Amateur Photographer & Cinematographer (1933)

February 15th, 1933 |th[ amateur photographer I 6 CINEMATOGRAPHER o Keep Your Lenses Really Clean All serious photographers are aware of the necessity of keep¬ ing a lens really clean in order that it shall retain its maximum speed and efficiency and produce perfect negatives free from fog. Also 1 think most photographers are well aware how very susceptible to damage the highly polished surfaces of all good lenses are, on account of the " softness ” of the glass from which they are made. However careful one may be, a lens that is in use a great deal, in time, acquires a certain amount of ” film ” on its surface which does not yield to that cautious wipe with a piece of clean, old cambric, which is the method of cleaning generally prescribed and adopted. A short time ago I observed that a cherished and much-used anastigmat of my own was getting a bit “ filmy ” on the surface and decided that some kind of solvent was indicated. Reflect¬ ing on the matter awhile, I suddenly remembered a tip given to me some 3^ears ago for restoring wireless cry¬ stals to that perfectly clean condition so necessary in order that they should function to the best of their ability. When dipped in whisky or brandy these "untouchable” crystals became beauti¬ fully clean and bright, but petrol and similar spirits left a white deposit on drying. 1 decided to try the effect of a " drop of Scotch.” on my faithful anas¬ tigmat. " The bottle” was accordingly jiroduced and a few drops op a piece of soft cambric applied to the surface of the lens. The resulting polish and sparkle were delightful to behold, and my lens was once more " as new,” For the benefit of those readers who have already grasped their fountain pens, I would point out that the fact that this method might be elaborated so as to serve a double purpose, b\ the owner first drinking the " soh'ent ” and afterwards breathing on the lens, has not escaped my notice. But as I have no desire to receive a shoal of reproachful letters from photographers’ wives, complaining of their husbands having suddenly acquired unprecedent¬ ed zeal for cleaning any and e\'erv lens in their possession, I advocate the application by means of a cloth. In the interest of amateur photo¬ graphy and for the benefit of those who would have their cherished lenses realR^ clean, yet unscratched from excessive dry-cleaning, I have great pleasure in passing on the result^ of my simple experiment. Wilfred Turner. Exhibitions and Competitions AND^FOTUKE. Notices of forthcoming exhibitions and competitions will be included here every week if particulars are sent by the responsible organisers . The Amateur Photographer Monthly Competitions for Begin¬ ners, Intermediate and Advanced Workers. Entries, h'ebruary 28. Rules in the issue of January 23. " Nature in Winter” Competition. £10 in cash and books by Beverley Nichols awarded as prizes by Jonathan Cape, Ltd. Closing date, March 31. Entries to be adilressed to " Nature in Winter” Competition, The Amateur Photographer, Dorset House, Tudor Street, London, E.C.4. For further particulars see issue dated January ii. South London P.S. Annual Exhibition.— Open, h'ebruary 18-March 19. Hon. Exhibition Secretary, B. C. Rayment, 44, Priory Road, Kew, Surrey. Scottish National Salon, Aberdeen. — February 18-March 11. Secretary, Miss Hilda M. Bailey, 63, Watson Street, Aberdeen. Leicester and Leicestershire P.S. International Exhibition. — February 20-23. Secretary, Wm. E. Harpham, 28, Chaucer Street, Leicester. York and D.P.S. International Salon. — Open, February 24-23. Particulars from N. J. Rushton, Tall Timbers, Hull Road, York. Pittsburgh Salon. — Open, March 17-A'pril 16. Secretary, B. H. Chatto, 1300, Milton Avenue, Pittsburgh, 18, Pa., U.S.A. Birkenhead P..\. Annual Exhibition. — Open, March 8-1 1. Secretary, F. W. C. Hollett, 8, Snowdon Road, Birkenhead. City' of London and Cripplegate P.S. Annual Exhibition. — — Open, March 6-8. Hon. Exhibition Secretaries, H. G. Reese Jones, 18, Wood Street, E.C.2, and J. R. P. Hilliard, 86, Downton Avenue, Streatham Hill, S.W.2. Birmingham P.S. Annual Exhibition. — Open, March 4-18. Particulars from G. G. Heathcock, Esse.x House, 27, Temple Street, Birmingham. G.E.R. Mechanics Institute P.S. Exhibition. — Open class. Entries due, February 22 ; open, March 7-8. Entry forms from A. G. Barker, 24, Willow Street, Romford, Essex. Prague International Salon. — Entries, March i ; open, April 8-22. Entry forms from Association of Czechoslovak Amateur Photographic Societies, Riegrovo Nabiezi, 22, Prague II, Czechoslo vakia. Chicago World’s Fair International Exhibition, 1933. — Entries, March i ; open, June i-October 31. Emjuiries to 1933 Salon,” C-hicago Camera Club, 137, North Wabash Avenue, Chicago, 111., U.S.A. Hackney P.S. Annual Exhibition. — Entries, March 7 ; open, March zg-.'Vpril i. Secretary, Walter Selfe, 24, Pembury Road, Clapton, E.3. Bolton Camera Club International Exhibition. — Entries, March 8 ; open, April 1-8. Further particulars and entry forms from John B. Adshead, 69, Hastings Road, Bolton, I.ancs. \hctorian (Australia) International Salon (Melbourne Athe¬ naeum Art Gallery). — Open, .\pril 24— May 6. Secretary, C. Stuart Tompkins, Junction, Camberwell, E.6, Melbourne, .\ustralia. Barry C.C. International Salon. — Entries, March ii ; open, March 20-25. Particulars from J. H. White, Exhibition Secretary, Barry Camera Club, Y.M.C..\., Barry, South Wales. Bishop Auckland P.S. Annual Salon. — Entries, March 14 : open, March 22-23. Entry forms from T. Ambler, 18, Ray Gardens, Cockton Hill, Bishop .\uckland, Co. Durham. Bridge of Allan and District Photographic Society^ Inter¬ national Salon. — Entries, March 28 : open, April 15-29. Particulars from Mrs. Brown, Jun., The Studio, Bridge of .\llan, Scotland. Nottingham and Notts P.S. International Exhibition. Twenty awards for prints and slides. Special prize for best Colonial print. — Entries, March 29 ; open, .April 6-8. Hon. Secretary, T. Finch, Herbert Road, Nottingham. (Photo¬ graphic papers please copy.) Brighton and Hove C.C. Annual Exhibition (one class open to members of clubs in Kent, Sussex and Hampshire). — Entries, .April I ; open, April lo-May 6. Exhibition Secretary, R. J. Botting, 71, East Street, Brighton. Third International Salon, San Diego, Fine Arts Gallery (under auspices of Camera Enthusiasts of San Diego). — Entries, .April I ; open, April 21-May 14. Particulars from Miss Ruth Kilbourne, 4223, .Arden Way, San Diego, California, U.S..A, Hammersmith Hampshire House P.S. Annual Exhibition (Open Classes). — Entries, April 6 ; open, April 28— May 7. Particulars from J. Ainger Hall, Hon. Exhibition Secretary, 10, Kitson Road, London, S.W.13. Beckenham P.S. Annual Exhibition. — Open, .April 6-12. Secretary, F. H. Elliott, 31a, Worbeck Road, Anerley, S.E.20. Midland Salon, City Art Gallery, Leicester. — Entries, May 6 ; open. May 27-June 24. Particulars from Hon. Secretaries, W. Bailey and A. E. Tracey, Cank Street, Leicester. Northern Photographic Exhibition (Bradford). — Entries, May 13 ; open, June 17-August 20. Entry forms from A. Greenwood, Myrtle Dene, Harrogate Road, Bradford. Cardiff C-C. World’s Masters Salon. — Entries, May 14 ; open, June 9-24. Entry forms and particulars from G. H. Palmer, Hon. Exhibition Secretary, Y.M.C..A., Cardiff. 141 9