INSTRUCTIONS IN GENERAL 



quality of the picture, and do not draw the attention from 

 the central figure. This fact we consider a very strong 

 justification for the shortness of the range at which we 

 work. The reader must accept our assurance that we 

 have not in a single instance made up the background in 

 any way. The shadowy appearance is the natural result 

 of making the exposures from close quarters. We men- 

 tioned previously that objects slightly before or behind the 

 spot focussed upon are not likely to be sharp. As the 

 distance from the focussed point is increased, this lack of 

 sharpness becomes more and more marked, until objects at 

 a distance of a few inches beyond the subject resolve them- 

 selves into a pleasingly shaded background. 



The camera finally placed in position and focussed, the 

 operator should, before he retires to a distance (if such a 

 course be necessary), satisfy himself that the shutter is 

 operated satisfactorily by the thread. In fact, we make 

 it a practice to go through the whole performance with the 

 exception of the insertion of the plate to make sure that 

 nothing has been forgotten, A shutter which requires re- 

 setting after each exposure has been mentioned previously 

 as an advantage. We may here state the reasons. In the 

 first place it affords a direct proof, often very necessary 

 when working at a distance, as to whether an exposure has 

 actually been made. Secondly, it obviates the dire effects 

 often caused by the operator becoming entangled in the 

 thread as he proceeds to change a plate. This happens 

 more often than the beginner will anticipate, and terms too 

 strong for print are required to express adequately the 

 feelings of the photographer who, after taking what he is 

 confident is the best picture of the season, ties himself up 

 in the elusive black thread and makes a second exposure on 

 the same plate. 



When the preliminaries have been arranged, the 

 operator's real task begins. Except in the settled summer 

 weather the strength of the light causes him continual 

 anxiety, and the menace of a clouded sky hangs over him 

 often, both figuratively and literally. In mid-summer the 

 light is much more intense than during the earlier part of 

 the season, and the advent of a few clouds at this time is 

 rather an advantage than otherwise. In spring and early 

 summer, however, sunlight almost undiluted is a necessity. 

 Furthermore, clouds, showers of rain, and other little un- 



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