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

362. r and ‘Yes," as ten figures again ■er her 8G2. of hy- Blan d in s have f this ceeded in per iled to solved point, white I ion of |e, the effect | tisfac-, -he ac-1 ng ns : essary i ol, in | ing it ng, or ig the i se the I estroy I i takel useful' rtistic a, and ptible - n and d, the and ew re- j elain, irocess f’s ex- ms re- d that m ex-1 spec- i coni' is re- cplain aence- i ore of - n the ure at more i Swit- I ‘ealize most readth if the erwise luated March 14, 1862.] THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS. 131 tint which finely relieves the pure white of the snow. The masses of ice, of dazzling brilliancy, taken in full light, when examined under a powerful magnifier, develop a mass of minute details, without exhibiting a single flaw in the proof. In some of the pictures, taken at a moderate elevation, where the foreground consists of valleys filled with trees, it is im possible to imagine the perfection with which the verdure and foliage is rendered, even to the minutest detail, even in the deepest shadows. The atmosphere that pervades these pictures imparts an indescribable charm to them, there is an entire absence of that hardness which strikes the eye so un pleasantly in many views of similar scenes to these. By the union of three proofs, each nearly a yard long, a com plete panorama of Alpine scenery is obtained, which is truly surprising. MASON v. HEATH. Sib,—Mr. Mason, the plaintiff in this action, has, in letters to some of the daily papers, reiterated what he stated in the witness box, and although the jury, by their verdict, discre dited Mr. Mason’s account of what had passed between us, these statements may, if uncontradicted, do me serious injury. Permit me, therefore, to repeat what I said in the witness- box, viz., that it is not true that I received or accepted any kind of order from Mr. Mason, and that it is equally untrue that I ever told him, or implied in any way, that I had two negatives for him. Of this I convinced the jury by other evidence besides my own. Mr. Ruland, librarian and secretary to His Royal Highness, gave evidence that His Royal Highness, who had seen certain photographic portraits taken by me, had himself expressed his intention (without any sort of application from me) to sit to me for some portraits he desired to have taken, before he consented to the application made by Mr. Mason; and that Mr. Mason’s application having been renewed at this time, His Royal Highness had arranged that an additional nega tive should bo taken for his publication. Mr. Mason, therefore, received directions to furnish me with the necessary particulars for its execution. I will say nothing here upon that portion of my own evidence which detailed the manner in which Mr. Mason attempted to mislead me as to what his instructions really were. Mr. Ruland proved that the Prince sat to me in my studio on the 2nd of July ; that he attended him, and that four distinct negatives were taken. Mr. Ruland also proved that Hi s R O y a l Highness stated, in reply to an inquiry from me, that he could not then come to any decision as to whether Mr. Mason should have any one of the four negatives, and that Mr. Mason was to bo so informed. A month afterwards His Royal Highness’ decision was com municated to me in a letter, which was read in evidence. By this letter, in the clearest and most explicit terms, I was in structed to let Mr. Mason have one of the four negatives. This I communicated my readiness to do, and named a price for its delivery, which I still consider a very reasonable one—one, at all events, which could not be governed by any agreement or bargain he may have previously made with other persons for other portraits. It was at this juncture, and no doubt in ignorance of the actual circumstances under which the Prince came to me, Mr. Mason set up a claim for two of the four negatives. My in- structions were clear ; I had but authority to deliver one, and hence the action : an action which was expressly brought upon an ^lejed contract on my part, made the 29lh of June, to deliver two ^atives for a price named. I was advised, and believed, that e facts herein stated were sufficient for my defence ; but as r. Mason still thinks the question unsettled, permit me to say, ; At for the purpose of putting my position beyond doubt, at an Garly stage of the action, I wrote to Windsor for further in- rictions, and received the following reply from Mr. Ruland, Ua ™l, “ Windsor Castle, Nov. 24th, 1861. , As far as the question is concerned as to what number, or tcliich, of the negatives taken by you in July last you were to E1Ye up to Mr. Mason, I can only refer you to my letter of the oth of August, in which I distinctly stated and described as plainly as possible the particular and only negative which, in compliance with His Royal Highness the Prince Consort’s commands, you were to hand over to Mr. Mason for publication m a certain work, a copy of which had been submitted by Mr. Mason when he first applied for permission to insert a portrait 01 Hisvoyal Highness into the said publication.” Mr. Mason in his letter to the daily press challenges some juryman to state the actual meaning of the recommendation attached to the verdict. I cannot, therefore, help remarking that I believe the jury would have considered any such recom mendation superfluous, had they known that I, and all con nected with me, had used our best efforts to prevent this action being tried. You will yourself remember my conversa tion with you as to my desire to refer it. The following proposals were actually made. In the first place I stated my readiness to refer it to the President of the Photographic Society : then (after His Royal Highness’s death) to Sir Charles Phipps, and then, at the suggestion of Sir Charles Phipps, to another gentleman, and in every instance I offered unconditionally to put my case in the hands of the persons named. It should be stated further, as can be proved by my leters, that I should have been but too glad to let Mr. Mason have the negative at any time, upon any terms, had he been willing to content himself with the only one which I had power to give him. Vernon Heath. SOUTH LONDON SOCIETY'S EXHIBITION. Sir,—I trust that the South London Society will not be prevented continuing their arrangements for an exhibition at the Crystal Palace, by what took place at the meeting of the London Society; it seems to me very unfair that the latter Society, having previously declined to hold an ex hibition, should now step in at the last moment and interfere with arrangements made by an energetic “ Suburban Society,” my impression is, that hundreds would see and enjoy an exhibition at Sydenham, who would not take the trouble to visit one in London. While on the subject of photography, may I ask what this new process of Mr. Melhuish's is ? he stated in his evidence in Heath’s case, that by a peculiar process of his own he could print 200 or 300 pictures a day, with one second’s ex posure to light; a very short time since at a meeting of the Amateur Photographic Association, he said that in con sequence of the bad light he could not pint much from the negatives sent in, how can I reconcile the two statements? It cannot be development printing, as “ cartes ” are always on albumenized paper.—I am, obedient servant, A PHOTOGRAPHIEE. [ You will find in another page the rules for the South London Exhibition. There is no antagonistic feeling to the exhibition on the part of the Executive of the Photographic Society, nor on the part of the society at large. Any such feeling, if it exist, is confined to individuals. Mr. Melhuish referred to printing by development. Of course his evidence could not legitimately apply to the pictures before the court. —Ed.] COPYRIGHT IN ENGRAVINGS. Siu.,—In connection with your article on “ Photographic Piracy,” in the News of Friday last, will you allow me to enquire of you or any of your correspondents how the fact of an engraving being “ copyright ” or not can be ascertained. In the regular course of business it frequently happens that the possessor of a choice “proof” engraving wants to have it copied, and probably orders several impressions from the negative. Now as the photographer executing such a commission—assuming the engraving is copyright—ob- obviously renders himself liable to legal proceedings for infringement, it seems highly desirable there should be some means accessible for discovering whether a particular engraving is made copyright or not, so that one might be in a position to decide whether to accept or decline an order of this nature. There are hundreds of our profession who while they would not knowingly invade the privileges of others, at the same time do not wish to turn away work in cases where there exist “ no just cause or impediment ” to the contrary.—Obediently, Copyist. [The law of copyright in engravings is not by any means clear. We have not at hand the acts in force on the subject; but if we remember rightly the copyright of an engraving extends for twenty-eight years after its publication, the date of which and the name of the artist ought, to entitle it to the protection of the act, to be on each print. Whether the matter will be made clearer by the new act remains to be seen.—En.]