Amateur Photographer & Cinematographer (1933)

August 23rd, 1933 Ihi amateur photographer n 6 CINEMATOGRAPHER o Bride’s. The sightseeing visitor has a sense of frustration and resent¬ ment when he comes upon a building that he wanted to see and finds a symmetrical network superimposed upon its familiar outlines ; but the photographer can, by skilful treat¬ ment and some imagination, make a very pleasant and suggestive picture out of scaffolding, with its repetitions, and with its contrast between the rectangular pattern of the beams and the free-flowing lines of the architecture below them. The Bridge at Bruges. The Hospital of St. Jean at Bruges almost compels you to photograph it from one particular spot on the neighbouring bridge. A well-known British pictorial worker, in advising a party going out to Bruges, told them to make use of this position, but informed them solemnly that the stonework of the bridge balus¬ trade had been positively worn down by the weight of the thousands of cameras that in turn had rested upon it. The party were impressed with this, and sought out the muchfrequented spot. They found it right enough, and got what pictures they wanted from that stance, but the dent which the cameras were supposed to have made was not in evidence, because the bridge happens to be of iron and not of stone. When the original informant was accused of leg-pulling, his reproach¬ ful reply was that it was not his fault if iron had a superior resilience. A Word Defamed. In the same number of a sixpenny weekly review we note two passages. The first is a criticism of a new novel. “ His first novel does just rise above photography because of the closeness of its design and because of its critical implications about present society.” The other refers to an art exhibition. ‘‘It is the kind of show where one hears Mr. G say to Mr. F , ‘ I say, how good Hey is with you ; of course, she’s rotten with me,’ and Mr. F says to Mr. G , ‘ Well, Hey could not do me, but that is a stunning thing she has done of you ’.” All of which means that Cicely Hey is an artist and no photographer. The word “ photographic ” ought not to be allowed to get into the language as signifying something inferior, something merely uncritical and flattering to the sitter. Photo¬ graphy can be critical enough if it pleases. _ The National Laboratory. The hundreds of people who went to Teddington the other day at the invitation of the National Physical Laboratory must have been sur¬ prised in how many directions photography is the handmaid of the investigations carried on in that great institution. In the optics building one saw the apparatus for measuring photographic shutter speeds. Cinematograph films were shown continuously, illustrating the physical phenomena which are studied in the laboratory, and in acoustics sound-pulse photography is employed for recording the trans¬ mission and absorption of sound in buildings. i acts and formulae : new series A selection of useful hints classified according to subject FIXATION. The term “ fixing,” as applied to negatives and prints, is rather a misnomer. A normal fixing solution properly used has no appreciable effect on the image, which is mainly metallic silver. What the fixing bath does is to convert the unaltered silver salts in the emulsion into compounds that are soluble in water. * * * Proper fixation is even more important than subsequent washing. To ensure reasonable permanence of negatives and prints it is imperative to use a properly compounded solution in good working condition, and to allow adequate time for the necessary transformations to take place. suppose that the stronger the solution the more rapid and effective is its action. * * * A useful stock solution, particularly when it is important to have a fixing bath of a certain strength, as in the case of self-toning papers, is : Hypo . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 lb. Water to . . . . . . . . . . 32 oz. It is evident that each two ounces of this solution (after the necessary shaking up) will contain 1 oz. of hypo. Therefore, if a working solution of 2 oz. to the pint were required, it could be prepared at once by taking 4 oz. of stock solution and adding i§ oz. of water. What is familiarly known as " hypo,” alone or with certain additions, is practically the only salt used for fixation in all ordinary photographic work. The chemical name is more prop¬ erly thiosulphate of soda, and the formula (Na„S203 . 5H..O). In its usual crystal form it contains 64 per cent of the salt and 36 per cent of water. It may be obtained in the anhydrous form, but this is expensive, and for this and other reasons it is seldom used. * * * It is not a good plan to dissolve hypo crystals just before use, as the temperature falls considerably, and this may cause trouble, especially with negatives. The crystals dis¬ solve rapidly in hot water, and a stock solution keeps well. * * * A good strength for a fixing bath for negatives (or gaslight papers) and for lantern slides is : Hypo . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 oz. Water to . . . . . . . . . . 20 oz. The hypo may be increased to 6 oz., but it is a mistake to In " rushed ” work a more rapid fixing bath may be used, such as : Hypo . . . . . . . . . . 4 to 6 oz. Ammonium chloride . . . . . . j to 1 oz. Water to . . . . . . . . . . 20 oz. The chloride is ordinary sal ammoniac. This bath should not be used for important work where permanence is desired. * * * For all fixing purposes, except in the case of bromide prints intended for conversion into bromoils, an acid fixing bath is preferable. As it does not indicate exhaustion by discolor¬ ation, as in the case of a plain bath, special care should be taken not to overwork it. A formula is : A. Hypo I lb. Hot water 40 oz. B. Potassium metabisulphite I oz. Cold water 20 OZ. When A is cold, add B. This bath is specially advisable for film negatives and lantern slides. 168 6