AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHY. 



40s 



surface can be wiped off with a tuft of 

 cotton while the negative is wet. 



Mottled appearance of negative is caused 

 by precipitation from the fixing bath con- 

 taining alum, if the solution is old or 

 turbid. 



Crystallization on the negative and 

 fading of image are caused by imperfect 

 elimination of the hypo. 



Peculiar streaks and blotches, in the 

 shape of brush marks, finger marks, 

 and insensitive spots, appearing as though 

 the plate had been scrubbed with a dirty 

 or greasy brush, or improperly cleaned, 

 are caused by the uneven action of the 

 developer. This trouble is more likely 

 to occur if hydrochinone is used in con- 

 nection with eikonogen or metol, when 

 the developer is too old or too much 

 diluted, and can be prevented by a pre- 

 vious soaking of the plate in water, or by a 

 radical change to a different developer. 



If the hydrometer be used, the most 

 convenient way is to make up saturated 

 solutions and to add water to a portion 

 thereof, until the hydrometer indicates 

 the desired degree. It makes no differ- 

 ence if dried sodas are used in place of 

 crystals when the solutions are prepared 

 by hydrometer test; but if they are pre- 

 pared by weights it must be borne in mind 

 that one ounce dried or anhydrous soda 

 is equal to about 2 ounces crystals, 

 owing to the water of crystalization 

 the latter contain. This applies to both 

 the sulphite and the carbonate of sodium. 

 When dissolving dried sulphite or car- 

 bonate of sodium, the water should be 

 vigorously stirred with a glass rod while 

 adding the powdered chemicals, to cause 

 speedy solution and prevent the formation 

 of a solid lump, hard to dissolve. Car- 

 bonate of potassium may be substituted 

 for dried carbonate of soda and is of equal 

 strength. The carbonates of soda or 

 potassium are added to give the develop- 

 ing agent the alkalinity required for 

 action, whereas the sulphite is added to 

 prevent rapid decomposition and discolora- 

 tion. Sulphite of sodium and its solution 

 decompose by contact with air, and there- 

 fore should be kept in well stoppered 

 bottles. The solution should be used 

 while fresh. It is important that pure 

 sulphite and carbonate of soda be em- 

 ployed. — From the International Annual 

 of Anthony's Photographic Bulletin for 

 1902. 



WHY IT WON THIRD PRIZE. 



Savanna, Ills. 

 Editor Recreation : 



I do not criticise you nor Recreation ; 

 neither am I a crank; but I do not think 

 justice was shown me when my woodcock 

 photos were turned down for "Fly Fishing," 

 "A Howling Coyotte," and "Besieged." 



Now, honestly do you not think my "Moth- 

 er Woodcock" is a much rarer subject than 

 the 3 that were placed ahead of mine? 

 When is there a time during our spring, 

 summer, or late fall that such an exposure 

 of a spider can not be made in any garden, 

 or in some secluded spot in our woods ? . Are 

 there such opportunities with mother wood- 

 cock? I supposed preference would be 

 given in your contest to photos of game 

 birds and wild animals in their native 

 haunts. Mother woodcock was at home, 

 just as I found her. If you look close- 

 ly at the photo "Besieged" you can see a 

 rope, or string running from the bank 

 just over the dog on the branch toward 

 Mr. Coon's collar; but as there is not 

 much detail in the water beyond the man, 

 the other end of the boat, that which ap- 

 pears to be the rope or string held by some 

 party on the shore is lost to view. I do 

 not consider that detail is properly shown 

 in water unless the water is made to ap- 

 pear wet. If detail is not one half the 

 making of a good negative, pray what is? 

 If the maker of this negative had selected 

 a day when a gentle breeze cut the surface 

 of the water more plainly, he would have 

 had more detail beyond the man in the 

 boat, and immediately in front of the 

 farther bank. Instead, the water looks 

 chalky and without detail. 



I do not think there is much detail or 

 interest in the photo of the howling coy- 

 ote. I do not care for the prize, but I do 

 for the place. When you print my 

 "Mother Woodcock and Nest," give it jus- 

 tice, and when you reproduce it publish 

 this letter and have the readers of Rec- 

 reation judge for us, the same as they 

 judged for Mr. Balch regarding the beaver 

 photo. I respectfully ask Recreation 

 readers, interested in photography, to ex- 

 amine the 3 photos mentioned and then 

 the mother woodcock photo. If I lose, 

 I shall consider I am no judge of the mak- 

 ing of a rare negative. A great many of 

 my friends as well as others, some readers 

 of Recreation and some not, do not think 

 I have been treated right. In my photo 

 of the nest I threw my focusing cloth over 

 some twigs to shut out the light of the 

 sun from the eggs, in order to prevent 

 halation on the eggs, thereby securing de- 

 tail on eggs. The amateur photographers 

 here think the judges were away off in 

 their decisions. 



Homer G. Gosney. 



I had 3 good men to judge the photos 

 and after careful consideration of all in 

 hand they decided that the fishing scene was 

 best, all things considered. 



There are other elements that must be 

 taken into account in awarding a prize to 



