The Amateur Photographer and His Mistakes

26 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 1896. THE AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER AND HIS MISTAKES Few people have any idea of the vast cals and paper. But aside from the time most nothing. But considering only six itpay ? That is, are enough good pictures artist would if he were going to Be sure that what you have on itis pleas- to have a horror of shadows, and will give $2500 ing to the eye. Remember that while you turn their on amount of money that is being spent by they to the work would hardly months out of each year would give $30,- produced to pay for this vast outlay ? The paint it. The question then resolves camera a white buildinX pay for the material. These --000 for San Francisco alone. shade, are studying your subject you are an artist with only little streaks of amateur photographers in San Fran- calculations So what vast question can be answered both ways. If itself down to light and which is dark under the are. if anything, too low, because many sums must the figures reach when the securing really any pyjture, for without and that as soon as you "press the button" window sills, and then wonder why cisco. Unlike the bicycle-rider, the ex- the of photographs of almost all there is to they people have dozen of prints made from whole country is counted, especially as it spots is considered, itdoes. no picture can be made; the art part of your work stops and "the don't get a picture. tbe camera devotee have only inaccessible the combination penses of Ifthe work simply be considered as "pic- The accompanying drawings, made from he has paid for his photographs commenced after tures," itdoes not, most decidedly. Some two different of Ifney millon outfit. These can be obtained at prices of the negatives secured by travelers of the Thames, willshow how to take a pic- varying from $5 tos.r)00, but the expense of Places never before visited by white men ture of a building and how not to take it. by a picture with a cheap camera is the same are, of course, worth hundreds of dollars Both were made the same person they contain, same spot about one as with an expensive camera of the same for the scientific facts but from the hour and a may be valueless as pictures from an half apart. One is all white, and in the size. photograph has less effect than money invested in artistic standpoint. it has in Tbe amount of In pictures drawing. There is very little is looking over the 2000 men- the strength cameras by amateurs in San Francisco tioned at the beginning of this article of detail, and the whole has a as washed-out almost impossible to approximate, hun- there were not 50 real godd pictures in the look. To tell what it is it must De ex- dreds have been, purchased by sending di- lot and not over 200 that had the cfairc to amined closely. rect to the manufacturers. Still it can the title. The rest were all failures, for The other picture is almost the perfec- safely be placed at $100,000. But as das one, or all, of a dozen different reasons. tion of light and shade, and can be seen Exposure developing ordinary been stated, this is the smallest part of was bad, bad and across a room of size. Every de- plates bad, greatest shows, even to moss the business. were but the cause of tail the soft that has failurs was the injudicious selection grown the ancient Many simply of over whitewashed amateurs make the expos- subjecte. The negatives looked as if the walls. ures and have the developing and print- people who took them had simply lffleymillIs one of the mest tempting ing done by men who make a business of "snapped" at whatever was in front of subjects for a photographer in existence, such work. their cameras. and itis very likely that more negatives A visit to one of the largest of these Among the lot of pictures mentioned have been made of it than any other places the City last week there was a batch of300 taken by a young building in existence. In one month of in revealed the lady through 2000 negatives had while on a tour Mexico. the year 1892 itis known that 700 amateurs fact that been devel- Photographically considered the was "took" indeed are they oped by days. cost work it. Few who visit them insix The of the almost perfect. She had used a bringing photo- plates, or films, ranged inprice 6%xß>£ England without back a sensitive camera of the most perfect pattern graph 2 cents each, say that of the picturesque pile. from cents each to 30 or $150 could buy she got clean, sharp average 10 apiece. and Tbe same rule that is demonstrated by on of cents This would negatives, have a picture drawings make $200 negatives. but she did not these two willhold good for any for the 2000 The cost in the whole batch of300. The plates, de- building. Follow of developing is about the same as the other the rule laid down veloping and making one print from each by the old masters in painting— "one- cost of a piate, which would make $200 negative her over $100. more. Then comes the printing, cost fourth light, one-fourth dark and two- which is Why did she fail to get pictures? fourth*middle tint," you also about the same, making $200, Sim- and will not be another ply she didn't have art a or a because tbe in her. far from getting picture. Itis the sub- total of $600. As there are three Ittakes as select a places large much art to subject for division of these and the harmonious ar- in town that do as a business a photograph as it does for a painting; of them as the one inquestion, and any number rangement that makes the merit of that is, ifyou want to make pictures. If a photograph of smaller ones, $2500 a week is not too high IFFLEY MILL WITHOUT SHADOWS AND DETAILS. IFFLEY of certain lines and forms. you simply want to make a negative of the MILL IN THE SUNLIGHT AND SHADE. Of course forms cannot be changed by the for work done this way. the same negative. It will be seen camera more thus said that the is much Dopu- front of your, house itdoes not take any it would be either all white or all black. rest" Don't think as long as photographer, but they can be selected by The next class of amateurs to be consid- that $5000 a week would not cover in Surely all, is science. what lar the East than here. itwould art at tnd there won't be any art in the To tbe amateur photographer there is you a sharp, clean negatiye that you careful study so as to produce a good effect ered are those who do all the work them- the amateur photographers many have have been reach millions. result. But the plainest housefront is ca- only one bit of advice to be given, and it necessarily a picture. in a photograph. This is selves, and their name is legion. The only spending for the last Considering have composition, lour months. In the the vast sums of money pable of being made a picture if one will was given to the professional over twenty The great with however, apd willhave to be upon expense they are to is for plates, chemi- winter months drops arises, — fault most amateur touched the work off to al- spent, the question naturally Does only study the light and shade on itas an years ago "study your ground glass." work is that itlacks shadows. Some seem at another time. Will Sparks. both before and behind the tug loops. caustic after cutting, but very high Eng- Peter Mclntyre, San Francisco. The Fastened thus they are apt to pinch authority at up lish recommends instead the best amateur on is 10:19, the skin against bellyband, application record this coast the and often three times a day of the tinc- by P. D. Skillman on the Olympic track, EQUINE make a bad sore. ture a of calendula, remedy which, by the BAIRD'S OF LIST May 30, 1891. COFFINS way, It is always a good plan, withheavy seems peculiarly grateful to equine Next inorder is the three-mile run. The workhorses, to leave collars and saddles flesh. on, best that has ever been done for this dis- DISEASE when the rest of the harness is re- Girth galls sometimes form and need tance is 14:19)4 by P. Cannon, inScotland, moved, until the back and shoulders are only to be fomented and kept clean, when ATHLETIC RECORDS town of Govan, May 14, 1888. InEngland PAID FOR thoroughly dry beueath them. This is a they will disappear, but a saddle gall of a professional by the name of J. White tolerably sure preventive against sore the withers should never be neglected. If ran the distance in 14:36 at London, May backs and shoulders, but whether it is itis the result is likely to be fistula of the 11, 1863. This was exceeded by the ama- Qalls, done or not, no horee should ever be left withers, a very stubborn and serious Thomas, Sitfasts ar\d for night teur who ran the distance at LnVirvg,but the until all places where the trouble, indeed.

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