SIR KNIGHT CHARLES M. TODD says he is thinking of buying a small
camera, and wishes to know what apparatus he would need for
developing, etc.; which are the best, films or dry-plates, and if
they are manipulated in the same way; if blue prints are
permanent; what prints can be made the cheapest; and the name of
some good work on photography. Sir Charles adds that the first
thing he looks for in the ROUND TABLE is the Camera Club
Department. The outfit required for developing and finishing
pictures is: one red light; one developing-tray, 4 by 5; one
fixing-tray, 4 by 5; one toning-tray, 5 by 8; one printing-frame;
one ferrotype-plate for drying prints; one 4 oz. glass graduate.
See No. 781 for directions how to make a lantern, and also hints
on reducing expenses. Dry-plates are easier for the beginner to
manage than the films, but fine negatives are made with either.
The same treatment is given both, with the exception of drying.
The films, after washing, are soaked for five minutes in a
solution made of 1/2 oz. of glycerine and 16 oz. of water. This
prevents the film from curling. Blue prints are permanent; they
are also the cheapest. Wilson's _Photographics_ is a good work on
photography.
SIR KNIGHT B. P. ATKINSON asks how photographs should be prepared
for prize contests; if pictures can be copied with an 8 by 10
camera and a single lens; when an article on posing will be
published; if exposure meters are reliable; what is the cause of
negatives having a spotted appearance when ice is used; how
pin-holes in negatives can be remedied; what kinds of lenses are
best for landscapes. Platinotype prints make the most artistic
photographs, and should be mounted on plate-sunk cards. These
cards are made specially for platinotypes; full directions for use
come with the platinotype-paper. Pictures may be copied with an 8
by 10 camera, but the single lens would be hardly suitable for
fine copying. A rectilinear wide-angle lens is a good lens for
copying. Suggestions for posing will be given in the early number
of the ROUND TABLE. Exposure meters are not always reliable. The
spotted appearance of the negative is probably caused by using the
water at too low a temperature. The temperature should never be
below 50° to insure good work. Pin-holes may be covered by
painting them over with retouching fluid, and, when dry, taking a
fine camel's-hair brush dipped in lampblack (moist water-color),
and touching the spot very lightly with the lip of the brush,
taking care that it does not lap over on to the film. A little
practice will enable one to fill up pin-holes or light spots so
that they will not be noticed in the print. For landscape-work a
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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