Amateur Photographer & Cinematographer (1933)

August 16th, 1933 I The AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER n 6 CINEMATOGRAPHER a PICTURES oftkeWEEK ^ = ' . C • • 7 on the Beginners’ prints reproduced on oome K^riucal Kjomments the opposite page. THERE are occasions, no doubt, when an unsupported mass of foliage at the top or sides of a picture may serve a really useful purpose. Such occasions are rare, however, and take a great deal of handling. More often it happens that the foliage conveys the impression of an inadvertent inclusion, and, in this event, it is obviously undesirable. Inadvertent Intrusions. Possibly the principal reason why such inadvertent intrusions are ob¬ jectionable is that their presence seems to require explanation. Leaves and branches do not hang in the air of themselves, and to show them in a print without the tree trunk to which they belong suggests that they do, so inviting the query for the cause of the omission. Moreover, if they do happen to make their appearance, it will usually be admitted, in nine cases out of ten, that the intrusion was overlooked, and that, had they been noticed, they would have been excluded. The probability is that this was the case with both Nos. 1 and 2 of the prints reproduced on the opposite page. In the former, “ An Early Morning View,” by D. A. Curry, it seems likely that a little dodging about would have enabled the mass of foliage to be excluded, or, alternatively, a more distant viewpoint would have enabled the trunk of the t^ree to be incorporated. In the latter event, the tree, with its foliage, would serve a very useful purpose in that it would display the distance as a vista, so adding to its charm. As the print stands, the intrusion, being uncon¬ nected with anything else in the picture strikes an unfortunate note, and, despite the excellent technique and arrangement otherwise, quite spoils the effect of the whole. View-finders and the Scene. If the camera with which the subject were taken were fitted with one of the small view-finders in general use, it is quite likely that the minute representa¬ tion of the scene did not disclose the objectionable nature of the intrusion. For one thing, the scale is so small that it might very easily be overlooked. and, for another, the issue is compli¬ cated by the fact that the foliage is seen in colour, which, against the blue of the sky, does not seem so bad as when it is rendered in black-and-white. But there is also the possibility of inaccuracy in the finder to be con¬ sidered. It may show a little more or a little less than is included in the negative, or it may not be correctly adjusted to the same line of sight, so that more of the subject is shown on one side than the other. The latter fault is one that soon becomes apparent, and, needless to say, should be immediately remedied. In the case of “ Green Pastures,” by D. H. South, there is a similar intrusion on the left-hand side, and, while it is not quite so obtrusive, it nevertheless has the effect of reducing the im¬ portance of the trees on the same side. There is, perhaps, more excuse for the occurrence in this instance, as it is difficult to isolate groups of trees of this nature., for, as a rule, only two or three are wanted in the picture, and they grow in much greater numbers. Choice of Standpoint. Still, with a considerable amount of care in the selection of the viewpoint, it can sometimes be done, but what seems to have happened here is that the author was so intent on getting the sheep — which are very well caught — that the intrusion in question was overlooked. On another occasion, it is to be hoped, he will be more fortunate, but it cannot be too strongly urged that it is due care in the avoidance of minor defects of this character and the like that distinguishes the work of the master from that of the novice. No. 6, “ Moel Vammau,” by Geoffrey T. Furniss, exhibits a freedom from the fault, and enables the fine sweep of landscape to be fittingly displayed. There is just an indication on the right that a very slight change in direction towards that side might have resulted in a similar intrusion, but that it has been practically avoided is a tribute to the maker’s care in the choice of his viewpoint. The sky is very nicely rendered, but 157 it could be wished that the landscape portion were graced with a greater degree of light and shade. Tone in the Sky. A like rendering of the sky would be of considerable advantage in No. 3, “ By the Stream,” by H. T. Lees, where the present blankness scarcely helps the nicely arranged landscape. The line of the distant trees against the sky is somewhat hard and un¬ compromising, and, had the sky a greater measure of tone, that line would have been not inappreciably softened. Here, again, there are sun¬ dry intrusions on the left, but they do not seem to matter because they might, possibly, have their origin in the same root, and do not appear so much as intrusions but rather as portions of the principal tree. Something of the same nature is suggested by the foliage on the left in the succeeding print — No. 4, “ The Little Bridge,” by H. A. Woodhouse — and that on the right, while obviously unattached, does form a balance to the mass on the other side. It would be better, however, if a visible means of support could be found, for, in that case, not only would the trunk of the tree so introduced prove a foil for the over-heavy tree on the left, but the effect of atmospheric mist, now very pleasantly conveyed, would be en¬ hanced. The distance is very delicate. Intentional Inclusion. With No. 5, “ A Weary Halt,” by Mrs. L. S. Edwin, the screen of foliage at the top seems to have been de¬ liberately and intentionally introduced, for, even in the. smallest of finders, it could not possibly have been over¬ looked. Possibly the intention was to con¬ centrate the attention on the group beneath, and, if so, it cannot be denied that the covering up of the greater proportion of the sky has effectually served that purpose. In such circumstances, there is justifica¬ tion for the intrusion, though nothing would have been lost, and something gained, had it been found possible to arrange for the inclusion of part, at least, of the trunk from which the foliage springs. “ Mentor.” 2 1