Amateur Photographer & Cinematographer (1933)

July 26th, 1933 Thc amateur photographer o 6 CINEMATOGRAPHER a ‘Deciders' Questions ANSWERED General. — All communications for the Editor should bp addressed : " The Editor, The Amateur Photographer etui Cinematographer , Dorset House, Stamford Street, London. S.E.i,” and in every case, without exception, must give the name and address of the writer. Contributions. — The Editor is glad to consider original, up-to-date manuscripts on photographic subjects. All contributions must be typewritten, or in very legible handwriting on one side of the paper only. Letters oc communications arising out of matters already appearing in the paper are not paid for. The Editor disclaims legal responsibility for the safety of matter submitted to him, but he will endeavour to return rejected manuscripts, etc., when a stamped addressed envelope is enclosed. MSS. or prints that are not actually accompanied by a stamped wrapper or envelope can in no case be returned. Reproduction fees for prints are only paid by arrange¬ ment beforehand. The sending of a print, without any condition stated, will be taken as permission to reproduce it without fee. Enquiries and Criticism. — Advice, Criticism and Information are freely given, but the following conditions should be read carefully before applying, as any communication which does not comply with the rules must be ignored. (1) See “ General ” above. (2) Every question and every print for criticism must be sent separately through the Tost, and must be accompanied by a separate stamped addressed Envelope. No exception can be made in any case to this rule, except so far as enquiries or prints from Overseas are concerned. (3) Neither enquiries nor prints for criticism must be enclosed with competition prints. (4) On the back of each print sent for criticism, in addition to the name and address of the sender, must be the title (if any), and the criticism coupon from the current issue. (5) Enquiries should be clearly written, on one side of the paper only, and should be^pecific and not general. Such enquiries as “ How can I take interiors ? ” or ** Can you give me some hints on outdoor portraiture ? ” are to) general to be dealt with in this section. (6) All envelopes should be distinctly marked “ Query ” or “ Criticism,’ as the case may be. (7) Prints are sent for advice or criticism on the distinct understanding that by so doing per mission is given for their reproduction without fee. We endeavour to deal promptly with enquiries, but cannot undertake to answer by return of post, nor can we give precedence to any enquiry. A selection of those replies is printed each week, but all questions are answered by post. Enquiries from abroad must contain a coupon also, but it need not be from the current number, and should be cut irom the latest issue tc reach the enauirer. Divisions of Thirds. What is meant, in speaking of composition, by the expression " division of thirds ” ? C. A. (Dublin.) We are rather surprised that you have overlooked the explanation so frequently given. Draw a rectangle on a piece of paper. Divide the two long sides into three equal parts, and join opposite dots. Do the same with the short sides. The four points where the lines intersect are the “ strong ” points in the picture space, and hereabouts the principal items of the subject should fall. Cleaning Measures and Dishes. I have a number of measure glasses and porcelain dishes that are badly stained with old developer, etc. Can you tell me whether these stains can be removed and the original clearness restored ? A. L. G. (Kidderminster.) As a rule, hydrochloric acid, or ” spirits of salt,” diluted with an equal quantity of water, will be sufficient to remove the stains from glass and porcelain articles. It can be used over and over again and poured from one measure to another until the clearing action is complete. If this fails, however, a solution can be made up as follows : Potassium bichromate 2 oz., water 1 pint, strong sulphuric acid 2 oz. This mixture will remove developer and other stains very rapidly, and also can be used over and over again until it loses its effect. The dishes, etc., should be well washed in plain water after the stains are removed. Rapid Fixing Bath. I have heard that it is possible to make a fixing bath that fixes very rapidly, and is used for Press negatives and prints. Can you give me the formula ? B. C. T. (Manchester.) The following has been suggested : Commercial sal ammoniac, as used for •electric batteries, 1 oz., hypo 4 oz., water 1 pint. This bath fixes in about half the usual time, but its use is not Tecommended excepting for emergencies. Faults in Negatives. Can von please tell me the cause of the marks on the enclosed plate ? I have recently had quite a number marked in the same way. The plate is an Ilford auto filter, desensitised with Tabloid desensi riser, and developed with Azol. K. B. (YVithernsea.) There is nothing wrong with your negative except the mottled character of the sky, and we presume that it is this to which you refer. It is probably due to the fact that you have not occasionally rocked the dish during development, and we cannot think of any other reason to account for the trouble. Using a Large Lens. Is it possible to adapt an 8-in. focus lens to a camera using x 3f roll films for obtaining large figures ? Can I adapt two box Brownie cameras end to end and fit a lens for long-focus work ? G. P. A. H. (Southampton.) We do not see how you can possibly attach an 8-in. whole-plate lens to a small film camera ; the front would not carry it, nor would you have sufficient bellows extension. The idea of fitting two box Brownies together is equally impracticable. We should say that a much better plan would be to look out for a cheap field camera of quarter or half-plate size that would carry an 8-in. lens easily, and take your portraits on 3^X2^ plates in carriers in the dark slides. Stains on Prints. Are the stains on the print enclosed due to absorp¬ tion by hypo of moisture in the atmosphere ? The prints were clean when taken from the developer, but the stains appeared in the fixing bath. S. C. R. (London, S.E.) The stains on your prints are nothing to do with the hypo bath, and we cannot at all appreciate your point about the hypo having absorbed moisture from the air. The most likely cause of the stains is insufficient rinsing between developing and fixing. The prints should also be thoroughly washed after fixation is complete. Shutter for Field Camera. I have a 5 x 4 field camera with f/4.5 lens measuring 2\ in. in diameter, no shutter. Can you tell me the best kind of shutter for time and instantaneous exposures that I can use with it ? W. B. (Folkestone.) The shutter we should recommend in the circumstances is a Thornton-Pickard roller-blind shutter to fit on the hood. This will give you instantaneous ex¬ posures from 1 /15th to 1 /90th of a second, and, of course, longer exposures at will. Our Competitions. Is there any restriction on the number of prints to be entered in “ The A.P.” competitions, and how can I obtain critical comments on prints that are submitted ? Can any form of camera be used, ? G. E. D. (Walton-on-Thames.) Any number of prints may be entered for our competitions. The rules are published in the last issue of the month and should be read carefully. Every print sent for competition or criticism must have the necessary coupon at¬ tached. Except on very rare occasions these coupons appear somewhere in the advertisement pages each week. There is no restriction as to subject in any of our competitions. There is no charge for prints sent for criticism, but the print must be accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope for return. Neither prints nor criticisms are published in the paper ; those which appear each week are selected from our Beginners’ com¬ petition. Criticisms are sent by post to those entering prints in the Intermediate and Advanced Workers’ sections. It is, of course, quite immaterial what camera you use for your photographs. Lens for Close-ups. I enclose a large head picture that appeared in “ The A.P.” for May 3rd. Can you tell me what type of lens is required for this “ close-up ” portraiture ? I have a Sanderson quarter-plate camera, but the lens will not permit of focussing for this class of work. Is the camera suitable ? G. M. (Leicester.) The sort of portraiture to which you refer is not limited to the use of any particular type of lens, nor is the sample you send necessarily a “ close-up.” The probability is that a very long-focus lens was used, as it is advisable to keep well away from the subject, and not to get a large head by using a short-focus lens at close quarters. We cannot under¬ stand what you mean by saying that your Sanderson camera will not permit of focussing for portraiture. There is no reason why you should not do similar work by using your present lens and camera and enlarging from only a small part of the negative. Keeping Quality of Films. I am going to the Mediterranean for my summer holiday, and am taking Selochrome roll films with me, but have been told that they will not keep unless tropically packed. Is this precaution necessary ? W. E. C. (Leicester.) We should not think you would have any trouble with the films you name, or any other roll films, in the Mediter¬ ranean. You might, however, com¬ municate with Messrs. Ilford, who will tell you whether they think it is necessary to have tropical packing, and, if so, whether they can supply, as we expect they can. 30 98