International photographer (Jan-Dec 1934)

January, 1934 T 1 1 INTERNATIONAL HOTOGRAPHE \< Fifteen lamp socket into which the lamp fits. Such an arrangement may be purchased for a dollar or less, and makes an ideal illuminating unit. There is no smoke, flame, or danger as is the case with regular Hash-powder which was commonly used in the days before the invention of the flashbulb. Obviously the bulb is good for but one Hash, after which it is discarded. They are so cheap, however, that they do not comprise an expense. Because of their inde glass, colored, which is attached in front of the camera lens. Its purpose is to hold back certain light rays, depending up the color of the filter. By means of a filter, the sky and the water can be made to reproduce on the photograph in their natural intensities and values as seen by the eye. A yellow filter of medium densitj is the most practical of all filters, for it can be used for practically every condition, although there are over several hundn-d A yellow filter produces rich tones and permits separating the sometimes delicate shadings between water and sky. Photo courtesy Matthews Company. pendence of the usual house current, they ought to appeal strongly to the boat photographer. We have taken care of two of the most vexing problems in photographing ship interiors. Now let us investigate a few other forms of photography which appeal to the yachtsman. Take races, for example. Ordinarily the spectators must keep their boats a considerable distance from the race course, and if photographs are wanted of the participants, the photographer has to be satisfied with tiny specks on the picture — specks which are hardly recognizable as a general thing, due to the distance between the camera and the objects of the picture being photographed. In cases such as this, we resort to another type of lens which is just the reverse of the wide-angle lens — the telephoto lens. The telephoto lens has a longer focal length, and is therefore to be compared with binoculars in that it magnifies the object and produces it larger on the film in the camera. The Elmar 135 mm. f :4.5 lens as offered for use on the Leica camera is ideal for distant photography. It has an angle of view of only 19 degrees and from this it can be seen that it will "pull" in distant objects and present them on the film of a size which is quite large enough for all ordinary purposes. It is with the aid of such lenses that such startling pictures are often produced, pictures in which it seems that the photographer was very close to the object. In reality he was a considerable distance away. A lens of this nature is as important to the marine photographer as the wide-angle lens. Just think of binoculars and their characteristics, and you will get the idea of the telephoto lens on a camera. It might be said that at least seventy percent of the amateur marine photographs of a scenic nature are flat, dull, and uninteresting. This is due mainly to the fact that the amateur photographer does not use a filter. The water and the sky, while of different colors as a rule, are recorded on the film as practically the same shade, resulting in the flatness so often noticeable. A filter is a disc of different kinds of filters available. The amateur should by all means secure a yellow filter and use it whenever clouds in the sky are to be recorded. The filter will hold back the excessive blue of the sky and permit the clouds to register on the film. A sun-shade is another important accessory that should be used, for, especially on the water, an abundance of light is reflected by the water into the lens. This tends to create a veil or fog on the picture. The sun-shade protects the camera lens from these unwanted light rays and permits only the picture-forming rays to enter the lens. Commercial finishing laboratories which develop and print amateur films agree that ninety percent of all photographic failures are due to under-exposure. On the water a similar percent produce over-exposure because they do not take into consideration the additional light which exists on the water, due to reflection. The problems of exposure at best are confusing to the amateur. Even the most experienced photographer experiences difficulty in this matter, for it must be remembered that the light which is used to form the photographic image, in other words, photographic light, is not entirely the same as the light by means of which we see, or visual light. How can anyone, therefore, claim to be able to judge photographic light without the aid of some instrument ? Before the amateur becomes alarmed at this news, let me hasten to explain that there are on the market a number of excellent devices which measure accurately the actinic value of the light, artificial or sun. Of the most accurate and least bothersome might be mentioned the famous Weston Photronic cell meter, which employs a special type of photoelectric cell developed by the Weston Electrical Instrument Company. In use, the meter is held or aimed in the direction of the object to be photographed. A needle sw rings across a scale upon which is calibrated the lens and shutter settings of the camera. Instantly the photographer knows (Turn to Page 31) Please mention The International Photographer when corresponding with advertisers.