Amateur Movie Makers (Dec 1926-Dec 1927)

CAMERAS AFLOAT " : THE AUTHOR AS CAMERAMAN TO the sport loving amateur an ocean cruise has many attractions. This is particularly true of a cruise around the world. Among the amusements provided afloat are always the old standbys of shuffle board — ring toss — bull board — deck tennis — deck golf — obstacle races and swimming for those athletically inclined, and all are excellent subjects for filming. Then there are games of bridge, poker, cribbage and pinochle for the devotees of the paste boards. Among the bridge players there are the Major Leaguers who stake half cent a point up; the Junior Leaguers who stake a quarter cent a point down, and the Bush Leaguers who play twenty-five cents a corner, high score taking all. Chess, checkers and dominoes are organized for the entertainment of the intellectuals. Concerts and amateur theatricals give an outlet for the talents of many others. Fancy dress balls and dancing affairs lend their own particular lure to those fond of such amusements. When the committees for these various events are organized and functioning, life board ship soon becomes one hectic round of activities. Interest is excited and competition becomes keen as, in the little world made up of the ship's company, one may become famous overnight by winning some event in any of the various tournaments or doing some unusual stunt that is entertaining. Among the organizations formed nowadays is sure to be a Camera Club. Since a strict requirement for membership is that one must own and use a camera, or at least know of some person who does, it usually includes a larger number of the passengers than any other organization aboard. When its possibilities are fully utilized the Camera Club be By Heber Cushing Peters JUST Back From A Cruise Around The World On The S. S. Resolute Mr. Peters Details A Wealth Of Personal Experience For Amateurs Who Go Down To The Sea In Ships. comes an important factor in life aboard ship, both from the standpoint of helping its members to do better work and of entertaining other passengers. Of late it has been found desirable and in fact almost necessary to divide a ship's camera club into two sections — one furthering the interests of the "still" picture fans and one devoted to the needs of those addicted to motion photography. To head each division an effort is made to secure the person aboard best qualified for the position. This division of effort immediately stimulates a feeling of competition as each section wishes to excel in results produced and in the character of entertainment offered to the "public." The "Stills" plan a picture exhibit where prints of snapshots taken en route are shown. Prizes are offered for the best results in the different classes, such as artistic merit, general interest, six months class and tyro division. The "Stills" also plan an illustrated lecture with slides made from members' negatives taken en route and give an entertainment of unusual interest since it is for the passengers, of the passengers and by the passengers. Sometimes a few auxiliary slides are purchased locally showing typical scenes from the various countries visited and as these are usually color slides they give an added interest and charm to the program. This puts it up to the movie addicts who must give their problem some careful thought if they hope to hold even honors with the "Stills." Sailing eastward among the stations for developing 16 mm. reels are Nice, Cairo, Bombay, Calcutta, Batavia, Singapore and Shanghai in the order named. If selections for developing are made from the exposed reels of members a good assortment of views of places visited can be secured and in this way an interesting "show" assured. This procedure is necessary as the short stops at the various ports give time for only a few reels per passenger to be developed. It is always advisable to get one or two reels developed to check the work being done. Fifty 100 foot 16 mm. reels or a proportionate quantity of 9 or 35 mm. will probably be sufficient for a good pictorial record of a world cruise. A dozen extra reels may be taken along as a measure of NEPTUNE'S WATERY COURT The Famous Ceremony On Crossing The Equator El,