HERTFORDSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
XXY11 
anything of which he wished to have a memento, whereas the 
professional’s time would only allow him to take set pieces. 
In choosing apparatus the amateur should eschew all cheap sets 
(for their purchase would only bring disappointment), and furnish 
himself with a good apparatus, his wants, of course, being regulated 
by the length of his purse. For a ten-pound note, or thereabouts, 
he could obtain a camera, lens, and stand, which would produce 
for him pictures which he need not he ashamed to show to his 
friends. The size known as half-plate (6^- inches by 4f inches) 
was a suitable one for a beginner, for with larger sizes the whole 
process was more troublesome and expensive. The camera should 
be rigid when set up on the stand, so that it would not vibrate with 
every breeze. In addition to the camera and stand there would be 
required a focussing-cloth, lens, stops or diaphragms, and cap. 
The plates having been placed in the double-back, in the dark 
.room, the camera was ready for action, and must be placed before 
the object, care being taken to get at the distance which would give 
the best effect. After the view had been focussed upon the ground 
glass screen, and a suitable stop inserted in order to modify the 
light and sharpen the details, the cap should be put on the lens, 
the ground glass thrown back, and the frame containing the plates 
placed in the groove provided for it, the focussing-cloth being 
used to protect it from the light. After drawing the shutter of 
the frame, the gelatine plate would be ready for exposure, and 
by removing the cap from the lens the light would act upon it. 
After the exposure, the cap should be replaced and the shutter 
closed. The double-back had then to be removed, wrapped in 
the focussing-cloth, and placed in some secure place until the 
plates could be developed. 
Correct exposure he considered to be the most important part of 
the process of photography, and it was a thing which could only 
be learned by constant practice and attention to details. It was 
quite impossible to fix definitely the length of time during which 
the cap should be removed from the lens, as so much depended on 
the intensity of the light, the nature of the object, the aspect, 
plates, lens, and diaphragm. The old adage, JExperientia docet , 
could not be more aptly quoted than in connection with this ques¬ 
tion of exposure. 
With regard to the lens, he would recommend the rectilinear, 
which gives lines free from distortion, and which would do for 
portraiture, landscape, architecture, copying, and enlarging. He 
preferred the “Ilford Rapid ” plate, but he would advise the 
members to find out which class or make they preferred, and to 
keep to it, because changing about often brought one to grief. 
For developing the exposed plate a dark room was required; it 
should only be lighted by red light and not a ray of white light 
should be allowed to enter. The next thing was the choice of a 
developer, of which there were several kinds. He used a solution 
called Edward’s Pyro Developer. The plate should be rinsed in 
water, the solution poured quickly over it, and the tray containing 
