AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHY. 



HOW TO DEVELOP. 



New York. 

 Editor Recreation : 



A prominent photographer once remarked, 

 when asked what he put into his developer to ob- 

 tain such perfect results. 



1 ' Ten grains of brains to every ounce of 

 solution." Only too many amateurs forget that 

 these ten grains are essential to success ; many 

 do not even know what the solution which they 

 pour over their plates contains, relying on the 

 dealer who puts up this " stuff," and when they 

 make a dismal failure of negatives which have 

 cost them much time and trouble, they take the 

 philosophical excuse offered by the hardware 

 man or sporting goods man who sold them their 

 material. " Plate was under-exposed," "Plate 

 was over-exposed." Did it ever occur to you that 

 "ten grains of brains" would have remedied 

 this defect ? 



The first rule that every amateur should be 

 governed by is to find some dealer who under- 

 stands his business and has a knowledge of pho- 

 tography. That is the man to get your supplies 

 from. Then tell him what you want to do and 

 take his advice. If you find his advice good, 

 stick to him. Never accept a plate or piece of 

 material of any kind because it is cheap. Cheap 

 material and good results never go hand in hand. 

 Never use a solution when not aware of its con- 

 tents. Developing solutions are mostly made up 

 of the following agents, Pyro, Metol, Hauff, 

 Glycin Hauff, Eikonogen Amidol or Hydro 

 Chinon. 



Metol Hauff is very energetic, with little in- 

 clination to fog, and can be recommended for 

 under-exposed plates. It is at present considered 

 the best all-around developer, and as it does not 

 stain, can be recommended for amateur use. 



Glycin Hauff is slow in its action, and gives 

 snappy contrasty pictures, so if some users of 

 Metol find that they do not get density enough, 

 in their results, or like black and white pictures, 

 a solution of equal parts of Metol and Glycin 

 Hauff can be recommended. 



Pyrogallic acid though not very much used by 

 amateurs, is extensively used by prof essional pho- 

 tographers, some of whom even prefer it to 

 Metol; but its unpleasant feature of staining the 

 hands makes it a disagreeable solution to use. 

 With pyro it is necessary to use so much soda to 

 accelerate its action in case of snap shot pictures, 

 that it has a tendency to vail the plate. Eiko- 

 nogen is a rapid developer, and before the advent 

 of Metol was largely in use. It works rapidly 

 and clearly, but does not give much density on 

 account of the bluish color of the deposit. This 

 can be remedied, however, by the addition of 

 Hydro Chinon or Glycin. So now, we stand as 

 follows : Pyro Glycin, Hydrochinon, give den- 

 sity and snap ; Metol and Eikonogen give great 

 detail. If you are careful in the selection of 

 a developer, suitable to the work you are doing, 

 you will find it much easier to succeed. Do not 

 forget that brains may also be used in making 

 exposures. Do not try to make instantaneous 

 pictures in-doors, or late in the day, or in a dark 



street, or in the woods. Do not make broad ex- 

 posures in broad sunlight, and remember, that on 

 the water, where light has free sway it takes only 

 half as long to make an exposure as on land. 



Brains. 



Boise, Idaho. 

 Three of us amateur sportsmen. F. R. Fouch, 

 Dr. O. W. Hall and I, intend to make a trip 

 during the coming season, either into the country 

 surrounding the headwaters of the Boise river, or 

 into the Teton country. The after enjoyment of 

 our several previous expeditions of this kind has 

 been materially lessened by the fact that our 

 neighbors wink significantly when we dilate on 

 the wonderful views we have seen, the great 

 catches of trout we have made, and the gigantic 

 size of every ' ' monarch of the forest " that our 

 unerring rifles have lain low. In fact, it has be- 

 come an absolute necessity that we bring them 

 ocular proof of our prowess, in order to preserve 

 our reputation for the imperial virtue — truth. 

 This being the case we have decided to buy a 

 camera, and we want one which wili make a 

 photograph worthy of being reproduced in 

 Recreation. M. A. Bates. 



Springfield, 111. 



Some of my best photos of groups have been 

 taken under the trees, as late as four o'clock in 

 the afternoon. I always avoid sky or an open 

 lawn for a background, as they give the faces a 

 hazy, blurred look, and as faces need a reflector 

 to strengthen the lights, it is best to get where 

 one can utilize the side of some building as a 

 reflector. Paul A. Ulrich. 



In making photographs in winter it is im- 

 portant to consider the influence of heat and 

 cold. If a film be gradually heated before ex- 

 posure its sensitiveness is increased. If a develop- 

 ing solution be heated the development is more 

 rapid. It should not, however, be allowed to 

 reach a temperature of over 80 degrees Fahr. 



The next exploit to engage the attention of 

 amateurs and experts will be the photographing 

 of a falling drop of water, a prize having been 

 offered by the Revue Suisse, for the best picture. 



Photography has become so important an agent 

 in the detection of crime that every large police 

 bureau has its own photographic department. 



On slightly under exposed plates details can be 

 brought out with a solution of carbonate of soda. 



A new instrument has been invented for 

 surveying by the aid of photography. 



For photographing snow scenes slow, thickly 

 coated plates are best. 



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