SCIENCE- G OSSIP. 



2 s: 



PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BEGINNERS. 



By. B. Foulkes- Winks, M.R.PS. 



Section I. Cameeas. 



THE student commencing to practise photo- 

 graphy is always much in doubt what kind of 

 camera he should buy, and for his guidance we 

 propose to treat this section rather fully, as 

 such a variety of cameras are produced. All the 

 types have some distinct advantage, each being 

 suited for a particular line of operation. There 

 arc two definite types of cameras, stand cameras 

 and hand cameras, and these are used for classes 

 of work so widely different that the beginner should 

 decide which he intends adopting before purchasing 

 his instrument. 



Stand Cameras. 



Stand cameras are used more especially for 

 architectural studies, portraits, groups, landscape, 

 and still life, and for all these subjects are by far 



camera, such as the foreground and distance. To 

 achieve this, the student will find it necessary to 

 bring the lower part of the focussing screen a little 

 nearer to the lens than the top part, and, after mak- 

 ing this alteration on the focussing serpen, it is 

 advisable to re-focus for the centre of the plate. 

 The swing-back is also most essential in archi- 

 tectural subjects, as it enables the photographer to 

 get the upright lines perfectly parallel. Many 

 cameras are made with the horizontal swing onlj . 

 but we strongly recommend one with both hori- 

 zontal and vertical swing. The vertical swing 

 is used in views and buildings in which one side of 

 the picture is nearer to the camera than the other. 

 In photographing buildings, the swing-back is not 

 used for the purpose of getting all portions into 

 sharp focus, but rather for bringing all vertical 

 lines parallel. The degree of sharpness or defini- 

 tion required is obtained by using a small stop or 

 diaphragm in the lens. It maybe stated as a fixed 

 rule in architectural photography that, no matter 

 what the position of the camera may be, the swing- 

 back must be absolutely perpendicular. We there- 

 fore recommend that a plumb level should be at- 

 tached to the swing-back. 



III. Rising Front. — This is of great importance, 

 and should be in constant use. With it the photo- 

 grapher is able to cut off much of the foreground 



Fig. 1. Camera with Coxio Bellows, closed and opex. 



the most useful. The various stand cameras may 

 be again subdivided into several classes, according 

 to the uses for which they may be required. All, 

 however, should have the following movements : — 



I. Long and Short Extension. — This should be 

 adjusted by means of a rackwork and pinion. This 

 is necessary, as it gives the operator power of using 

 lenses of varying foci. The camera should rack out 

 to at least double the focal length of the shortest 

 foci lens likely to be used. This will enable the 

 student to reproduce any object the same size, but 

 if the camera will rack out to double the focal 

 length of a mid-angle lens, so much the better. 

 The subject will be treated when considering 

 lenses. The camera should be made so as to allow 

 of the front and back being brought together near 

 enough to enable a short focus lens to be used. 

 As a guide we would suggest that this distance 

 should not be greater than the lesser diameter of 

 the plate ; for instance, if a half-plate (l>£ inches x 

 4* inches) camera is to be used, it should be capable 

 of an extension of from 4| inches to 13 inches. 



II. Swing-Back. — No camera should be ac- 

 cepted without this movement, which will enable 

 the operator to bring the several parts of a picture 

 in focus, when at varying distances from the 



of a picture and take in more sky without tilting 

 the camera, which should be avoided under all 

 circumstances. The rising front is also an absolute 

 necessity in photographing houses, churches, public 

 buildings, etc.. In such cases, the front will often 

 require raising to the full extent, and for this 

 reason the beginner will do well to see that the 

 camera he selects has a good rising front, say at 

 least one-third the diameter of the plate. The 

 rising front of a camera should also permit of 

 being lowered beyond the centre of the camera, 

 as there may be occasions when it is desirable to 

 take in more than the normal amount of fore- 

 ground. 



IV. Swixr: Front.— Under certain circum- 

 stances it is useful, but we do not attach much im- 

 portance to this particular movement. 



V. Reversing Back. — This is a very useful 

 movement, and enables the operator to take his 

 picture either horizontally or vertically at will, 

 without having to remove his camera from the 

 tripod, as is the ease in many older forms of instru- 

 ment . 



VI. Removable Front.— It is advisable to 

 always have a camera in which the front panel 

 that carries the len- is removable, as it enables 



