2 HANDBOOK OF PHOTOGRAPHY 



the effectiveness of pictures is so great that a large portion of newspaper readers, 

 at least in the large metropolitan areas, form their opinions and biases through pic- 

 tures rather than through the written word, and there is some doubt as to whether, 

 the users of such printed matter can truly be called "readers." 



The universal appeal of pictorial representations, the wide applicabilitj'- of photog- 

 raphy to practically any and every activity directly or as an important adjunct, and 

 the high quality and reliability of photographic equipment, together with its relative 

 " foolproof ness," have enabled even the youngest tyro to obtain recognizable pictures. 

 Yet, in its more advanced forms, photography presents a challenge to the best artist, 

 or scientific worker, or serious amateur. Because there is no field in which photog- 

 raphy may not be used, it has an appeal which is perhaps more universal than any 

 other hobby, so far as the amateur is concerned. The applications of modern photog- 

 raphy are without number. 



The most common field of photography is probably the motion-picture field. Each 

 week millions of persons in the United States obtain entertainment, education, and 

 emotion from motion pictures. The motion-picture industry is one of the largest in 

 this country, and it affects the lives of all of us to such an extent that little further 

 comment need be made on this subject. 



Press photography is perhaps the next most important field affecting the greatest 

 number of persons. Not only is it possible for the press photographer to supply his 

 local paper with pictures of neighboring events but, because of the assistance which 

 electrical science has rendered press photography, it is also possible to transmit 

 photographs over a telephone circuit to any two points between which telephone com- 

 munication exists. The publication of pictures of football games while the game is 

 still in progress, even in cities far removed from that in which the game is played, 

 has become so commonplace within the past several years as to occasion no particular 

 comment. Indeed, one now looks for pictures of important events very shortly after 

 they have transpired, and the large paper which does not supply this service is likely 

 to be regarded as not being "up on its toes." 



Although still employing other methods of pictorial presentation, modern adver- 

 tising is using photography in increasing doses. Many examples of this type of com- 

 mercial photography have high artistic merit and show much originality. 



In other ways photography is used in science, engineering, medicine, law, education, 

 and other professions and trades for establishing recorded data, for making obser\ra- 

 tions and securing more or less quantitative data than would be possible through 

 the use of the human eye only. X-ray photographs, for example, are of inestimable 

 importance, not only in the medical sciences where they had their first appearance, 

 but also in industrial analysis for the detection of flaws and other defects in metals. 

 Infrared plates have permitted taking photographs of objects invisible to the human 

 eye. High-speed photographs have apparently slowed down motion to enable studies 

 to be made of fast-moving objects. In astronomy practically all present-day work is 

 accomplished through the aid of photography, the astronomer seldom looking through 

 the telescope for purposes of observation. Photographs taken in the stratosphere, 

 with the aid of infrared plates, have shown the curvature of the earth. Through the 

 aid of aerial mapping, photography is used to survey, quickly and accurately, large 

 areas which might otherwise not be surveyed because of cost and inaccessibility. 

 Photomicrography is important to the research worker in recording the microscopic, 

 whether his field be foods, textiles, metallurgy, medicine, biology, chemistry, or 

 what not. 



Color photography is just beginning to make its appearance in practical form. 

 Although color photography may be said to have had its origin in 1861 with the work 

 of Maxwell, it is only within the past few years that high-quality color motion pictures 



