AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHS : ART in PHOTOGRAPHY. 



By the Ret. A. MALAN, M.A. 



Through, the liberality of Mr. Eichard Pearce, of Denver, 

 Colorado, the Institution is fortunate enough to be in possession 

 of sixt}^ mounted photographs of American scenery, in size 21 

 inches by 1 6, which on account of the difficult nature of some of 

 the subjects, and the grandeur of all, form a series of great 

 technical excellence, and also of remarkable interest. 



The object of the donor, in enriching the Institution with 

 this series, was to convey to any Cornishman proposing to 

 emigrate, some idea of the kind of scenery to be met with on 

 the western coast of America ; and for this purpose the 

 photographs will be permanently most valuable. In the 

 following paper, however, it is proposed to make such remarks 

 on jib-otography in general, as suggest themselves from looking 

 over the prints, calculated to point out some of the difficulties 

 connected with the art. 



A large photograph is generally produced as an enlarge- 

 ment from a small negative. The magic-lantern, slide, and 

 sheet give a familiar illustration of the method of working. The 

 source of light being the sky, or a powerful lantern, the negative 

 takes the position of the magic-lantern slide, and a sensitized 

 piece of carbon-tissue, or gelatino-bromide paper (to receive the 

 image as an enlarged positive) that of the sheet. In the present 

 case the photographs are printed direct from large negatives, 

 which of course involves a camera and lens and plates of 

 sufficient size for such pictures. 



It is usually supposed by the iminitiated, that given the 

 necessary outfit, to take a landscape must be a very easy thing ; 

 but those who have practical acquaintance with photography 

 know only too well that this is anything but the case. There 

 are certain difficulties which experience can grapple with; but 

 others again which are not to be entirely overcome even by 

 that universal teacher. 



