The photographic news

• Bandzählung: 6.1862
• Erscheinungsdatum: 1862
• Sprache: Englisch
• Signatur: F 135
• Vorlage: Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig
• Digitalisat: Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig
• Digitalisat: SLUB Dresden
• Rechtehinweis: Public Domain Mark 1.0
• URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-db-id1780948042-186200003
• PURL: http://digital.slub-dresden.de/id1780948042-18620000
• OAI: oai:de:slub-dresden:db:id-1780948042-18620000
• Sammlungen: LDP: Historische Bestände der Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig
• Sammlungen: Fotografie
• Bemerkung: Seite 1-72 fehlen in der Vorlage. Vorlagebedingter Textverlust.
• Strukturtyp: Band

• Digitalisat: SLUB Dresden
• Strukturtyp: Ausgabe

516 THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS. [October 24,1862. Ualk in the Stnudio. Photographic Portraits and PEN-AND-INK Portraits.— It is said that the photographic portrait of Victor Hugo, the celebrated author of Les Mis^rables, is not like the original. Photography is capricious, and sometimes favours most the most worthless subjects. The long beard, it is said, looks rough and spare in the photograph ; the hair, which he wore short at that time, gives an unusual character to the head; the face seems without muscular firmness, and the eyes have no brilliancy. The following is the pen-and-ink portrait sketch by M. Theodore Banville, taken at the Brussels banquet: — “ The fine head is now in its zenith of expression—when he rose to speak it was magnificent. The hair is longer than in the photographic portrait; its wave is crisp and vivacious, and yet it is as fine as silk, and d’une blancheur auyuste. But the whiteness inspires admiration rather than respect or veneration, for the determined carriage of the head is expressive of the hardy combatant, who has still many a struggle to encounter. The forehead is fuller and more thoughtful than of old, and the increased prominence of the eyebrow’s conceals their sparseness, and adds firmness to the general expression. The eyes are full of will and energy, but sometimes assume an expression of tenderness and pity for all that suffers. The complexion, once so pale, has become hale and boldly coloured, and the outline of the face is robust. The winds of the sea, and the snows of the north, and the suns of the south, have left their traces upon it. The nose has assumed a bolder, and, as it were, a kind of imperious character, and the mouth has an expression that is at once that of resignation and joyousness. There is an occa sional smile, half spirituel, half ironical, seen under the shade of the broad silky moustache, which is still brown, while the beard below is white; the beard itself undulating in fine masses like the beards in ancient sculpture.” The sketch is rather elaborate, but there is no doubt that it beats the photograph both in truth and spirit.—Literary Budget. South London Photographic Society. — The open-air meetings of this society were concluded by an excellent dinner at Dulwich, when the Rev. F. F. Statham, M.A., F.G.S., occu pied the chair, and Mr. Frank Howard officiated as vice-chair man. Loyal toasts, photographic speeches, fun, and good fellowship prevailed during the evening. From several letters we have received we ascertain that the recommencement of the society’s winter session has not been generally known. We would call the attention of members to future meetings, on the second Thursday in each month, until next June, at eight o’clock in the evening. The meetings are held in the City of London College, late Sussex Hall, Leadenhall Street. The address of the secretary, Mr. Alfred Harman, is 3, Albert Cot tages, Hill Street, Peckham. Uo Correspoudents. A BLOCKHEAD.—If your painting be an original one, and it was not sold before the 29th of last July, you can secure the copyright, which will involve the sole right to photograph it and publish the prints, by regis tering at Stationers’ Hall, which will cost one shilling. See The Photo graphic News, August 8th and 22nd. 2. A picture the same as Land seer’s, with the substitution of a stump of a tree in the place of a few stones, is, we fear, simply a colourable imitation. You had better not publish it. 3. We have seen very fair pictures taken with Moule’s photogen ; but not, of course, equal to those produced by sunlight. 4. If a negative have been sufficiently exposed, and well developed, it may be intensified after fixing, without disadvantage. E. A. R.—We do not know any builder who devotes himself especially, or exclusively, to building glass-houses. Mr. John Cundall, architect, of Leamington, has given a good deal of attention to the subject, and is, at present, superintending a very perfect structure of the kind for Mr. II. P. Robinson. Anxious.—The pictures have many good qualities. The tone is very excel lent ; perhaps a little deeper printing would be an improvement in some instances. In No. 1, 2, and 3, the vignetting is a little too regular and formal. The lighting of No. 1 is best ; in the others there is a little excess of front light, so that the figures are illuminated too evenly all around. No. 5 is the best lighted figure of those in the new room. 2. For lenses, A, in our judgment. N. II. Harrison.—We referred to Ponting’s usual collodion in recommend ing the addition of bromide for dry plates. You may safely add a grain to each ounce, and try it. Use, in that case, the bromide of ammonium. If you have time to wait, add it direct to the collodion and agitate well. It will require a few hours to dissolve, and a few more to settle. Or it may be dissolved in the smallest quantity of alcohol, and added in that way. 2. We have not observed much difference in the photographic results of the different bromides. The chief difference is the degree in which they are respectively soluble in alcohol, and also in the effect on the fluidity of the collodion. Cadmium is more apt to make some collodions gelatinous than ammonium. 3. The method of developing we recommended gives great latitude as to exposure. 4. We prefer the bi-lens-stereoscopic camera. It will always give the same relief which is presented to the eye in nature. Relief should be secured by some foreground object, if it be required. 5. Pre liminary coatings do not affect the definition at all. 6. We nave not tried it, but in damp weather it might be desirable to warm the plates. 7. The collodion we recommended contained iodide of cadmium, as well as iodide of potassium. If a collodion contain iodide of potassium only, and bro mide of cadmium be added, at all freely, a precipitate of bromide of potassium is apt to fall, especially if the solvents be very highly rectified. You need not apologize at all for asking advice. C. J. W.—You may procure a lens which can be used for taking card por traits, and also small landscapes. We cannot recommend a maker by name in these columns. A good one for the purpose you name will pro bably cost £5 or £6. The method of taking small negatives, and, subse quently enlarging them, is an attractive process, and will, at some time, probably, come into general practice. But there is still room for improve ment in it before that time comes. At present you cannot do better for large landscapes than use dry plates. We have not yet tried Mr. Sutton's process, but have seen good results. Cornish Chough.—We generally use kaolin ; but we cannot undertake to say which is the best plan. Some prefer citric acid, some salt. It is some- what a matter of taste. 2. We do not quite understand what you mean as to paper being greasy. It should not be so, unless it have been handled, which ought never to be done. 3. There is no objection, that we know of, to the use of pure fused silver for the printing bath. R. Banks.—The reticulated cracks arc probably due to the presence of too much water. The solvents have not been sufficiently rectified. Some samples of pyroxyline also favour the same result. Try keeping the plate longer out of the bath, and letting it set well, before immersion. Subscriber.—Any unused gold in the toning bath may be thrown down by means of protosulphate of iron. The iron remains in solution, and the gold is thrown down as a dark powder, which may either be sold, or ma! be redissolved in nitro-muriatic acid and formed into chloride of gold. The silver and gold in the hypo bath may be precipitated with liver of sulphur as we have often described. 2. We cannot give you the recipe of any negative varnish, which we can verify by personal experience as quite perfect. N.—We are obliged for the hint. We have seen the small picture by Ghmar to which you refer. It is very exquisite. The glass ware in the ollverein we have not yet examined, but will do so. The tilting dishes or baths of Elliot and Co. we noticed some months ago, before we saw them in the Exhibition. Our attention was drawn to them by Bland and Co., the agents. They are admirable for exciting plates with a small quantity cf solution, and, therefore, especially valuable for experimental purposes. Some of our friends use them in the laboratory constantly for wet plates. J. Peakman.—That to which you affix number 2, by al Imeans. J. F. N.—We cannot, of course, be answerable for the ability of those who advertise in our columns. The specimen you enclose is unquestionably very poor. We saw, on the other hand, some very fine tinting indeed a few days ago by another advertiser, and on the same terms. We regret, however, that we cannot charge ourselves with the responsibility of either recommending or condemning particular artists. 2. The best light for your glass-room will be a combination of top light and side light. We shall always have pleasure in helping you. W. G. G.—Mudd, or Brothers, both of St. Ann’s Square. J. Jones.—When the prints require so long a time before they acquire sufti- cient depth, the activity of the solution may be slightly increased by add ing a few drops of a fresh solution of chloride of gold. We have never noticed discoloration at the back, except when the paper had been excited a few days. Calx—Two cameras may be used for enlarging in the way you describe The only doubt which exists, in our mind, is as to the suitability of yolr stereo camera. We fear that it will not extend sufficiently. You haven 0 ’ stated the equivalent focus of your lens ; but, suppose it be six inches then, in order to get a transparent positive the same size, both cameras will require the bodies drawing out to the extent of twelve inches. If your small camera will not allow of the required extension, the only plan will take an enlarged transparency, and then an enlarged negative of just such proportions as you can. A Royal Enthusiastic Amateur, Secunderabad.—The black powder preci pitated by the iron from your toning bath is finely divided metallic gold, which, by the addition of aqua regia maybe converted into chloride 0 / gold. 2. Crystal varnish may be applied to positive prints, or a varnish made by diluting Canada balsam with turpentine. 3. Ordinary spirits 0 wine, in rather larger proportions may be added to the nitrate bathill place of ether or alcohol. 4. We regret that we cannot with certainty r commend any especial varnish that will not become tacky under the hen of an Indian sun. A coating of albumen or gum arabic, applied befor drying the plate will resist its action best. 5. Either of the lenses Wi answer the purpose, but the latter gives the greatest freedom from distortion: Joseph Lewis, of 29, Dane Street, Dublin, writes to state that he is not tn# Joseph Lewis who asked in last weeks News if he might practise a patented invention for his own amusement, and adds that he would consider suc 1 amusement to be felony. As the letter we received last week is super scribed with the same address as the present, but in a different hand writing, we are a little puzzled as to the purpose of this complication. W. D.—The top design is best. Six feet over head opaque, each end opagu you will then avoid direct front or top light. All the rest, top and both side glass. This, with a good arrangement of blinds, will give you a well-lighte room. 2. We have had many complaints of bad varnish lately. We hav not tried the diluted white hard carriage varnish, but have heard goo accounts of it. We cannot tell you the exact amount of dilution it "l require. It is probable that different samples will vary. We will exai the jalap resin. 3. The foggy deposit on the shadows may proceed fro a variety of causes, all, or the majority of which are treated of in an artic on p. 361 of the present volume. . . . Philos.—Number 2 on your list, decidedly, so far as our experience ana formation go. ouces A Photographer,—We do not know any one in London who en a re- negatives. If you require enlarged prints, we do not, at this.mosldney member any one who uses the solar camera in London, but 3 ‘i ndon Smyth, George-strcet, Euston Road. There are several house .0 an and who undertake printing, such as .Cundall and Downes, and MC Melhuish, Wellings, and others*. 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