AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHY. 



SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENT. 



Before photography was thought of, certain 

 wise men found out that light had a decided 

 effect on bromide of silver (ag. br.) but whether 

 a chemical or physical change takes place when 

 light strikes the ag. br. they have never been 

 able to ascertain. They soon utilized the fact by 

 applying it to art in the form of silhouettes or 

 shadows, which all prints really are, of leaves, 

 laces, etc. 



Step by step the art progressed till now we 

 have our perfect films or plates covered with a 

 solution containing this wonderful silver bromide. 



Many are those who love to withdraw — Druid- 

 like — to the mysterious dark-room to develop a 

 plate. The gallery-man does not enjoy it any- 

 thing like so much as the amateur, who, as he 

 knows not what capers his plate is about to cut up, 

 must arm himself for an intelligent operation, ju«;t 

 as the surgeon does. If he is posted on what 

 remedies to use he can be confident of success. 

 So by understanding the chemistry of develop- 

 ment, the amateur will know what each transition 

 demands. One good negative is a thing of 

 beauty and a joy forever and* worth a barrel of 

 poor ones. First of all don't get excited; take 

 your time — for slow development with weak 

 solutions generally gives the best negatives. 

 Like the Dutchman who told of his success in 

 the milk business, I would say to you " I use 

 plenty vater." Dilute your development at the 

 start. The first thing to learn is what chemicals 

 are absolutely necessary in the development of a 

 plate. The answer is, two — that is — the oxi- 

 dizer or blackner (such aspyro., amidol, etc.), 

 and the accelerator, as sal soda, ammonia to push 

 along and hurry up the pyro. , which, being 

 clumsy in its work, often gets in its own way and 

 acts as a hindrance to development instead of a 

 help. 



Let us take a seed plate for example, which 

 calls for this formula ; sul. soda, 4 oz. sal 

 soda, 4 oz. — pyro., 1 oz. (the sal soda is put in 

 to preserve the pyro. if used in the stock sol. 

 form.) The pyro. when exposed to the air in 

 the solution form absorbs oxygen (for which it 

 has a ravenous appetite or affinity), and turns 

 black. To overcome this "spoiling" of pyro. 

 solution, I myself keep the pyro. in the dry form 

 not in the solution and use it as I develop, thus : 

 From my single stock solution of sal soda, 1 oz. 

 — sulphite, 1 oz. — water, 8 oz., I take 1 oz. and 

 add to this a mustard spoonful of dry pyro. and 4 

 oz. of water. This will develop several 4x5 

 plates. It is best to begin with little or no sal. 

 soda; that is, just pyro. and water, and if the 

 plate does not flash up and turn dark at once, we 

 know it is not overtimed and can add the accel- 

 erator as needed. 



Like many amateurs I used to think an under 

 exposed negative called for more pyro. while 

 from the above we must form exactly the oppo- 

 site conclusion. Remember that pyro. gives 

 contrasts in the under exposed plate, while in an 

 over exposed plate a strong developer gives flat- 

 ness or monotone. Remember the pyro. does 

 not intensify till the sal. soda is added. 



For the above facts I can claim no orginality, 

 but do heartily endorse the sentiment, " Mix 

 brains with your developer." 



Paul A. Ulrtch. 



Haines Falls, N. Y. 

 Editor Recreation. 



It looks as if the problem of producing photo- 

 graphs in natural colors has been, or is about to 

 be solved. The inventor this time is Mr. Jas. W. 

 McDonough. The process seems to be based on 

 the "resistance to light" principle A multi- 

 colored ruled screen is used in front of the plate 

 in making the negative, from which a positive is 

 made on glass or other medium, and a screen 

 corresponding to the one used in making the 

 negative is placed before it in perfect register, 

 when the photograph is seen in natural colors. 



It would seem almost impossible to compute 

 the capabilities and utility of this process, when 

 perfected and brought into universal use. It is 

 said that Mr. McDonough patented his process 

 in 1892. I hope ere long to give a more ex- 

 tended account of this discovery. 



Jno. W. Rusk. 



Lowell, Mass., April, 1895. 

 Editor Recreation. 



I should like to ask your experienced amateur 

 photographers through the columns of your valua- 

 ble magazine, what they consider the best size and 

 style of camera for a hunter to take to the Maine 

 woods to get a few pictures of the scenery, etc. 

 I should like the opinion of experienced parties. 

 It seems compactness would take precedence 

 over every thing else. At least this has been my 

 experience in carrying camp outfits of all kinds. 

 Yours respectfully, 



Chas. H. Worcester. 



In using a hand camera always place it on a 

 box, stump, log, rock, fence or other stationary rest 

 and hold it down firmly with one hand while you 

 press the button with the other. It is almost 

 impossible to simply hold one of these cameras 

 in the hand, make an exposure and prevent the 

 box from moving at the same time ; and a move- 

 ment of 1-100 of an inch is sufficient to blur a 

 picture. Always have a solid basis to work on 

 before you release your shutter. 



Redfield, S. D. 

 Editor Recreation. 



Will "Brains," who wrote the article in April 

 Recreation on " How to Develop," kindly tell 

 us in what proportions to combine metol, eikono- 

 gen, pyro-glycin and hydrochinoid. What for- 

 mula does he consider best for films ? 



I find the suggestions in this department of 

 great help to me. J. H. J. 



Don't forget that you can confer a lasting 

 favor on your friend by making him a present of 

 a year's subscription to Recreation, and that it 

 costs you only $1. 



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