Notes and Queries, Number 226, February 25, 1854: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.Various
History
Notes and Queries, Number 226, February 25, 1854: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
As I write on the subject, it appears, of course, necessary that I should
be familiar with all the details of manipulation in each process which I
may describe. Whenever I have mentioned, in either of my works, a process
with which I have not been entirely familiar, I have given the name of the
authority upon whom I have depended. But there will not be found in either
my _Photography_, or my _Researches on Light_ (of which a greatly enlarged
edition will soon be submitted to the public), any one process upon which I
have not made such experiments as appeared to me necessary to my
understanding the _rationale_ of the chemical changes involved, and of the
physical phenomena which arise.
Now, since it is not necessary to select a picturesque object to instruct
me in these points, the same buildings, trees, and plaster casts have been
copied times beyond number; and when the problem under examination has been
solved, these pictures have been destroyed.
There are twenty exhibitors of pictures in the Photographic Gallery who
would certainly leave my productions far behind, as it concerns their
pictorial character; but I am confident there is not one who has made the
philosophy of Photography so entirely his study as I have done.
I have been engaged for the last two years in studying the chemical action
of the prismatic spectrum. I inclose you my report on this subject to the
British Association for 1852 (that for 1853 is now in the hands of the
printer), from which you will perceive that I am employing myself to
greater advantage to photography, as science under art, than I should be
did I enter the lists with those who catch the beauties of external nature
on their sensitive tablets, and secure for themselves and others pictures
drawn by the solar pencil, in which no one can more deeply delight than
your humble servant.
ROBERT HUNT.
_Waxed-paper Pictures._--Will your correspondents or yourself do me the
favour to say, how such beautiful pictures have been produced and exhibited
by Mr. Fenton and others by the waxed-paper medium, if that process be so
bad and defective? When I have followed it, and exercised consistent
patience, I have ever produced pleasing and faithful results. That when
parties do not themselves prepare, it becomes expensive, I am willing to
admit; but I am inclined to attribute many failures to the uncertain heat
of hot irons, which _must_ vary; and I make this fact known to you as the
result of my own observation on many sheets: added to which, defective
manipulation, or impure chemicals, must not be allowed to do away with its
having much merit.
HARLEY LANE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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