Evening star., 1955-05-29
CAMERA ANGLES
BY ALEXANDER ].
WEDDERBURN
Curator Of Photography
The Smithsonian Institution

Include your camera in
making vacation plans, for it
will keep a record of your
good times.
But here's a tip on vacation
photography: Don't carry it
too far. Photography is good
clean fun, especially on vaca-
ton trips. provided you don't
turn your few weeks Of free
time into a Hollywood produc-
ton schedule. Record the
highlights of your trip but
don't spoil things for your
family by concentrating so
heavily on shooting pictures
Of everything that no time Is
left for other pleasures.
Start off right by leaving all
your darkroom equipment at
home. Hotels will not look
kindly on efforts to turn a
suite into a darkroom. And
the water in certain parts of
the country is not suitable for
Photographic purposes. Ger
tain types Of mineral water
may be excellent for your
health, but it might ruin your
best snapshots if used to mix
processing solutions. If you
must see your vacation pictures
before returning home, let a
local professor do the work.
This will give you more time
for other pleasures.
Make a List of Needs
In the hurry and scurry Of
last-minute preparations for
departure you can easily over
look some important piece Of
your photography outfit. So
make up a list Of the items
that you think you will need.
The camera tops the list. An
exposure meter will surely be
helpful if you are going to
some place like the beach
where lighting conditions will
vary from what we think of
as normal.
A tripod should definitely go
along. It will be most help
full when making scenic shots
where you will stop down the
lens and lengthen shutter
speed for increased depth in
your pictures. Indeed, tripod
is a handy gadget for any pic
ture when you want to be alb
solutely sure Of a steady, level
shot.
Add an orange or a yellow
filter to take care Of haze and
catch cloud formations, and
your basic requirements will
have been met. From here on
it is up to the individual to
add such items as may be
considered necessary. These
might include flash equipment,
additional lenses for far-away
and closeup work, or any OF
the other photo paraphernalia
dear to the heart of the pho
tographer. But the simpler
you keep it, the more pleasure
you will have.
Black White and Color
A good supply Of both black
and white and color film
should be added to your list,
particularly If you are going to
some small town or hamlet
where fresh film may not be in
plentiful supply. An adequate
number of rolls is especially
importance If you are planning
q trip abroad. Many countries
have custom regulations re-
garding the amount of film
taken across the border but, as
q rule these are not too strictly
enforced if your supply Is rea-
sonable.
Check in advance the regu-
lations of the countries you
will visit. Some have stringent
rules about the humber Of
cameras. Washingtonians have
a ready source of information
by calling the appropriate en-
bassies or legations.
We have another bit Of ad-
vice for those who will be leav-
ing this country with camera
equipment. Be sure to register
the serial number Of your cam
era with our customs officials,
particularly If the camera is Of
foreign make. Otherwise on
your return you may have
your camera tied up for weeks
while you prove that 1t was
purchased IN tl4is country.
BE Sure Camera Is OK.
Since your vacation shots
are sure to be Of Importance
make certain. well in advance
Of your trip, that your cam
era Is in top working order.