Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-29
CAMERA ANGLES
BY A. J. WEDDERBURN
Curator Of Photography
The Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian Institution
Now is the time to get ready
for another warm : weather
season of picture taking.
Cameras and equipment that
have been gathering dust over
the winter months should be
tested, cleaned up and re-
paired if necessary.
Any camera gear laid away
several months is apt to need
a cleanup job. Dust and
CRIME win collect in even the
cleanest homes, and unless
you put your camera away in
a plastic bag it probably needs
attention.
Normal oxidation that will
occur as the result Of changes
in temperature can also have
had some effect on your cam
era during the winter. If the
shutter has been slowed up or
other working parts affected,
find out now and have the
camera repaired before you
start your spring shooting
schedule.
Search Out All Dirt
Dust and grit usually find a
home in the bellows or other
hooks and crannies of the
camera and should be carefully
searched out and disposed of.
If you own a bellows-t1 pc
camera extend the bellows to
its fullest length and use
camels hair brush to remove
the CRIME. In the hard to
reach spots Of the camera use
a rubber bulb of the syringe
type to blow out the dust.
Double check the lens. This
may have picked up a coating
of dirt on either of its surfaces.
An even film of dust on the lens
may be difficult to see, so give
your lens a good cleaning just
to be on the safe side.
Never do this with your
handkerchief or other rough
weave cloth.
To do the job right COM
mercial lens cleaning fluid
should be applied according
to directions with specially
made lens tissue or a very
soft lint-free cloth.
Many still make the mis-
take of giving the camera a
good cleanup-and then plac-
ing it in its carrying case or
gadget bag. Such items of
equipment are themselves
usually prime dust collectors.
So be sure to vacuum out the
carrying case before placing
the clean camera inside.
Try a Roll of Film First
Once your camera is appar-
emily IN good shape try it out
with a roll of film. Try the
shutter at different speeds and
change the diaphragm open
ing from Shot to shot.
Also make it a point to try
out all the various gadgetS,
making notes as to which was
used on certain exposures.
Then develop the roll and
check each Of the negatives.
Any trouble that has deve-
Hoped will be revealed in these
shots and give you an oppor-
tunity to have the camera
gone over and fixed up be-
for muffing some pictures that
really count.
BY the same token go over
all your other equipment. For
example, test the batteries in
your flash gun. If they seem
weak replace them at once. If
your flood lamps seem to be
turning dark get a few extras
so you'll be ready when they
burn out.
Then take a look in the
darkroom. Throw out all your
old solutions that have been
standing on the shelf over the
winter and mix up some new
stock solutions. Take an in
ventory and make purchases
to replenish those items in
short supply.
In short-get ready to take
pictures for the time is here.
4 y
TAKING TV "STILLS"
Capsule formula for making
Stills" from your TV set:
Mount the camera on a tripod
for steadinesS and composition.
Then focus on the lines that
run across the screen rather
than on the picture image.
Dim the room lights and adj
just the TV screen for best
combination Of contrast and
brightness. Take a meter read
ing Of the screen by holding
the meter away from the
THOSE WERE THE H