Amateur Photographer & Cinematographer (1935)

The AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER p 6 CINEMATOGRAPHER a March 27th, 1935 Jetters to the Editor The Editor is not responsible for the opinions of his correspondents . PHOTOGRAPHIC MINIATURE POSTAL CLUB. Sir, — As it was The Amateur Photographer that fostered the above club about four years ago you will undoubtedly be interested to hear that it has now grown to the amazing size of five circles ; each circle — with the exception of the Begin¬ ners’ Circle, which now has a few vacancies — with a full membership of thirty members in each. Regarding the latter Circle, this is not a matter of the blind leading the blind, for real help is offered to the beginners in the shape of criticisms and examples of work by advanced members. Notebooks and lecturettes, etc., from the more advanced circles are also available for circulation each month. With the exception of the Leica section of the club, member¬ ship is not strictly limited to users of miniature cameras, the only reservation being that prints for criticism should not exceed (roughly) quarter-plate. — Yours, etc., GEO. A. SLIGHT. (Hon. General Secretary, 18, Ewelme Road, Forest Hill, S.E.23.) EXHIBITION PICTURES. Sir, — Being only the merest beginner in photography, I have hesitated to reply before to the dogmatic statements of Mr. H. G. Jenkins (February 13th issue) and many others who have written at various times decrying the practice of “ re¬ touching ” or “ remaking pictures.” On reading their letters a second time, however, it seems to me that no skill or experi¬ ence is required to refute their arguments, so here goes : If I may quote from that excellent series of wireless talks, " The Artist and his Public,” “ Many people have made exact reproductions in paint of a bowl of flowers, or a chair, but no one has become famous solely on that account.” Almosl any photographer can press the button and get an exact reproduction of the scene in front, but the beauty or ugliness of the finished print depends not on its truthfulness but on its arrangement and composition. Landscape painters have always shifted their scenery about ; painted trees where no trees were, etc., secure in the knowledge that no painting could ever bring out the full beauty of the scene beyond the easel. Nature does occasionally present us with a perfect picture, which we can copy " straight ” on to the plate or the canvas, but in the majority of cases there are little flaws in the scene which the camera, that man-made imperfection, brings out in all their gruesome detail, omitting what we want, the elements of beauty in the scene. The best picture, in such cases, is not the picture the camera sees, but the picture we would like it to see, and which we can only reproduce on paper by resorting to dopes and crayons. I am interested in the A rt, not the science of photography, and when I get a negative of exhibition standard, as I hope I shall, 1 will use every means to make the finished print a thing of beauty, not necessarily a correct rendering in mono¬ chrome of what the camera saw. — Yours, etc., C. P. M MANUS. STEREOSCOPIC WORK. Sir, — I am interested in your correspondent’s (Mr. B. H. Lomas) remarks concerning stereoscopic photography, and agree with him that the size of picture he mentions — 2J X if in. — is eminently suitable for this type of work. I have not found it necessary to use a special stereo camera, however. It has proved utterly simple, by the aid of my Super Ikonta (16 pictures on 2J X3J in. film) to take two ex¬ posures, in the hand — -a tripod being unnecessary — of any suitable scene, the first to be spaced from 3 inches to 3 feet from the second, laterally. The " pairs ” of negatives can be printed together, reversed and pasted upon the cards that Messrs. Thornton-Pickard supply for their " Puck ” camera, which does excellent work, if a trifle limited in its equipment. — -Yours, etc., " SIMPLICITAS.” STAINS ON PRINTS. Sir, — I noticed in a recent issue of The Amateur Photogra¬ pher that L. A. S. (Erdington) has had trouble with stains on his prints. Some time ago I had the same trouble, but was recommended to try a stop bath instead of rinsing in plain water, since when I have had no stains. The stop bath is made up with £ oz. potassium metabisulphite to 20 oz. water. Thus the prints are developed, then put in the stop bath for about half a minute, and finally in acid fixing bath. A good acid fixer is £ oz. potassium metabisulphite, 4 oz. hypo, to 20 oz. of water. I enjoy reading your paper very much, and hope this information will be of some use to many readers. — Yours, etc., ■ J. N. WEBB. SHORTER ROLL FILMS. Sir, — I should like to endorse Mr. S. H. Crowe’s remarks re shorter roll films. I know it would fill a long-felt want among the majority of amateurs who possess more or less expensive cameras, and whose time is limited to week-ends. I am quite sure that if one of the well-known firms was enterprising enough to manufacture a batch of their different grades, they would be amply repaid for their trouble in increased sales. — Yours, etc., H. TOMKINSON. “The A.P.” Monthly Competitions ;™m AGAIN all the sections of the competition for A February were well supported, and some x A excellent prints submitted. We are glad to note that so many of the “ old hand ” contributors continue to send in prints, and evidently appreciate and act upon the criticisms that are sent them. The awards are as follows : Advanced Workers’ Section. First Prize. — “ Between Showers,” by M. B. Hegarty, Rinn Ronain, Rushbrooke, Co. Cork. Second Prize. — “ A Study of the Sea,” by K. M. Jrathen, Mount Carbis, Redruth, Cornwall. Third Prize. — “ Outside Buckingham Palace,” by A. T. Fairbank, n, Copers Cope Road, Beckenham, Kent. Mounting Prize. — “ A Winter Evening,” by Arthur Keen, 328, Fourteenth Avenue East, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Certificates of Merit. — “ Gull Alighting,” by C. F. Crompton, Dunard Lodge, Leatherhead, Surrey ; 1 The House in the Valley," by Harold J. Miles, 17, Merthyr Road, Pontypridd, S. Wales ; “ The Painter,” by Miss L. M. Orr, Brackendene, St. George’s Hill, Weybridge, Surrey. The prints not receiving awards have been grouped, those in the first group receiving Honourable Slention. The others have been marked Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3, respectively. Those awarded Honourable Mention are as follows : F. C. Diemer (Blackhall, Edinburgh) ; A. V. Bibbings (Newton Abbot) ; R. J. Coilinson (Formby) ; (2) Dr. I. Magdi (London, N.W.) ; (2) F. Annis Burrows (Chalfont St. Peter) ; A. C. Millest (Kingston-onThames) ; John Muller (New York) ; Wm. Jackson (Hull) ; C. E. Rollinson (Newport, Mon.) : Dr. S. D. Jouhar (Byers Green, Durham) ; Bingley Wilson (Blackley, Manchester) ; C. E. Rollinson (Newport) ; Akhtar K. Syed (Palanpur, India) ; P. A. Harrison (Wood Green, London, N.) ; B. L. Critchley (Bristol) ; C. D. Notley (London, S.W.) ; K. M. Trathen (Red¬ ruth) ; (2) Harold J. Miles (Pontypridd) ; J. H. Clark (Camberwell, S.E.). Intermediate Section. First Prize. — “ Portrait,” by C. Dicker, 32, Russell Road, Peckham, London, S.E.15. Second Prize. — “The Sand Cart,” by Miss K. M. Caudwell, Westwick, Norwich. Certificates of Merit. — “ Hallo ! Twins,” by T. Owen James, 34, Manor Road, Camborne, Cornwall ; “ Orientale,” by D. S. Macnutt, Middletom B., Christ’s Hospital, Horsham, Sussex ; “ The Stepping Stones,” by A. H. Reynolds, 38, Oakfield Road, London, N.4 ; “ Brian,” by David Wilson, Bishopsgarth, Stockton-onTees. Beginners’ Section. First Prize. — “ The Incense Burner,” by the Rev. A. W. Molonv, 8, Aymer Road, Hove, 3, Sussex. Second Prize. — “ The Edge of the Beyond," by Joseph Bishop, 11, Avondale Road, Darwen. Certificates of Merit. — “ Roaming,” by J. Broadbent, Jun., Meanwood Hill, Leeds, 6; " Windows,” by William Ellison, 70, Lansdowne Road Handsworth, Birmingham, 21 ; “ Portrait," bv H. Jeffs, 349, Bloxwich Road, Walsall ; “ Ancient and Modern,” by Bernard Woodmansen, 30, Station Street, Ryde, I.O. W. 22 280