Amateur Photographer & Cinematographer (1933)

the amateur PHOTOGRAPHER m cinematographer EDT05? INCORPORATING "THE NEW PHOTOGRAPHER”’ "FOCUS* consult.ng3edto^R "THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS* &. "PHOTOGRAPHY" R CHILD BAYLEY Subscription Rates: United Kingdom 17/k Canada J%i. OU>ert^ntrju/9/Sperann.post^fmmt/iepui>bsbmIhnet//oase. WEDNESDAY, December 27m, 1933 Copyright — Registered as a Newspaper for transmission in the U.K. IN this, the last number of “ The A.P.” issued in the old year, a retrospective glance at the twelve months that have passed reveals a photographic period full of activity and progress. Although in some quarters it has been stated that the remarkable summer of 1933 was not productive of photo¬ graphic snapshots in proportion to the extra hours of sunshine, there is no doubt that the past year has been a notable one in many phases of photography. To mention four items only which have left their mark, we may refer to the miniature ■camera boom, the production of films and plates of amazing speed, further progress in infra-red photo¬ graphy, and a greater understand¬ ing and production in amateur cinematography. These items alone, and the activity they connote, mark 1933 as a notable year of photographic endeavour. If we add to these the outstanding success that has attended photographic com¬ petitions and exhibitions, it is clear that serious workers are growing steadily in numbers. The com¬ petitions organised by The Amateur Photographer in particular are always a very reliable barometer of current photographic production, and these have grown both in numbers and quality to an extent that far out¬ distances any similar competitions of the past. It is also notable that an appreciation of pictorial work in many other parts of the world has increased, if we may also take “ The A.P.'’ competitions as a criterion. On the whole, therefore, 1933 can be regarded as a very successful year for amateur photo¬ graphy, and we await with expectant interest what 1934 will show in the matter of further progress. Will it be greater speed, a return to larger Frozen Mercury. A topical snapshot taken during the cold weather. Vol. LXXVI. No. 2355. cameras, colour photography, tele¬ vision/or possibly cheaper materials ? Who knows ? _ Spooks. It is good to learn that the psychical researchers intend to place the investigation of supposed spirit appearances — on the photographic plate and elsewhere— on the plane of recognised science. They gathered at dinner in Piccadilly the other evening to plead with official science to open its doors to this investigation. One professor who was present assured us that although he had been investigating psychical matters all his life he had never once come across a genuine spirit photograph ; there was nothing in spirit photo¬ graphy that he could not reproduce out of hand, perhaps even showing spirit photographers a further trick or two. Another gentleman of equal renown, however, while not pre¬ pared to concede any supernatural influence, declared that in all these matters there was some grain at the bottom of a good deal of chaff. These photographs of ectoplasm, these table rappings, these unseen tambourines — their very triviality and irrelevance testifies in some part to their genuineness. Any conjuror or faker worthy of the name would invent something far more convincing. And granted that there is something more in these things than conscious fraud, their triviality ought not to deter official science from yielding its laboratories for investigations into these pheno¬ mena. So, at least, was the claim, and all good luck to them ! A Sentimental Possession. The story was told in the news¬ papers the other day of two men each claiming the same camera, from one of whom it had some time 577 7