Amateur Photographer & Cinematographer (1933)

October nth, 1933 The AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER p 6 CINEMATOGRAPHER a Jetters to the Editor The Editor is not responsible for the opinions of his correspondents. STAINED PRINTS. Sir, — With reference to a letter on the above subject from your correspondent H. Warwick Nevill. I always place my prints upside down in the fixing bath, and get no trouble whatever from staining. I find that some makes of paper (particularly double weight) have a much greater tendency to float than others. I tried a certain brand of gaslight paper recently which floated on the surface of the fixing solution like cork ; and it was impossible to keep the paper free from stains unless the prints were placed in the bath upside down. — -Yours, etc., DOUGLAS G. WETTON. Sir, — With reference to the question of prints becoming stained, raised by Mr. H. Warwick Nevill in your issue of September 13th, I would say that I, like him, keep all prints upside down in the fixing bath, and never find stains occurring. I do find, however, that with Velox paper great care must be exercised not to leave them longer than is absolutely necessary in the developer, or they are very liable to become badly stained. In other words, no forcing in development must be attempted with this brand of paper, but so long as sufficient exposure has been given to avoid this, the results are quite satisfactory. This is borne out by the experience of other workers, including experienced D. & P. operators. — Yours, etc., T. EDMONDSON. LABELS FOR BOTTLES. Sir, — In The Amateur Photographer for August 23rd " V. M. T.” asks how to mark bottles so that the marking is indelible. I always use ink on ordinary stick-on luggage labels, and then paint over the whole thing with a solution of celluloid dissolved in amyl acetate.— Yours, etc., L. C. H. CAVE. “ DRAGON-FLY,” BY T. K. SHINDO. Sir, — " Mentor ” is an analyst, but not a naturalist. He points out, and rightly, the immense difficulties, and speed of action required, to secure such a subject as " Dragon-fly,” by T. K. Shindo, reproduced recently in “ The A.P.” But live dragon-flies are not so obliging as this specimen seems to have been, nor have they, so far as we know, any ideas on the subject of pictorial composition. No ; I am afraid this particular insect hadn’t any ideas at all — about anything. One cannot imagine him streaking off on flashing wings to deftly catch and devour a passing fly. His eyes are the shiny black of a dead specimen, not the beautiful iridescent eyes of a live dragon-fly. And where are his legs ? Probably broken off during or after the setting process. If my suggestion can be proved another case of “ Who stuffed that white owl ? ” I shall hasten to apologise to Mr. T. K. Shindo, but I shall, until then, consider " Dragon-fly ” to be a perfect picture — of still life. — Yours, etc., C. A. B. SUCCESSFUL POSTAL PORTFOLIOS. Sir, — We can from experience endorse the conclusions of Mr. Slight in your issue of the 20th September. In this society we emphasise that membership incurs the following obligations : (1) Insert a print ; (2) Criticise ; (3) Pass on punctually. A time-table showing when each member should receive and pass on the portfolio is given each round. If a member is not able to pull his weight in these matters, he is expected to drop out. We can, however, report that our membership, which is restricted to the staff of the bank, has increased from thirteen to twenty-four in the last four years. Our notebooks are very well supported, and we have an annual cup competition. There are two portfolio sections, and the membership of each is limited, so that a circulation is always completed in less than three months. Mr. Slight suggests the possibility of inter-portfolio com¬ petitions. We should be interested to hear from any secretary who might be willing to make an arrangement with this society, either to this end or for an exchange of portfolios. —Yours, etc., PERCY ALLEN, H. A. MURCH, Hon. Secs., Lloyds Bank P.S. STORING MINIATURE NEGATIVES. Sir, — May I take up some of your valuable space to oppose the oft-stated theory that miniature negatives are best kept in spools ? Surely this is a fallacy. To begin with, if any one negative has to be removed from the film, the whole roll has to be broken. Again, in rolling up the film small particles of dust are liable to scratch the delicate surface ; and this rolling up will be all the more frequent since there are sixteen or more negatives, any one of which may be wanted. Personally, I keep my negatives in small envelopes. These are numbered and kept in a box. Then I have a penny note¬ book with numbered pages, containing details of each negative with exposure times for enlargements, etc. Lastly, I have an alphabetical index of titles. Thus I can find, in a minute, the negative I want, and the exposure for a1 certain size enlargement. And in getting the negative I do not have to unroll and possibly damage a whole spool — it can be kept in its envelope until actually put in the enlaflger. — -Yours, etc., W. R. Exhibitions and Competitions cu?5tu£eand 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 Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced Workers. Entries, October 31. Rules in the issue of September 27. The Amateur Photographer Annual Lantern Slide Competition. Closing date, <~>ctober 31. Rules in this week’s issue. Chicago World’s Fair International Exhibition, 1933. — Open until October 31. Enquiries to “ 1933 Salon,” Chicago Camera Club, 137, North Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Ill., U.S.A. Zaragoza Salon. — Open during October. Secre¬ tary, Sociedad Fotografica de Zaragoza, Plaza de Sas, 7, Zaragoza, Spain. Irish Salon (Dublin). — Open, October 28-November 4. Particulars from Salon Secretaries, Irish Salon of Photography, 18, Morehampton Road, Dublin. Rotherham P.S. Annual Exhibition. — Open, October 18—21. Particulars from E. G. Alderman, Hon. Exhibition Secretary, Ruardean, Newton Street, Rotherham. Johnson’s “ Holiday ” Competition. Cash prizes. Closing date, October 31. Full particulars from Johnson & Sons, Ltd., Hendon, London, N.W.4. Canadian Pacific Photographic Competition, open to C.P. passengers only. Cash prizes. Closing date November 1. Particulars from Canadian Pacific Publicity Department, 62-65, Charing Cross, S.W.i. Western International Salon. — Entries, November 6 ; open, November 20-25. Further particulars from Organising Secretary, 24, Church Road, Redfield, Bristol, 5. “ Iris ” Christmas Salon (Antwerp). — Entries due, November 15 ; open, December 24-January 7, 1934. Full particulars from J. Van Dyck, Secretary of Fotografische Kring “ Iris ” Ballaer Str., 69, Antwerp. Madrid Photographic Society, Tenth International Salon. — Last day for entries, December 5. Particulars and entry forms from the Secretary, La Sociedad Fotografica de Madrid, Catle de Principe, 16, Madrid. Leicester and Leicestershire P.S. International Ex¬ hibition of Pictorial Photography. — Open, February 26-March 3, 1934. Particulars and entry forms from H. Fosscutt, 19, Doncaster Road, Leicester. Competitions for pictorial Cycling and Motor Cycling photographs. Cash prizes of £25, £15, £10 and five of £2 2S. offered by The British Cycle and Motor Cycle Manufacturers’ and Traders’ Union. Closing date, November 1. Prize pictures to be shown at Olympia in November. Address : Editor, “ A.P.,” Dorset House, Stamford Street, S.E.z. Wolverhampton P.S. Open Exhibition. — Entries. October 12 ; open, October 23-November 13. — Secre" tary, W. Stuttard, Ambleside, Penn, WolverhamptonPontypridd Y.M.C.A. Camera Club International Exhibition. — Entry forms due November 1 ; exhibits, November 15 ; open, November 22-25. Secretary, I. Holbrook, Y.M.C.A., Pontypridd, South Wales. 2 3 344