27 
SOME SUGGESTIONS ON PICTORIAL 
PHOTOGRAPHY. 
(Illustrated by the Lantern). 
By Mr. A. A. BELLINGHAM. February 1 1th, 1908. 
Mr. Bellingham (who took the place of the Rev. T. T. 
Norgate, who was to have lectured on “ San Marino — the 
Pigmy Republic”), gave an entertaining lecture of which 
the following is a synopsis : — 
Photographic work may roughly be divided into two 
classes — pictorial and topographical or reminiscent. A 
photograph, to be pictorial, should have some personal element 
in it ; it should arouse in the photographer some of the feelings 
and sentiments that caused him to take the photograph. 
Topographical work is an excellent antidote when one has 
had an overdose of the pictorial. The essential features 
of pictorial photography are selection of subject, point of 
view, simplicity (generally pictures are far too crowded), 
and concentration. The various lines must lead up to some 
concentrated point of interest. There should be no un- 
certainty as to where the eye is led. The points of interest 
too must take their proper position in the picture, for in 
every picture there are weak places and strong places where 
points of interest might be put. We must know where 
these weak places are and avoid putting the principal objects 
there. The centre is one of the weak places in a picture 
for a point of interest. So also are the parts of the picture 
near the sides, or near the top or the bottom. Strong points 
areMound by dividing the picture into thirds. 
The combining together of the different parts of a picture 
so as to form a pleasing whole gives us the composition of 
the picture. Thus the various lines of a picture may combine 
so as to give us a diagonal composition, or a triangular, pyra- 
midal, or perpendicular, style of composition. It is very 
essential that all minor parts should lead the eye to the main 
or chief part of the picture not only in line, but in the scheme 
of lighting also. We must rigorously avoid distracting 
lights at the edges bf the picture, and strong lines leading 
