For the Sportsman-Photographer and the Photographer-Sportsman. 



THE COMPETITION. 



We would again call attention to our Bi- 

 monthly Competitions. The full list of con- 

 ditions and prizes offered were given in our 

 April issue. The first competition closes 

 June first. Anything received after that 

 date will be entered in the next competition. 

 We particularly want live pictures. Be care- 

 ful to read the conditions, as they must be 



HOW TO BUY. 

 The purchase of a camera is probably the 

 most important detail in the whole experience 

 of a photographer. Too many go at it in a 

 haphazard fashion, paying altogether too 

 little attention to the purpose for which the 

 camera is needed. After having helped many 

 friends and strangers in the choice of a 

 camera, I have come to the conclusion that it 

 does not pay to buy an instrument except 

 from a dealer. There are hundreds, nay, 

 thousands, of second-hand boxes to be 

 bought for a mere song, and that is what 

 they are usually worth. A good instru- 

 ment costs money and a good lens costs 

 more, and unless you are a photographer or 

 well acquainted with the various makes of 

 cameras on the market you are very apt in 

 buying a second-hand machine to purchase 

 some old style for which you will find it 

 very difficult to get supplies. For instance, 

 there used to be a camera made that took a 

 5x8 picture, and you will often come across a 

 second-hand camera of that make now. But 

 do not be tempted into buying one, for you 

 will hardly ever be able to buy plates or 

 paper cut to that size. Many of the box 

 cameras that were so much in vogue three 

 or four years back called for special sizes, 

 4x4, and so on. Leave them severely alone, 

 and when you buy, go to a dealer with a repu- 

 tation and take his advice. 



OVERWORKED SOLUTIONS. 



Most photographers make a mistake in 



attempting to overwork their solutions. A 



plate costs money, so does printing paper, 



either of them considerably more than the 



cost of the solutions used to develop or fix 

 them, but somehow the amateur thinks it 

 more economical to use the developer and 

 hypo bath over and over again, even at the 

 risk of spoiling a good negative, rather than 

 use a fresh developer with each plate. Hypo 

 is about the cheapest chemical used by the 

 photographer. The average bath will not 

 cost more than a cent, therefore, make it a 

 rule to discard the fixing bath at the end of 

 each day's work, and do not use the same 

 bath for fixing plates and paper. With de- 

 velopers use only a little quantity at a time, 

 sufficient to fully cover the plate in the tray. 

 If you are using pyro use a fresh lot for each 

 plate. If metol or similar developers two or 

 three plates can be developed with the same 

 lot, but never more. 



VELOX PRINTER. 

 In printing velox, bromide or similar rapid 

 papers, it is a great convenience to have some 

 kind of printing-box, to contain the light and 

 so protect it that we can work in the dark- 

 room without fear or inconvenience. Such a 

 box in a simple form is depicted herewith. I 

 have not given any dimensions, but would 



VELOX PRINTER. 



say that roughly it can be about two feet 

 long and about fifteen inches square at the 

 ends. It can be made of millboard or light 

 lumber. Inside it is divided into two parts 

 by a screen of ground-glass or a framework 

 of two or three sheets of tissue paper. 

 Of the source of light. D is an electric 



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