22 PHOTOGRAPHIC SUUVKY OF THE COUNTY. 



rather than a bare record of facts. IS'ow, if a photograph is taken 

 by anyone who understands what he is about, a truthful record is 

 secured, and by mechanical means copies are easily and cheaply 

 produced, for process blocks can be made capable of being printed 

 Avith the letter press, the cost averaging about Is. 6d. per square 

 inch of the block. Objects of interest are often shown at your 

 meetings, sometimes papers on them are read ; these might well be 

 illustrated by process blocks from negatives. But I think I have 

 said enough to show you that there is plenty of work to be done, 

 some of which wants doing immediately, as the time for doing it 

 will pass away to return no more. 



There are many Avho could undertake this work, photographers 

 already who fritter away their time spoiling plates by taking 

 photographs which are absolutely of no value, scientific or artistic, 

 their ambition being satisfied if they got nice crisp, clear, sharp 

 negatives, in which, even if the subject has the capabilities of 

 making a good picture, all pictorial effect has been lost by want of 

 artistic taste on the part of the photographer, or it may be they 

 simply photograph again views that have been photograi^hed a 

 hundred times already. Others there are, it may be, who are 

 working or getting valuable pictures without knowing their value ; 

 some possibly do their own district thoroughly, but no advantage 

 to any, save to themselves, is derived from their work. Organiza- 

 tion is required, systematic work is needed ; by co-operation alone 

 thoroughness can be hoped for. Now, it seems to me that some- 

 times societies do not do the work they might do, members join 

 them because of the pleasant gatherings, such as this has been 

 to-day, and the enjoyable excursion, such as we hope to have to- 

 morrow ; but these societies have an object beyond the mere social 

 one, and should take a serious view of the chief object of their 

 existence. Now, perhaps, it may be said that a photographic 

 society is the one that should undertake a photographic survey of 

 the county ; but, unfortunately, all photographers are not 

 antiquarians, or geologists, or scientific in the way that members of 

 an Antiquarian and Natural History Field Club are. Many turn 



