Amateur Photographer & Cinematographer (1936)

December 23rd, 1936 ih( amateur photographer ta 6 CINEMATOGRAPHER o Letters to the Editor — contd. POTS AND PANS. Sir, — I most heartily agree with Mr. Brimble’s criticisms of the “ Pots and Pans ” type of photography, and I would go farther and beg of you to accept the reflection indirectly cast upon your journal, for in this very issue you publish another type of photograph which deserves blunt and severe criticism. 1 have been a reader (a very appreciative one) of your journal for more years than 1 care to count, and if there has been one feature above any other which I have looked forward to from week to week, it has been the one now styled " How I make my Exhibition Pictures.” That, and the four pages of Art supplement have made your journal more than worth the money charged. I therefore resent the inclusion in this feature of a photograph (it is not a picture !) of such a crude character as ” Light and Shade,” by M. Broquet. We have all taken better photographs with our first box cameras. The judges may have been sober when they judged it, but they exceeded the licence (a very elastic one at times) which even judges must be permitted on such occasions. We may not agree with “ Mentor,” and his ‘‘ half-inch off ” or ” half-inch on,” at times, but we have the satisfaction of knowing that at any rate he is trying to be helpful, and, moreover, he can and does justify his criticisms, but the authors of pots and pans and of falling lamp-posts and toppling sky¬ scrapers — well, well ! please Mr. Editor, let us continue to enjoy " Winter Sunshine,” by S. Insull, ‘‘ Aphrodite,” by Walter Bird, without having to think, cynically maybe, that sometimes it is the name of the artist that matters and not the alleged art he produces. — Yours, etc., W. H. Sir, — It seems a pity that the efforts of a highly technical journal like ” The A.P.” should seemingly have been wasted on Mr. J. " Pots and Pans ” Brimble, who appears to buy it for the pretty pictures which appear from time to time. Regarding his accusation of ” lack of imagination ” for subjects, surely he is barking up the wrong tree. It is he himself who is lacking in imagination — not the creator of ” Pots and Pans.” 1 feel very sorry for Mr. Brimble, who apparently only sees just the bare ‘‘Pots and Pans” of a still-life group. Regarding the subject " In Quiet Waters ” (a very beautiful study), the trees and swan must have felt at times as if they were growing in the midst of a battery of typists, judging from the incessant clicking one hears at famous beauty-spots. Also it is a very wearying job waiting for Mr. Swan to swim into the composition. If Mr. Brimble should not understand that I would urge him to study " Pictorial Analysis,” by " Mentor.” I hope all the Xmas cards he receives bear those entrancing snow scenes with welcome glow of lamplight streaming through cottage window, and then he should have a Merry Christmas. —Yours, etc., S. CHADWICK. D. & P. Sir, — In reply to so many readers’ D. & P. grouses, I should like for them to have had the chance of visiting the Bournemouth Mutual Photographic Works, as did the members of the Poole Camera and Cine Club. This concern is believed to be the only one of its kind in the world. A formation of photographers run this place to produce as perfect prints and enlargements as the material handed to them will provide. They do not give free enlargements, this being one of the reasons they objected to, which led in the beginning to the starting of these works. Printing, developing and enlarging were demonstrated, and I wonder how many D. & P. firms have a scrutinising bench where only the best possible is allowed to pass. The range of paper was very great, and one need only mention the grade wanted, or surface, and it was to be had. I should not think the cost of postage would be considered by those who have had such bad work, and if they should care to give this firm a trial here it is : Mr. J. Thomas, Photographic and Sports Depot, High Street, Poole, Dorset. I have no interest in this concern, other than many thanks to Mr. Thomas, who never seems exhausted in his practical advice on photography. With best wishes to " The A.P.” and its readers. — Yours, etc., FRANK BARTLETT. ACID FIXING IN METAL TANK. Sir, — I note your reply to W. P. M. O. (London) re damaged tank. I think there must be some mistake about this, as I have used acid fixing baths in such tanks (4 to 5 oz. hypo and meta¬ bisulphite I oz., however, for preference) and have never had any trouble with tanks. Ordinary acid baths are not so good as hypo-metabisulphite, so I now use only the latter. Of course, the tank must be properly washed before using developer in it again. Kodak tanks are used with their acid hypo without trouble. — Yours, etc., FRANK J. LOBLEY. Exhibitions and Competitions The name and address in brackets indicates to whom to apply for further particulars. The Amateur Photographer' MonihXy Competitions for Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced Workers. — Entries, December 31. Rules in the issue of Nov. 25. Wallace Heaton Special Competitions. Cash prizes every week. — Open to readers of The Amateur Photo¬ grapher. Full particulars in advertisement page in this issue. Salon International de Fctografica de Madrid. (Senor Secretario de la Sociedad Fotograftca de Madrid, Calle del Principe, 16, Madrid.) U.P. International Exhibition of Photography, 1936 (Lucknow). — Open, December. 5, 1936-February 4, 1937. (Dr. K. N. Malhur, D.Sc., Hon. Sec., U.P. Amateur Photographic Association, Lucknow Uni¬ versity, Lucknow.) Royal Photographic Society Sub-standard F'ilm Competition during December. (J. F. Marshall, Hon. Sec., Kind Group, R.P.S., 35, Russell Square, London, W.C.i.) Tenth International Christmas Salon of Pictorial Photography (Antwerp). — Open, December 20, 1936January 3, 1937. (J. Van Dyck, Sec., F'otograpliische Kring “ Iris,” Ballaestr., 69, Antwerp.) Fourth (Third International) Wilmington Salon of Photography. — Open, January 18-31. (Secretary, Delaware Camera Club, P.O. Box 8r8, Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.) Fourth Scottish Amateur Film Festival, Final Adjudication and Public Show, February 20 ; entries, December 31. (Ian S. Ross, 80, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, C.i.) Cash prizes. Preston Scientific Societv Iwelfth Annual Open P.S. — Entries, January 8 ; open, February 1-13. (E. Eastham, 130b, Church Street. Preston, Lancs.) S. London P.S. 41st Annual Exhibition. — Entries, January 18 ; open, February 13-March 13. (H. S. Adams, 40, Stockwell Park Rd., S.W.9.) Leicester and Leicestershire P.S. International Exhibition. — Open, February 22-March 14, 1937* (H. Foscutt, 19, Doncaster Road, Leicester.) 29th Scottish National Salon. — Entries, January 23 ; open, commencing February 20. (John J. Robertson, Hon. Sec., Scottish National Salon, Art Gallery and Museum, Perth.) Ilford P.S. International Exhibition. — Entries, January 30 ; open, March 1-6. (Exhibition Secre¬ taries, c/o 61, Castleton Road, Goodmayes, Essex.) IVe Salon International Albert ler. — Open, March 2-16 ; entries, January 31. (M. Roger Populaire, i8, rue de I’Egalite, Charleroi, Belgium.) Western Eighth Annual Salon of International Photography. — Entries, February i ; open, February 20-27 (Russell Town Studio). Also at the Dorothy Cafe, Esplanade, Weymouth, from March 8-13. (W. H. Hill-Muchamore, 24, Church Road, Redfield, Bristol.) Runcorn C.C. North-West Cheshire Salon of Photo¬ graphy. — Entries, February 6 ; open, March 10-13. (R. J. Edwards, i, Waterloo Road, Runcorn, Cheshire.) Birmingham P.S. 46th Annual Exhibition. — Entries, February 6 ; open, February 27-March 13. (E. H. Bellamy, Waterloo House, 20, Waterloo Street, Birmingham, 2.) City of London and Cripplegate P.S. Thirty-second Annual Photographic Exhibition. — Entries, Monday, February 8 ; open, March 8-13, 1937. (R. C. Dye, Reservoir View, New Mill, Tring, Herts.) Hackney P.S. 48th Annual Exhibition. — Forms 662 due, February 9 ; exhibits, March i ; open, March 3-6. (W. Selfe, 24, Pembury Road, Clapton, E.5.) L.M.S. (London) P.S. Twelfth Annual Exhibition,, open to Great Britain and Northern Ireland. — Entries, February 12. (Clarence Pursell, Chief Accountant’s Office, L.M.S. Rly. Co., Euston Station, London,. N.W.I.; Pittsburgh Twenty-fourth Annual International Salon of Pictorial Photography. — Entries, February 13 ; open, March 12-April ii. (C. E. Lesher (Secretary),. Pittsburgh Salon, Box 146, Pittsburgh, Pa., U.S.A.) Birkenhead Photographic Association Y.M.C.A. Annual Exhibition. — Entries, February 17; open, March 9-13. (R. Greenwood, Four Chimneys, Irby,. Frankby, Cheshire.) St. Petersburg C.C. Second Annual Pictorial Salon of Photography. — Entries, February 26 ; open, March 3-17. (R. Kendal Williams, 602, Snell Building, St, Petersburg, Florida, U.S.A.) Edinburgh P.S. 75 th Annual Open Exhibition. — Entries, March i ; open, March 20-April 3. (John S. Rodger, r6, Royal Terrace, Edinburgh.) Brighton and Hove C.C. International Exhibition of Pictorial Photography. — Entries, March 15 ; open, April 14-May r. (E. K. Robins, Little Toll, Isfield, Uckfield, Sussex.) Bristol P.S. Third Annual Open Exhibition. — Entries, March 31 : open, May 1-29, at Bristol Art Gallery. (F. E. Haynes, 50a, Belvoir Road, St. Andrews Park, Bristol, 6.) Eighth International Salon of Photographic Art (Brussels). — Open daily (except Fridays) from April 3-18. (M. Devaivre, 152, rue Markelbach, Brussels, 3, Belgium.) 29