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352 THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS. [July 25, 1862 instances * Continued from p. 342. prompt action, and choice of position and light, it is surprising in how many both seem all that could be desired, the practised eye of the artist having, almost intuitively, at once selected the position which would yield a picture. Our space precludes the possibility of entering into detailed criticism or description of the pictures, otherwise, operators are here ; and subjects before done are here pre sented from new aspects. Notwithstanding the necessity of d the lack of time for carefully studied more pictures, the cost of the entire series being forty-three guineas. They will also be divided into sections, consisting severally of the Holy Land and Syria, of Egypt, and of Constantinople and the Mediterranean. The occupation of a gallery, and formation of a complete exhibition with the works of one photographer, is a novel thing in this country, but we have rarely been more de lighted by a visit to any exhibition than we were on Tues day, and we left, after a few hours of close examination of these pictures, feeling very proud of photography ; proud of its capabilities, of its progress, and of the recognition it was beginning to receive. If it had been necessary to offer any plea in mitigation of judgment, Mr. Bedford would have been furnished with the most cogent. A hasty summons, with little time for preparation; vicissitudes and transitions of climate the most unfavourable to photographic operations, rapid travel permitting no opportunity for the examination and selection of localities, points of view, or conditions of light. Mr. Bedford informs us that he never had a single opportunity of going twice to the same view, such selection as he could make at once, under such conditions of light as might then exist, was alone possible. Of the trials of climate, &c., some idea may be formed when it is stated that it was not unusual for swarms of small flies to fill the camera during exposure, and sometimes cover the plate! With all the drawbacks which existed, however, we have never seen a more magnificent collection of photographs, even of scenes and subjects affording the best facilities for successful operation. Apart from all other associations which give value and interest the photography is, in the majority of instances, perfect. Unlike so may eastern pictures, these are entirely free from hardness, and that spotty, cut-out effect and entire absence of atmosphere, which many have regarded us the inevitable characteristic of photographs taken under the glare of an eastern sun: these are full of gradation of tone, delicate, yet vigorous, and full of relief. There is no white-paper sky in the whole series, everywhere a satisfactory atmospheric tint is present, and in many instances exquisitely-managed clouds are intro duced by skilful “ dodging.” We know this will be con demned by some photographic purists as not legitimate. We have ever held that success is the touchstone of legiti macy. These are so successful, in many instances, as to deceive even a technical eye into the conviction of their genuineness. The method employed is, we believe, simply painting on the back of the negative, in which the sky is in all cases sufficiently thin to print through ; the old- fashioned sky, “ as black as your hat,” once regarded as such an excellence in a negative, has no existence here. Only the skilled artist could, however, produce such results by painting on the negative, as these; and this success will be no justification to the bungler who shall attempt a similar process. Mr. Bedford’s object has been to make his photographs pictures, and he has succeeded to admiration. This is, unquestionably, out of all proportion the finest series of eastern photographers which has ever been pro duced. Many new pictures not brought home by former ' much of the architecture of modern days seems child’s paF These were ruins even before the dawn of history, and 1 monuments of the state of the arts at a period we ane 11 the habit of regarding as the night of time! Here, too. A" the scenes so sacred to the student of Biblical history, Bethlehem, Bethany, and Jerusalem; here is the Mount“ , Olives, and the Garden of Gethsamene; and here the LaW ; Gennesareth, whose face seems to wear an eternal calm, memory of the feet which once trod it. But the Sn8 abounds with associations of every kind which are full 0 interest, to which we have not space even to refer. We merely call the attention of our readers to the Photi graphic interest of the series, and earnestly recommend “ who can to visit the German Gallery where they are 1oT exhibited. To photographers they are full of value in 11 educational point of view, as illustrating the result of exo lent judgment, fine taste, and unsurpassed photograp!. skill when working under difficulties. Notwithstancin: the picturesque nature of the subjects and the associate" by which they are surrounded, we have seen many views 0 eastern scenes, which from their hard, dry, spotty chars* 1 ' even these associations have failed to make interestink These photographs are, however, valuable as pictures: Son few are a trifle under-exposed, one or two may not be " lighted, and in one or two more the architecture may 0 a trifle distorted, but, as a whole, they are perfectly harn nious, with a singular uniformity of excellence, well worthy of study and imitation. . As we have before stated, those pictures were prod® 1 *" by the wet collodion process, the operator working in a tena In the majority a bromo-iodized collodion and pyrogallil acid development were used. The lenses were single land scape lenses, about thirty seconds being an average exP0 sure. Development was in all cases stopped before en.n density of the sky was obtained, a circumstance to whicl much of the harmonious and atmospheric character of the pictures is doubtless due. perhaps, no subjects could be more alluring. The scenes here depicted are fraught with associations of the deepest possible interest in relation to sacred or profane history ; here are relics, indeed, of a period, in regard to which the most venerable antiquity of recorded facts are but as yester day. Here, amongst the ruins of Baalbec, are still standing, notwithstanding the ravages of time, and the still more ruthless ravages of man, titanic columns, in regard to which THE INUNDATIONS IN THE FENS FROM A PHOTOGRAPHIC POINT OF VIEW* In a short time we reached the broken sluice, the sad caus of all the dire mishaps which had visited this unfortuna district; and certainly a most melancholy spectacle presentd itself to the eye. Only one arch of this magnificent str ture remained in anything like a state of completeness, bo it had a zigzag fissure descending to the keystone ofV arch. Of the other buttresses all had disappeared but o and it had laid itself over as though resting a mom before taking the final plunge into the eager water. The day was now gloriously fine; compact masses • cumidous clouds were driving rapidly across the sky. Wi eager hands, therefore, we prepared to make our first yentun We had scarcely got our dark box into workable tn* before a native, who had been watching our movements will an astonished expression very visibly apparent on bis fo* and who had hitherto kept at a safe distance, now cautious approached, and after walking all round, ventured to l0oz through the yellow glass. The moment he found he." enabled to see through it, he rushed to a group of companiobs at a distance, and presently I was surrounded. They e™ however, doomed to disappointment, for my black hood Wj* now over all, and nothing was to be seen. The fortunat. beholder, however, tried to lessen their disappointment by ’ vivid description, and certainly his inventive faculties "® 1 of no mean order, for in a few minutes he had complete! crammed them with an account very considerably removt from the truth. Lots of wonderful moving figures.wreds be seen inside the box, all wonderfully magnified. “ “ dd a more wonderfuller penny rummer than he had ever sec at a fair.” We exposed two plates, and both were tolerably success^