Volltext Seite (XML)
the back of the examiner; and the embarassed boy is equally deaf to the friendly tip that is being whispered to him by one of his comrades seated behind him. This I photographed with collo dion, and also with a dry plate ; the former had thirty minutes’ exposure, the latter ninety seconds ; they give, I believe, respec tively, the best results that can be obtained. You will notice how muchof the definition in shadow is invisible in the collodion nega tive, whilst very well rendered in the gelatine one. I have pro vided a few prints from each negative, those from the collodion negative being marked C, the others D P. Observe in C that the black board on the right of the picture has come out lighter than the schoolmaster’s coat, which is a dark green ; you find that in those marked D P the proper relations are observed. Note that in D P the articles of crockery to the right of the window, near the ceiling, are brought out, the rafters are shown, the clock is quite distinct, all these points being lost or nearly invisible in the proofs marked C. There is also much more gradation and softness in the half-tones in the D P proofs, and the quality altogether seems to indicate that the gelatine bromide plate is the most efficient means of photographing paintings known at the present moment. In conclusion, I may say that the making of the various experiments necessary to enable me to read my paper before you this evening has interested me very much. I hope to be able to satisfy myself still further upon sundry matters upon which I am in doubt; and I feel sure that, from the large practical experience, and the scientific knowledge possessed by many of my audience, a discussion upon photo graphy in relation to colours will bring out many valuable suggestions, throw light upon many moot points, and be a valu able contribution to the proceedings of this Society. Correspondence. THE POSTAL PHOTO. SOCIETY. Sir, Some misapprehension seems to have been caused by the wording of the report of the committee meeting of this Society as sent to you and published last week in reference to platinotype printing. There is no disposition on the part of this Society to putthose printing in platino- type at any disadvantage ; but in this particular instance the member who offered a prize for a portrait of a member “ taken by himself,” made it a condition that it was to be printed in some other way, and the committee did not think that on this ground so generous an offer should be refused. As a matter of fact, many members print in platinotype, while others use carbon and silver.—Yours obediently,' H. H. Cunningham, Hon. Sec. Zroceebings at Sucieties. London and Provincial PHOTOGRAPHIC Association. A meeting Of this Society was held on May 24th, Mr. A. L. Haddon in the chair. The minutes of previous meeting were read, but not confirmed. In a discussion arising out of the minutes, Mr. W. Coles asked if Mr. A. Cowan had not found that plates developed without restrainer showed a little more detail than when bromide was used with the ammonia, as in that case that mode of develop ment would be useful where sufficient exposure could not be given, as sometimes happened when sitters came in late in the day. Mr. Cowan thought there was a slight gain in detail when no restrainer was used. The Chairman said that when no bromide was employed, green fog did not make its appearance on a plate which would show it when bromide was present. Mr. A. J. Brown said that was so, but it was on account of the shorter development, because the colour only came on during the latter part of the time the plate was in the developer when trying to bring up detail. The Chairman read a question : “ Has anyone present succeeded in getting rid. of the yellow colour negatives assume when developed with soda instead of ammonia ? ” In his experi ence, when acid had been used after washing to remove the acid, the yellow colour made its appearance again. Mr. A. L. Henderson said that plates seemed to go more yellow with prolonged washing, and he had noticed sometimes that negatives which, on development, seemed scarcely dense enough, appeared long after washing to have gained in density, owing to the yellow colour which they assumed being more non-actinic. He attributed it to the lime in the water. Mr. — Harrison showed an arrangement which he had em ployed eight years ago for taking small photographs similar to those called Midget or Mignons, introduced as a novelty. In the centre of the back of a small camera was an opening not quite one-fourth the size of a -plate ; the plate-holder was made to slide horizontally and vertically over the flat surface, so as to give four exposures on one plate, and was kept close to the back of camera by a very simple contrivance, a flat box being pivoted at the top of the camera back ; this was drawn across the slide, and secured at bottom. Mr. W. E. Debenham said that a similar size of print was in use before the introduction of the carte-de-visite, many years ago. A Member thought the introduction of these small sizes a retrograde movement, as we had just succeeded in educating the public up to the appreciation of large portraits. Mr. J. Wellington brought some photographs taken with the shutter shown by him and Mr. E. J. Golding at a previous meeting. Mr. Cobb showed a large print of the grand stand and occu pants, from negatives taken at the Derby on Wednesday. The following rules as to the competition with dry plates were agreed to:— That the competition shall be for speed and quality in gelatin e emulsion plates, and shall be open to all. Each competitor is to supply six plates of his own manufacture, of the size 6} by 4 J. Every plate is to be marked with the competitor's private mark, and enclosed in an envelope bearing the same mark, so legibly inscribed as to be readily visible in the dark-room. The plates are to be delivered to the curator accompanied by an additional envelope bearing the same private mark, and containing the competitor's name and address, together with a statement of the general principles—such as boiling, use of ammonia, or precipita tion—upon which the emulsion has been made. Formul may be given or not at the competitor’s option. The curator shall retain one plate of each make, and shall deliver the remaining five to a member of the Association, to be chosen for the purpose of exposure. Each plate is to be exposed in four divisions. The exposures to be in the ratio of one, two, four, and eight. One plate of each make so exposed shall be developed by the member making the exposure, one of each by the curator, and the re maining three shall be returned to the competitor to be deve loped by himself. The plates developed by the member exposing and by the curator shall be delivered—together with those deve loped by the competitors, and any prints therefrom, which prints must be made from the plates direct without any touching upon or masking of the negatives—to the three judges who shall be appointed at a future meeting. The envelope marked with the private mark corresponding with that upon the plate considered to excel the others shall be given to the chairman of the meeting, who shall read out the name of the successful competitor. The other envelopes containing names shall be destroyed by the curator. The private mark to be used shall consist of four Itoman letters, not in alphabetic sequence, direct or inverted and not forming any word. 1 —o Ualk in the Studis. Photographic Society of Great Britain.—At the next meeting a paper will be read, “ On a New Unit of Light in Con nection with Sensitometry,’’ by Mr. J. B. Spurge. South London PHOrOGRAPMIC Society.—At the next meet ing, to be held at the House of the Society of Arts, on Thurs day, June 7th, at eight o’clock, the following, from the question box (postponed from last meeting), will be discussed : “ When large pictures are required, is it better to take them direct, or to take small negatives, and enlarge them ? ” Messrs. E. W. Fox lee, G. Smith, W. Brooks, and several other gentlemen, have promised to take part in the discussion. The late Thomas J. PEARSALI, F.R.S.E., F.C.S., &c—We regret to announce the death of Mr. Pearsall. He expired on Friday morning, the 25th iust., and was buried at Finchley Cemetery on Wednesday last. At the time of his death, Mr. Pearsall was librarian to the Photographic Club, the welfare of