Volltext Seite (XML)
Ualk iu tin Studio. Singular PHOTOGRAPHIC Accident.—A somewhat curious, and happily uncommon, accident recently occurred to a well known, photographer in Liverpool, and was nearly attended by serious consequences. A stoppered bottle nearly full of crystals of hyposulphite of soda, having stood in a place where it was exposed to a severe frost, the stopper had become consequently somewhat fixed, it was placed near a fire to loosen; after standing a short time, the operator was just grasping it in his hand, when at the first touch it suddenly exploded, the part in his hand inflicting a deep gash across the ball of the thumb. The blood flowed very copiously, and the surgeon on dressing tho wound expressed to the friends of the sufferer his certain conviction that lock-jaw must inevitably result. After re maining three weeks in an extremely critical state, and en during great agony, the patient was declared out of danger, and was happily enabled to resume his duties. American Photography in the International Exhi bition.—The American Journal of Photography says :—The differences between the Commissioners of the London World’s Fair and the photographers appears to have been satisfactorily compromised, and the photographic department of the exhi bition will now be attended to with the good will and support of all concerned. The photography of Continental Europe will no doubt be fully represented, and the photographic exhibition will be extensive and brilliant. But the American department will probably be a vacancy. Congress has just refused to make appropriations for tho encouragement of American exhi bitors, and our photographers are supposed to be too much engrossed with affairs at home to care anything about what is going on in Europe. Let us console ourselves with the fact that in former competitions we have covered ourselves with glory, and with faith that in the future friendly contests, we shall still retain our strength. New Photographic Journal.—A monthly journal devoted to photography has recently been issued in Belgium under the title of Bulletin Beige de la Photographic. It is edited by M. Leon Delteure, with the aid of Messrs. Monchhoven, Gosselens, Romberg, Ommegauck, and Neyt. Works or Fine Art.—The Solicitor-General, it was an nounced, would, on Thursday, in committee of the whole House, move for leave to bring in a bill to amend the law relating to copyright in works of fine art; and Lord Elcho has given notice that he shall on an early day call the attention of the House to the present and future provision for the exhibition of the na tional collection of pictures, and to the position of the Royal Academy in relation to the fine arts and the National Gallery. The Late Prince Consort.—It is stated that the photo graphic portraits of Prince Albert have been rapidly sold in Paris to French as much as English purchasers. In one day a printseller sold 30,000 cartes de visite bearing the likeness of the deceased prince. The Photographic Exchange Club.—The third monthly exchange of this club was recently completed. There was an improvement in the quality of the prints sent for exchange, and in the attention to the rules. There is still, however, room for improvement in both respects. We trust all the members will bear this in mind. International Exchange Club.—Referring to the recent proposal in our pages to institute an exchange of prints with photographers in America, the editor of the American Journal of Photography says A writer in Photographic News, of January 17th, proposes an exchange of photographs between America and England. The suggestion is a wise one, and meets our hearty approbation. Especially at this time, when the silly politicians are doing so much to excite international animosity, it is gratifying to believe that friendship may still continue with those whom we care most about. There is probably nothing in the way of the proposed exchange system, and it may be inau gurated within a few weeks. Perhaps it would be the simplest way to make existing clubs the nucleus of the undertaking. Whether the initiative package is started from England or America, we are sure it will be courteously received, and the favour be reciprocated. The writer in the News suggests that our correspondent, Coleman Sellers, would be a desirable person to superintend the American department. We endorse the recommendation, and hope to be able to give Mr. Sellers’ views on tho subject in our next issue.” Uo Gorrespondents. J. F.—The best mode of storing dry plates, so as to be of little bulk, is that adopted by Dr Hill Norris. Strips of cartridge paper are folded alternately each way, making each fold about a quarter of an inch broad. Each strip, when completed, forms a series of crimped grooves. The ends of the plates are placed into these, so that a double edge of paper is compressed between each pair of plates, and a groove of paper round the edge of each plate. Placing tissue paper so as to come in contact with the surface of each plate would be dangerous. 2. We are obliged for your method of intensifying. It is one, however, with which we are perfectly familiar. We have experi mented largely on every method of intensifying, by the agency of bichlo ride of mercury. The simplest, least dangerous, and best, is, we think, that in which, after treating the plate with a hasty wash of bichloride, it is next treated with iodide of potassium, about one grain to the ounce. This gives a negative of a greenish grey, and is very satisfactory in printing. 3. The best mode of changing dry plates is much a matter of taste. We prefer the use of a few double backs to carry a sufficient stock of plates for the day’s work without changing. The simplest method of changing is by means of a changing box, as it involves no extra luggage for the purpose. 4. We use a stereoscopic camera, with bellows body and folding tailboard, made by Meagher, which we find light and convenient. T. P. E.—It is doubtful whether there will be much gold in your old hypo bath. If you precipitate both silver and gold by means of zinc, the gold will be left as an insoluble residue on dissolving the silver in nitric acid. St. Dennis.—After fixing and washing the negative, pour over it a solution of bichloride of mercury, about 10 grains to an ounce of water. Allow it to remain a few minutes, until the surface presents a uniform grey. Now wash, and then coat with a one-grain solution of iodide of potassium ; pour this off and on until the right intensity is obtained. See article on inten sifying in Photographic News Almanac. W. D.—In printing from several negatives on one sheet of paper to form one picture, or “ composition printing” as it is usually called, the prevention of hard lines and distinct edges entirely depends upon manipulation, skill, and practice. Every other part of the sheet but that to be printed at the time is carefully masked. The best modes of doing this have repeatedly been explained in our pages. You will find a simple method explained by Mr. Fry, having special reference to printing separate skies, on page 350 of our third volume. 2. Where “ fresh hypo " is spoken of, it simply means that the hypo must not have been used so as to have become exhausted or acid. Your method of keeping the solution neutral, and adding continually fresh crystals, may be used with propriety so long as care and judgment are exercised. 3. Make some fresh toning solution of gold and acetate of soda, and add to the old ; this will probably revive it. A. G. Grant.—Your advertisement is inserted. Regarding the Exchange Club, write to the Secretary. Portraits to be suitable for exchange should possess some especial excellence or interest. Public characters, beautiful faces, or very fine photography, would confer such interest. G. P. has overlooked our answer. It appeared in the No. for January 31st. Albumen is a very complex organic compound : we have no data at hand for stating its atomic weight. The fact of a chemical combination being formed between albumen and silver is “ established,” and for convenience the term “albuminate of silver” has been applied to that compound in th* absence of a more precise term. How far the term is a correct one, che mically speaking, we do not undertake to determine, not being responsible for the origin of the term. We see no reason for doubting Stockhardt as to the proportion of albumen and water in white of egg. J. Lomas.—Various forms of view meters may be constructed. A very simple one consists of a tube with a small aperture at one end just sufficient to see through ; and at the other an oblong aperture, the usual shape of a picture. The length of this tube must be proportioned to the lens to be used ; so that when you look through it just the amount of subject will be seen which your lens includes on the plate it covers. By having different sized oblong apertures you may arrange them so as to give the amount of subject your lens will include on different sized plates ; and by making the tube with a sliding body it might be graduated, and marked to suit lenses of different focal lengths. C. W.—The amount of subject included in the stereo-slide would not be quite so much with the No. 1 B lens as with the compound stereo lenses. For card portraits, however, the former would be best, and would also give ex cellent results for stereoscopic pictures. 2. Almost any good bromo-iodized collodion will give good results in both wet and dry processes The for mula given in the Photographic News Almanac, which we also briefly stated at the South London Meeting, reported in our last, gives excellent negatives for the wet process, and most of the dry processes. 3. In pur chasing yellow glass ask particularly for that flashed with silver, and if possible get a sample first. We shall always have pleasure in trying it J. H. W.—You may purchase agate burnishers at most of the houses dealing in artists’ materials. We cannot tell you the price. Your book-binder could give you information, as the burnisher is used in burnishing tho edges of books. Rolling presses, which have recently been brought before photographers at much more moderate prices than they used to be, answer the purpose much better than burnishers. W. W. B. P.—The lenses to which you refer, and regarding the prices of which you institute comparisons, are of entirely different kind and capa bilities. Those with the higher price, although intended for the same class of work, are much larger lenses. Their especial peculiarity consists in extreme rapidity, flat field, and perfect defining power. The same maker produces lenses for card portraits at half the price you quote ; but, to those who can afford it, those at the higher price are worth the money. An ordi nary good half plate lens will answer for card portraits ; but will be slow compared with those lenses especially made for the purpose. Your speci men is of average quality ; but is disfigured by the row of white balus trades running straight across the picture. H. V. R.—We generally use kaolin for removing the colour from our excit ing bath. A little citric acid or common salt, added so as to cause a slight precipitate of citrate or chloride of silver will also answer the purpose. 2. We cannot recommend you which tent to select. There are several in the market, each of which have some advantages. Their prices range from about 30s. to £6 or £7. A properly made bromo-iodized collodion will keep without deterioration, for months or years after it is iodized. We have some in use at present, made and iodized two years ago: we find it as sen sitive now as any collodion in the market. Weare compelled to defer answers to a large number of correspondents until our next. Tin som the teer pen and are thes the rece: that wide sacn thesi a liv the ] tent prim injur mak< publ pictu ident flood by ai was £ to be Th as re. prose it is cisive often ever, clusic ing ( phot a cop not 1 entir< I IIA Maya vario photc Majet vario made the i from Th statu sole print inve: cliiai to be TI provi to be to pi ancie to 28
