AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHY. 



487 



ommend as a plate camera the Cyclone, 

 manufactured by the Rochester Camera and 

 Supply Company, Rochester, N. Y. This 

 camera is cheap and easy of manipulation, 

 nnd it embodies features which produce sat- 

 isfactory results in the hands of the early 

 amateur. If the inquirer is not already fa- 

 miliar with this camera, I refer him to the 

 catalogue of the Rochester Camera and 

 Supply Company, where a detailed descrip- 

 tion will be found. I have tried the camera 

 under various conditions and find it most 

 satisfactory for both snap shot and time 

 exposures. The lens is arranged with 3 di- 

 aphragms and the shutter speeded to what 

 I estimate 1-30 second, which is rapid 

 enough for ordinary snapshot work. This 

 is one of the always ready kind, admitting 

 of 12 exposures without reloading. 



I would impress on any purchaser, how- 

 ever, the importance of securing the best 

 instrument his means will allow. If he 

 can, even at a sacrifice along other lines, 

 possess one of the folding cameras of 

 standard make and modern design, the 

 results, after a little experience, will be 

 most gratifying. A first class lens, convert- 

 ible as a telephoto, used in connection with 

 a box admitting perhaps 15 inches draw, 

 and a reliable shutter allowing an exposure 

 of at least 1-100 or 1-150 part of a second, 

 is all that can be desired in the way of an 

 up-to-date outfit for the amateur. 



I once read of a pupil in whose hands an 

 expensive violin was placed. He entered a 

 class of 8 and at the expiration of a given 

 period was second in the class of his asso- 

 ciates who had equal advantages but poorer 

 instruments. Talent in that case may have 

 played an important part; but I think it 

 demonstrates what "may be attained by the 

 use of first class equipment at the start. 

 The best is none too good, even for a be- 

 ginner. 



Grover G. Hollister, Kingston, Pa. 



PRINTING CLOUDS. 



How are clouds printed in a picture 

 where there is a blank sky? 



Why is it better to do your photograph- 

 ing in the morning. 



Is there any remedy to prevent Monarch 

 Matte from curling up so tight? 



I was told that my negatives were not 

 bright enough. What was meant by that? 



Is there any way to remove green tones? 

 W. N. Lockrow, Schenectady, N. Y. 



ANSWER. 



Clouds are printed into a blank sky by 

 using a second negative taken for the 

 clouds only and ignoring everything else. 

 First print the landscape, masking every- 

 thing above the sky line ; then mask the 



landscape and print in the sky from the 

 cloud negative. 



It all depends on the effect wanted, as to 

 when is the best time of day to take pic- 

 tures. In the morning and evening the 

 light is much softer and gives a better at- 

 mosphere to the photograph. The shadows 

 are more gradual and there are fewer sharp 

 contrasts. During the middle of the day, 

 especially if it is clear, objects will have a 

 harder look, contrasts will be decided and 

 the atmosphere and distance will not be so 

 correct. 



Before toning lay the paper flat on the 

 bottom of a tray, and wet with just enough 

 water to cover the paper. While keeping 

 the paper flat, drain off the water and stand 

 tray on edge 10 or 15 minutes. If this does 

 not stop the curling, put the paper in water 

 20 parts and alcohol 30 parts, for a few 

 minutes. 



The negatives were probably either 

 fogged or over exposed and therefore 

 lacking in contrast ; compare the appearance 

 of negatives made on a bright summer 

 .morning after a shower with those made on 

 a foggy fall morning; that will give some 

 idea of the difference. 



Green tones in P. O. paper are due to too 

 little toning in the gold bath. In gaslight 

 paper too much potassium bromide in the 

 developer will give live green tones. — 

 Editor. - 



CARBON PRINTING. 



Please explain the enclosed paragraph 

 which I cut out of a photographic journal: 



"A carbon print is a paper coated with a 

 gelatine solution containing a pigment of 

 the desired color, which, after drying, is 

 sensitized in a bath of bichromate of potas- 

 sium. Carbon printing is one of the easiest 

 processes for producing prints from nega- 

 tives without silver." 



D. G. Terwilliger, Long Branch, N. J. 



ANSWER. 



The carbon process is too long to de- 

 scribe here in detail. A handbook may 

 be had from Anthony & Scovill, 122 Fifth 

 avenue, New York. The paper or tissue 

 is bought in the color desired. It is sen- 

 sitized in a solution of bichromate of pot- 

 ash, usually 5 per cent., for a few minutes 

 and then dried. When dry it is exposed 

 under the negative in the shade. When 

 printed it is placed in cold water and 

 squegeed to a temporary support paper on 

 prepared rubber, etc. Then the tissue and 

 support are placed together in hot water, 

 about no degrees, and the backing of the 

 tissue is stripped off. The image appears 

 from laving and washing the tissue. The 

 action of light on bichromitized gelatine is 

 to harden it and render the parts most acted 

 on more or less insoluble in warm water. 

 When the image is sufficiently clear, the 



