The photographic news

• Bandzählung: 35.1891
• Erscheinungsdatum: 1891
• 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-id1780948042-189100009
• PURL: http://digital.slub-dresden.de/id1780948042-18910000
• OAI: oai:de:slub-dresden:db:id-1780948042-18910000
• Sammlungen: LDP: Historische Bestände der Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig
• Sammlungen: Fotografie
• Strukturtyp: Band

• Digitalisat: SLUB Dresden
• Strukturtyp: Ausgabe

In spite of the ingenious invention of a Plymouth under taker described a few weeks ago in the Undertaker's Journal, which not only exhibits portraits of the deceased persons on their gravestones, but also records the visits of those friends who chose to leave their cards, we doubt An enterprising journal which is bitten by the present mania for giving portraits of everybody, from the some bodies down to the nobodies, must be prepared for sar castic criticism. One newspaper, commenting upon the likenesses given in a contemporary of the members of the Labour Commission, professes to find, according to its “recognition of the portraits,” that it now consists of Mr. P. T. Barnum, General Booth, the Siamese Twins, Sir John Astley, Mr. J. L. Toole, and others. It then kindly adds: “ We were under the impression that some of these were no longer in active service, but ‘ the apparatus can’t lie,’ and there are the pictures.” Photographers have, years and years ago, discovered that no two critics ever agree as to the resemblance of a portrait to the original. The enterprising journal referred to above may take comfort from the fact. Mr. Carey Lea is still actively pursuing his researches into the nature of the various silver compounds. An article on allotropic silver appears in the April number of the Philosophical Magazine, taken from an advance proof I sent by the author. Mr. Carey Lea points out that he i dealt with the gold-coloured form of allotropic silver in a paper already published. In the present article he con siders the relations existing between the allotropic forms of silver taken generally, and silver as it exists in its com pounds, more especially in the silver haloids, and he has come to the conclusion that there is reasonable ground for supposing that in the latter allotropic silver may so exist. In a future paper he proposes to treat of the blue form in its soluble and insoluble varieties. The Manchester Amateur Photographic Society displays considerable energy, and seems to be highly popular. It boasts of a journal which is published quarterly, from which we learn that the library has grown to such an extent that the librarian “ requires more shelving.” This is a very healthy sign. The same society has tried the “ Question Box” system, but has not found it to answer. The plan adopted was some what different from that in vogue in other societies. The old idea was that a “Question Box” is an excellent substitute for a paper when the latter is not forthcoming. If the experience of the old South London Photographic Society be any guide as to what has happened elsewhere, it often turned out the box was a delusion, for on more than one occasion when it was resorted to it was found that the “ cupboard was bare.” The Manchester Society’s box, on the other hand, was intended for the reception of questions by persons in want of information, and the answers were given by the members at the meetings when the box was opened. It lias been found, however, that the answers were of necessity off-hand, and that sometimes no reply was given at all. Henceforward, members wanting information must send their queries to the secretary at least a week prior to the monthly meeting. Such a “ Question ” or “Information Box,” as it ought to be called, is decidedly a good idea. There are many beginners too timid to expose their ignorance viva voce who would gladly send in their questions on paper. whether the practice of attaching photographs to grave stones will ever become general. Most people, after they have gone through the melancholy duty of the funeral service, are apt to shun graveyards and cemeteries. Still it may be that undertakers, in view of a reform in funerals which would cut down “extras” to nothing, and con siderably reduce profits, will take up photography as a sub stitute, and, with that persuasiveness which is so effective in the time of woe, induce people to have photographic adjuncts placed on the graves of their friends and relatives. Already an example has been set by a firm of Canadian photographers, whose advertisement in the Hamilton Evening Times is so unique that we cannot forbear quoting it. “Green Bros., John St.,” it says, “are the only undertakers in the city who take photos of deceased people. The eyes are opened, and taken as natural as if alive. By calling at office such portraits can be seen.” Here is, indeed, enterprise. We are inclined to think the photographic profession would not mind handing over all the post mortems to the undertakers, for photographing a corpse is an operation from which most shrink. Besides, what photographer would have a chance against an under taker who can produce portraits in which “the eyes are opened, and taken as natural as if alive ” ? As we have not seen “ such portraits,” perhaps it would be unfair to pronounce judgment on them ; but, at present, it looks as if the ingenuity of “ Green Bros.” is likely to add anew terror to death. What’s in a name ? Not much, perhaps, but, at least, it should not be misleading. The View-Finders’ Club is an active photographic association, which has its habitat in Edinburgh. At the first blink, it would seem as if the object of the Club had to do with that useful little attach ment without which the detective camera is incomplete ; but this not the case. The Club interprets the word “view-finder” in a liberal sense, for its aim is “the education of its members in art principles, and the criticism of their work.” It is a moot point whether the title is a happy one or not. As might have been expected, the experiment tried by the English Art Club of having photographs of the pictures on sale in the Dudley Gallery, where the collection is now on view, has been much appreciated by the visitors, who have not been slow in buying copies. As the photographs are the work of that experienced operator in this branch of photography, Mr. F. Hollyer, their excellence is guaranteed. The gentleman who wrote the Globe notice of the Crystal Palace Photographic Exhibition has not kept him self well posted up in photographic history. He says gravely that “Mrs. Cameron sends” some of her well- known specimens of artistic photography, and is evidently unaware that this lady has been dead many years.