without destroying
character as too much retouch-
ing sometimes does. Most
negatives will reproduce well
on a semimatt surface.
Processing Vessels
@. May negatives and prints
be safely processed in ordinary
kitchenware vessels?
A. No. Processing trays are
inexpensive.
Exposure without Meter
@. How can I be sure Of
getting a good picture lex
posure) without an exposure
meter?
A. In one Of two ways.
Preferably use the exposure
guide that will come with the
film or can be found in photo
data booklets. Since most
films have a wide exposure
latitude almost any exposure
tmade under standard condi-
tions described in the expo
sure guide) will give satisfac-
tory results. If you take pic
lures regularly you can always
fall back on your past expe-
riences. if no guide is avail
able. and expose accordingly.
If still in doubt shoot one ex-
poSure at what you believe to
be the correct setting; then
take another at one full stop
greater; and then another at
one full stop smaller than the
first. At least one should be
close enough to the ideal to
completely satisfy you.
Silhouette Shots
@. How are silhouette shots
Of people or trees, etc. made?
A. Stand with your camera
on the shadow side of the sub
ject which should be outlined
in the finder against the sky.
Place an orange or red filter
over the lens TO increase con-