AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHY. 



77 



AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHY. 



"A Bird on the plate is worth 2 in t lie bag." 

 WAYS OF THE PHOTO SUPPLY DEALER. 



When I caught the "button-pressing" 

 fever I went through all its various stages, 

 but fortunately in the incubational period 

 of the disease I bought the good will of 

 a stranded photographer, and so doing 

 saved myself much time, annoyance and 

 money. 



Among other valuable pointers he told 

 me that all "Stock houses were robbers." 

 At first I thought his judgment must be 

 biased by his chronic impecuuiosity, but 

 later I found he was not far wrong. 



After a month's study of hypo, pyro and 

 all the rest, I sallied forth to buy a new 

 lot of material. My list included nearly 

 everything used in a studio, and I expected 

 to get my goods for cash at the lowest 

 market prices. 



Mr. Dealer named a net price on the lot 

 which astonished me. I protested that my 

 instructor told me I would get 25 per cent, 

 discount on this, 10 on that, etc. 



Mr. Dealer replied: "We do not give 

 any discount. Photo goods are sold on a 

 close margin." 



He also strongly advised me to use hypo 

 at 35 cents a pound, as the common kind 

 was almost useless. Finding it was impos- 

 sible to do business with him I went to a 

 photographer whom I knew and asked him 

 to send to Mr. Dealer for the goods. M.y 

 friend did so, giving me the benefit of his 

 25 per cent, trade discount. Beside that he 

 sold me hypo at 2 x / 2 cents a pound, and in 

 that and other ways effected a saving for 

 me of just 100 per cent, on the dealer's 

 price. As this was my first experience it 

 made a vivid impression on my mind, and 

 I vowed that when I "settled down" I 

 would go into the photo supply business 

 and grow rich. 



One noticeable feature of the business is. 

 that there is seldom more than one house 

 in any of the smaller cities. Should there 

 be a rival house there is no competition; 

 both combine to boost prices. 



In a Western city I ran out of material, 

 and on inquiring found there was but one 

 dealer, as usual. On one article which I 

 needed I had been in the habit of getting 

 40 per cent, discount, and I asked the 

 dealer if he would give the same. 



The look of surprise which that man's 

 face assumed would make a fortune for 

 any actor. When he recovered his breath 

 he assured me on his "honor" that I was 

 mistaken, and that he only got 10 per cent, 

 himself, which was more than eaten up by 

 freight, breakage, etc. I told him he did 

 not know how to buy goods and gave him 

 an address where he could get them at 40, 

 20, 10 and 5 per cent, discount. Then he 

 awakened and gave me 25 per cent. off. 



During 10 years of almost constant travel 

 I have yet to find any line of business con- 

 ducted with as little regard to pleasing the. 

 public as in the average photo-supply 

 house. It is not as safe to take the advice 

 or judgment of the clerk in charge as it is. 

 to trust the fit of a coat to the "Sheeny" 

 misfit tailor. 



A boy friend went to one of the best 

 houses in his State to buy an outfit. They 

 sold him a 5x8 basswood box, with cheap 

 lens, chemicals, trays and frames, and 

 some 8x10 plates which were made in 

 1887! Finding the boy had some money 

 left the clerk sold the poor innocent an old 

 single 11x14 view lens, with 16-inch focus, 

 to use on his 5x8 box, which only had a 

 14-inch draw. Instead of selling him a 

 modern outfit, which would have made 

 him a permanent customer, they shoved 

 a lot of old junk on him, with the result 

 that he soon became disgusted with the 

 whole outfit and gave it away. 



I do not suppose this little kick will 

 revolutionize the photograph supply busi- 

 ness, but it may induce some novices in 

 our art to learn, before they buy goods, 

 just what they want and what they should 

 pay for it. C. A. D., Fenton, Mich. 



HOW TO BEGIN. 



As I have gone through the photo- 

 graphic mill and, I hope, picked up a little 

 knowledge, my advice may be of use to 

 those about to enter the hopper. First of 

 all, get an outfit suitable for making time 

 exposures, and determine not to take one 

 snapshot until you can do decent work. To 

 be a successful snap shooter you require 

 the same qualifications as for quick wing 

 shooting. The eye and the trigger must 

 act in unison, else the bird — or the picture 

 — will be missed. One cannot learn in a 

 day to cut down birds passing at high 

 speed and at all kinds of angles; yet a 

 novice will go shooting with a camera 

 and wonder why there is nothing on the 

 plate. Centering an- object on the plate is 

 exactly the same process as centering your 

 load on the flying bird, and to my mind 

 just as difficult. 



Buy your outfit now and practice with 

 it through the winter and spring. Then 

 when holiday time comes around once 

 more you will feel confidence in your 

 ability to bring home good pictures. 



I do not name any make of camera; 

 there are many good ones on the market. 

 I would advise a 4x5 of 15-inch focus. 

 If the camera is a rigid one — and don't 

 take anything else — it will cost a fair price. 

 If you don't wish to spend so much, get 

 one of 8 or 10-inch focus. Have at lea^t 

 3 double holders, so you can carry 6 plates. 

 Don't touch films until you can use glass. 



The lens should be single, and of about 



