Amateur Photographer & Cinematographer (1935)

September 18th, 1935 TH£ amateur photographed n 6 CINEMATOGRAPHER o Travel Titles By ARTHUR A. TAYLOR. AFTER the many cruises organised by the shipping com¬ panies this last summer there are large numbers of amateur movie makers who have made a complete record of a holiday spent afloat, all ready to be edited and titled for the Christmas premiere. We have seen so many very good efforts of a continental travel picture spoiled simply for want of a little more care taken in the editing and making of the titles that this short article has been specially written to give the amateur an idea of the “ professional touches ” that can, with desired effect, be quite easily worked into the home-made film. The very first object to surmount is its continuity, or the placing of the different scenes in their correct order, in a travel film this requires much thought, as the continual moving from one place to another tends to leave the audience in rather a vague and confused state of mind as to their present positions. The best method to prevent this and to provide some sort of continuity is to introduce a map into the picture. ft is not necessary to produce an elaborate map, as its only object is to show the directions taken during the making of the film. The method, if carefully followed as described, will be found to add quite a “ Hollywood ” touch to what would have otherwise passed as an amateur film. A piece of good-quality smooth drawing-paper is required, about 18 x 12 in., and upon this is drawn the country described by the film. The outline is first of all made with pencil and then the coast is put in with a thick line of Indian ink, made either with special ball-headed pens or a brush, and later, shaded with a soft pencil if it has a coast. Only the places visited need be marked upon the map, as shown in the illustra¬ tion, and the route taken is made by thick dotted lines. The completed map is then shot with the camera and spliced in at the beginning of the film and once or twice during the scenes. For the more ambitious amateur an animated map could be introduced. For this the outline is made in the same way and the map carefully fastened into a rigid frame, and, with the camera placed in position, a few frames are shot. The first town is now inked in without moving either the map or the camera, and a few frames shot of this first town and route, and then the route to the next part is added step by step, photo¬ graphing for a few frames at every three or four dashes of the dotted line. So the procedure goes on until all the names are in and all the routes marked. This method will mean, with most cameras, double splicing, because every time the camera is stopped and restarted there will be a light frame. A much quicker method will be found to take a long camelhair brush, dipped into the Indian ink, and with the camera started, trace out the line as if you were using a pointer at a lecture, the only difference being that after the pointer has passed it will leave a black line. With this method, the names of the places visited must, of course, be put on the map before the photography begins. Follow each insertion of the map with a close-up of the new location taken either from a railway station name-plate or from the map itself if your camera will allow a close-up of the name. With a map like this, described in your travel films, the audience has a full knowledge of the district covered, and yet is able to follow it easily and comfortably. Exhibitions and Competitions CURRENT AND FUTURE. 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, September 30. Rules in the issue of August 28. California Pacific International Exhibition, San Diego. — May 29-November 11. Miss Ruth Kilbourne, Secretary, Exhibition Headquarters, Balboa Park, San Diego, Cal., U.S.A. Paris International Salon. — October 5-20. Secre¬ tary, M. E. Cousin, 51, Rue de Clichy, Paris. Amsterdam International Salon. — September 14-29. Further particulars from Focus, Ltd., Fotosalon, Bloemendaal, Holland. London Salon of Photography. — Open, September 14-October 12. Further particulars from Secretary, London Salon, 5a, Pall Mall East, S.W.i. R.P.S. Annual Exhibition. — September 14-October 12. Further particulars from Secretary, 35, Russell Square, W.C.i. Irish Salon (to be held at Mansion House, Dublin). — Open, November 2-9. Particulars from Hon. Secretary, Irish Salon of Photography, 18, Morehampton Road, Dublin. , Rotherham P.S. International Exhibition. — Entry forms due, September 23 ; prints, September 30 ; open, October 16-19. Hon. Exhibition Secretary, E. George Alderman, Ruardean, Newton Street, Rother¬ ham, Yorks. Indian International Salon (promoted by Camera Pictorialists of Bombay). — Open, November 17-30. Hon. Salon Secretary, F. R. Ratnagar, Central Bank Building, Fort, Bombay, India. G.W. Rly. “ Camp Coach ” Holiday Competition. — Prize, one week’s holiday in camp coach during 1936 holiday season. Photographs should depict any aspect of camp coach holiday. Entries due, October 31. Further particulars from Superintendent of the Line, G.W.R., Paddington Station, W.2. Canadian International Salon, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. — November 6-21, and afterwards in other Canadian cities. Entries due, September 20, Entry forms and further particulars from Exhibition Secretary, Canadian International Salon, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Canada. Seventh Western International Photographic Salon. — November 23-30. Entries close, Monday, October 28. Particulars and entry forms from the Organising Secretary, W. H. Hill-Muchamore, 24, Church Road, Redfield, Bristol, 5. Cape of Good Hope International Salon (under the auspices of Cape Town P.S.). — Entries due, November 19 ; open, January, 1936. Hon. Salon Secretary, Richard Dekenah, P.O. Box 2431, Cape Town, South Africa. IXe International Kertsalon Fotografische Kring “ Iris.” — Open, December 2 2-January 5, 1936. Entries close, November 15. Particulars and entry forms from J. Van Dyck, Secretary, “ Iris,” 69, Ballaerstraat, Antwerp. Leicester P.S. International Exhibition. — Entries, January 24, 1936 ; open, February 24-March 7, 1936. Exhibition Secretary, H. Foscutt, 19, Doncaster Road, Leicester. The 40th Annual Exhibition of the South London P.S. — Open, February 15-March 14, 1936. Entries close, January 21. Further details and entry forms from Hon. Exhibition Secretary, H. S. Adams, 40, Stockwell Park Road, London, S.W.9. Scottish National Salon. — February 8-29, 1936. Entries close, January ir. Particulars and entry forms from the Hon. Salon Secretary, Norman G. Brown, 36, North Lindsay Street, Dundee. Vile Salon International D’Art Photographique de Bruxelles, 1936. — Open from March 21-April 5, 1936. Entries close, February 25. Particulars and entry forms from M. M. Devaivre, 152, rue Markelbach, at Brussels 3, Belgium. Darwen Exhibition of Photography. — April 20May 2, 1936. Entries close, March 19. Particulars and entry forms from the Secretary, J. H. Woods, South Down, Bolton Road, Darwen. 2S 283