Aug. 13. 1853.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



157 



PHOTOGKAPHIC CORRESPONDENCE. 



Lining of Cameras. — I find nothing so good to 

 line a camera with as black velvet ; for, black the 

 inside of a camera as you will, if it is hard wood or 

 any size used, there will be reflection from the 

 bottom, which, with very sensitive plates, gives a 

 dulness which, I think I may say, is caused by 

 this reflection. I think even the inside of the lens 

 tube might advantageously be lined with black 

 velvet. W. M. F. 



Cyamiret of Potassium. — I have been using lately 

 12 grs. of cyanuret of potassium in 1 oz. of water 

 for clearing the collodion plates, instead of hypo. 

 There is one advantage, that there are no crystals 

 formed if impei'fectly washed, which is too common 

 with hypo. You must take care to well wash off 

 the developing fluid, whether pyrogallic, proto- 

 nitrate, or protosulphitc : if you use the latter 

 40-grains strong, the whitest pictures can be ob- 

 tained, nearly as white as after bichloride of 

 mercury. A good formula to make it is — 



Distilled water - - - 11 drachms. 



Alcohol - - . - 1 drachm. 



Nitric acid - - - 20 minims. 



Protosulphate of iron - - 60 grains. 



This I know to act well with care, and it will keep 

 a long time. 



I find protonitrate solution — 



Water - - - - 1^ ounce. 

 Barytes - - - - 150 grains. 

 Protosulph. - - - 150 „ 



mixed in a proportion of 8 to 4, with a 3-grain 

 solution of pyrogallic — a very nice developing 

 mixture ; and, if poured back again after beinf 

 used, will sufiiee 6 or 8 times over ; but it is best 

 new. ^ W. M. F. 



Minuteness of Detail on Paper. — Being fond 

 of antiquarian studies, and having learned from 

 "N. & Q." the value of photography to the ar- 

 chiEologist, I have serious thoughts of taking up 

 the practice of the art. Before doing so, however, 

 I am anxious to learn how far that minuteness of 

 detail which I so much prize, and which is of such 

 value to the antiquary, is to be obtained by any of 

 the processes on paper. I have seen some spe- 

 cimens produced by collodion which certainly ex- ! 

 hibit that quality in an eminent degree. Is any- j 

 thing approaching to such minuteness attainable ' 

 by any of the Talbotype processes ? F. S. A. 



[Had this Query reached us last week, we should 

 then, as now, have replied in the affirmative. We 

 should then have referred, for evidence in support of 

 our statement, to Mr. Fenton's Well Walk, Chelten- 

 ham, published in the Photographic Album, and to Mr. 

 Buckle's View of Peterborough. But we may now 

 adduce a work almost more remarkaljle for this quality, 

 namely, a view of Salisbury, by Mr. Russell Sedgefield, 



a young wood engraver, which is about to appear in 

 the forthcoming part of tl)e Photographic Album. 



To this beautiful specimen of the art we may cer- 

 tainly refer as a proof that it is quite possible to obtain 

 upon paper the greatest nicety of detail ; in short, 

 every minuteness that can be desired, or ought to be 

 attempted.] 



Stereoscopic Angles. — I think there can be little 

 doubt that Mr. T. L, Merritt (Vol. viii., p. 1 10.) 

 has solved the problem as to stereoscopic angles : 

 there can be no reason why one angle should be 

 used for near objects, and another for distant. A 

 true representation of nature is required ; and, as 

 we cannot vicAv any object with one of our eyes 

 eighteen or twenty feet separate from the other, 

 so it appears to me a true picture cannot be ob- 

 tained by taking two views so fiir apart. The 

 result must be to dwajf the objects; and, in con- 

 firmation of this, I may state that I was not con- 

 vinced that the stereoscopic views were tnken 

 from nature till I understood the cause of their 

 reduction. All views that I have been able to 

 purchase, of out-door nature, appear to me to be 

 taken from models, and not from the objects them- 

 selves. 



A view of a tower conveys the idea, not of a 

 tower of stone and lime, but of a very careful 

 model in cardboard ; and this Is exactly what 

 might be expected from taking the views at so 

 wide an angle. A church Is seen, as It would be 

 seen by a giant whose eyes were twenty feet apart, 

 or as we would see a small model of it near at 

 hand. 



I hope that some of your photographic corre- 

 spondents will settle this question, by taking views 

 of the same object both by the wide and close 

 angle, and, by comparing them, ascertain which 

 conveys to the mind the truest representation of 

 nature. T. B. Johnston. 



Edinburgh. 



Sisson's developing Solution (Vol. vii., p. 462.). 

 — Will you be so good as to ask Mr. Sisson if he 

 finds the above to answer as a bath to plunge the 

 plate into, instead of pouring on, as in the case of 

 pyrogallic ? 



He is entitled to the warm thanks of all photo- 

 graphers lor the discovery of a solution which 

 produces such pleasing lints with so much ease ; 

 and It needs but the qualification I Inquire after 

 to render It perfect. I have used It when at least 

 three weeks made, and am not sure that it is not 

 even better than when fresh. S. B. 



P.S. — Why not devote a little more space to 

 this fascinating art in " N. & Q." ? I think, if 

 anything, it grows less latterly. 



Midtiplying Photographs. — In Vol. viii., p. 60., 

 you reprint a communication from Sir W. Her- 

 schel which has appeared in The Athenaum. 



