Amateur Photographer & Cinematographer (1933)

August 16th, 1933 renderings could be obtained from the ground level, even if the building stood in an open space. The viewpoint is very evidently a high one in both cases, but considerably higher in Fig. 2 than in Fig. 1. Those who remember a previous lesson will be able to decide, within a little, the height of the camera in relation to the cathedral. A little comparison of the two prints will give an idea of what happens as the viewpoint becomes higher. Note, for example, the first turret on the left. Its point just rises above the sky-line of the distant hills in Fig. 1, but comes far below in Fig. 2. We can see the west door and the road in front of it in Fig. 2, because we are higher above the foreground houses. Note, too, how the land¬ scape beyond not only comes into view, but spreads itself out. This expansion of the landscape is characteristic of the high viewpoint ; a low viewpoint compresses it. Knowledge of this kind is useful in picture-making. We are all familiar with a type of view that is too often a failure ; a line of distant hills or mountains, with a fine sky above ; a pleasant, but perhaps too narrow strip of foreground ; and between the two a wide, monotonous area of water. Very often it is possible to compress this fatal area by choosing a lower viewpoint, and perhaps arrange for some of the foreground objects to rise up in front of the water, and even of the distant hills. In other cases we want to spread out our middle distance, and then a high viewpoint will help us. Note, finally, in Figs. 1 and 2. that the building sits firm and true, and does not look top-heavy as it would have done had the camera been tilted downwards more than the merest trifle. Fig. 3 shows part of the ruins of the castle at Gerolstein, and here the inclusion of a bit of the landscape indicates at once that the castle is on a hill-top. It would have been easy to photograph parts of the castle so as to show nothing inconsistent with its being built on low level ground. Here the small peep of spread-out landscape gives the clue to the elevated site. I have another view taken from hereabouts which shows no sign of the castle or the hill on which it stands. It is a landscape, with clusters of houses and trees, and distant hills and crags, with another castle on one of them. Such views give a good idea of the character of the countryside. There are some high viewpoints from which wonderful panoramic views are obtained. We may turn completely round, and find interest and beauty through the whole circle. Beware ! It is fatally easy to snap at one small section, and find nothing in the result but disappointment WHEN YOUR NON-CURLING films, as most amateurs are aware, have been with us for quite a long time. They are much more satisfactory than the “ single-coated ” materials of an earlier period, but the non-curling tendencies of most present-day films prevail only so long as conditions affecting their use are not allowed to become unfavourable. It is distinctly unfortunate that during the summer months these conditions certainly do become unfavourable, curling being then not only inconvenient but also fraught with no small risk of damage to the sensitive emulsion — rendered unusually soft as a result of sultry weather. This trouble does not in any way signify that the manufac¬ turers’ term, " non-curling,” is a misnomer, since the only films badly affected are the roll films and similar long strips (where the long-continued spooling must naturally result in some loss of resilience). Since curling may affect both long and short pieces of film, pt is found to prove somewhat troublesome in the development stfige. Here, long films are usually see-sawed or put through apron or other tanks, where the curling does not as a rule give rise to any annoyance. Separate cuttings' from spooled lengths The AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER © 6 CINEMATOGRAPHER a and disillusion. As a general rule it is wise, with a high viewpoint to have something of interest at comparatively close quarters. Imagine the cathedral in Fig. 1 removed, We should then have a stretch of the Medway Valley, as suggested in Fig. 2, but the foreground houses and trees would be a great advantage. It is a very rare thing for a satisfying picture to consist of nothing but distance ; with a middle distance added it will almost certainly be improved ; and with a suggestion of foreground, however slight, it stands the best chance of all. W, L. F. W, FILMS CURL and other affected sheets from sheaths or similar holders are, however, less satisfactory under treatment. To cope with this trouble, the developer should be used at a moderate temperature and at a low level in the developing trough. 1 hen, if each film be thoroughly moistened imme¬ diately before immersion, it will be found to lie flat. Even after development, this flatness can be preserved by washing the films in shallow troughs ; but ordinary washing in well-filled deep vessels has the effect of encouraging the films to curl as badly as ever. Much the same applies to intensifica¬ tion and reduction, and indeed, any of the familiar after¬ processes ; always the trouble must be kept down by making use of partially-filled or only shallow troughs. More curling trouble is usually encountered in the drying stage, because long strips of roll film are sometimes cut into separate negative sections before this stage is reached. If merely pinned or clipped according to popular practice, all small films will tend to curl on drying, and it becomes necessary to adopt other methods. The plan of standing films on edge to dry is not recommended ; but they may be laid upon muslin sheets with the curled edges downwards. 151 19