PORTRAITS, VIEWS, ETC. 



The following hints, gathered from various sources, will be useful 

 to those who have not seen the operation performed by experienced 

 practitioners : 



PORTRAITS. The sitter should be placed in an easy natural 

 position, in a chair which has a support or rest for the head ; an 

 iron rod, with a ring at the end, affixed to the back of the chair, 

 which can be raised or lowered at pleasure, answers well. Portraits 

 are taken with great rapidity in the open air : from five to twenty 

 seconds being usually sufficient, with a good lens, and a clear sky. 

 The direct rays of the sun must be carefully avoided, and it is often 

 desirable to place the sitter under a kind of canopy, or roof of 

 stuff, or glass, which should be blue, that color intercepting fewer 

 of the chemical rays than any other. One side of the model should 

 be rather more illuminated than the other ; indeed the position, 

 attitude, arrangement of the dress, etc., all require attention, with 

 a view to artistical effect. If the portrait is taken in a room, the 

 sitter should be placed in front of a door or window, through which 

 there is a strong and uninterrupted light ; the time of sitting must 

 of course be extended : a minute to a minute-and-a-half will 

 generally be required. The perfect illumination of the model may 

 be a e sisted by mirrors, or white linen cloths arranged so as to reflect 

 the light when it is most needed. A short focus lens is best for 

 portraits, as it operates more quickly, but care must be taken to 

 keep the whole of that part of the person appearing in the plate 

 as much in the same plane as possible, otherwise any projecting part, 

 as a hand or leg, will be represented greatly out of proportion. The, 

 position of the camera must be determined by circumstances; 

 generally, it should be placed nearly on a level with the face, as the 

 most important point of view. With respect to back grounds, 

 some persons use painted scenes, representing terraces, balconies, 

 gardens, etc. ; but they are seldom so correctly managed as to appear 

 well in focus, and certainly rather take off the attention from the 

 main figure. A back ground of an even colour is preferred by 

 many, and may be dark or light according to taste, and the dress 

 or complexion of the model. In the former case, a drab or slate 

 colour suits well ; in the latter, an old blanket answers better than 

 any thing else. A table with books, vases of flowers, etc. may be 

 arranged by the side of the sitter, if care be taken that they come 



