232 



Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 



from a very cruel, intensely realistic common standpoint, but 

 always with either the figure of Christ, the Holy family, the 

 Apostles, the high priests, or the set forms of worship, etc. 

 It was reserved for Millet, in October, 1859, leaving all tradi- 

 tion behind, to be the first to convey this theme through the 

 humble, the poor, the untutored of to-day. ^ How simple, how 

 sincere, how profound is the faith here expressed. This con- 

 densed review tells us plainly that the "possibilities of pho- 

 tography in the art-field " are quite limited when compared 

 with those of " painting." Before religious or historical sub- 

 jects, the camera is powerless. 



The greatest weakness in photography as an art, lies in the 

 fact that all impressions obtained through lenses are too 

 graphically correct , they give use too much the cold, precise 

 realism of the surface of things ; too much infinitesimal, and 

 often meaningless or uninteresting, details. There is a great 

 want of depth, of breadth, of mystery, of the invisible. The 

 inventor who will produce a lens that will reflect upon the 

 sensitized plate, the forms, the lights and shadows of objects 

 placed before it, in broad masses, free from the present minute 

 and often painful definition, will much enlarge the present 

 possibilities of the camera. In genre work there are great 

 opportunities for the amateur. The humorous, the senti- 

 mental, the varied phases of daily life, are subjects which, 

 with some knowledge of composition, some familiarity with 

 the significance of forms, lines and angles, you can well illus- 

 trate. To begin, limit your efforts in this branch to the single 

 figure, or groups of two to four — a greater number will much 

 increase the difficulties of your task, and demands the knowl- 

 edge of the master to make success possible. To obtain 

 artistic results in landscape photograph} 7 is quite difficult. It 

 is seldom that we find in nature complete and well-balanced 

 pictures. The very high standard of composition, expression, 

 etc., we have has been taught us by the w T orks of illustrious 

 painters. Yet there are great and varied opportunities in out- 

 door photography. Bryant has well said: 



To him who. in the love of Nature, holds 

 Communion with her visible forms, she speaks 

 A various language. 



