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

of f f of, ed »ps »p9 are At y a g it s d e is a r e, •g ie te :n >g ic e is th es al of >y e of ad at jul ng ed ed a re- i a o<l to st, ig- ith it }e- ro- id e 3. is e adjourn discussion of the subject to a meeting on Satur day. Subsequently, a meeting of the general committee was held, and at noon Mr. Middleton Ashman took photographs of the Convention group in the Sydney Gardens. our last meeting, it was deplored that a new school had arisen among photographers, a school whose teaching implies “ that art is not to be found in the ruts of tradition, and that beauty is not to be sought in a far country,” and was asking if photo graphy, which, by its mere existence, had already done more than anything else to inculcate truth in art, was not itself in dire need of reform ; and further, if it was not possible to picture by legitimate means a loftier conception of nature than was attainable by a mere transcript. These are the principles it was thought dangerous to'spread ; and, pointing to the crude attempts of its disciples to depict their impressions of nature, some went even so far as to suggest that photography was so far counterfeiting other methods of illustration, that it was running imminent risk of survival only by mimicry ! This revolutionary school, however, still lives, and not only so, but is reaping due recognition of its merits, though not unmixed with wholesome criticism of its shortcomings, and, in spite of the fact that its former master, by his great act of renunciation, has left it to its own devices. After all, are we to conclude that its work is inimical to progress 1 Is it all to end in unilluminated dreariness 1 We are, at least, at liberty to exercise our right of judgment, though it is humiliating to be told that a picture one had admired on the walls n ad of ps al n. ed w 1a, ad n- mously decided to accept the Scotch invitation. It was further resolved to write officially to Plymouth and thank the Devon and Cornwall Camera Club for their invitation, and hold out a probable prospect of acceptance for 1893. The president acknowledged the cordial welcome ex tended to the Convention by the Mayor of Bath, and votes of thanks were accorded to his worship for the same, to the leaders who had conducted and would conduct excursions, to the gentlemen who had lent dark rooms, and those who had given permission to photograph, to those who had exhibited photographs and novelties, and also to the hon. secretary, Mr. Briginshaw, for his untiring labours on behalf of the Convention. A scheme of affiliation by which it was proposed to more closely unite the Photographic Societies of the United Kingdom for the better promotion and advancement of their common interests, and pointing out the objects to be attained thereby, was presented for consideration from the Photographic Society of Great Britain. Mr. C. H. Bothamley observed that the matter was a great deal too important to be decided upon off-hand, and proposed that it 1 be referred to the Council. Eventually it was agreed to Bothamley, and a vote of thanks to the Mayor for the kind manner in which he had received the Convention, the formal proceedings terminated. After a brief interval, a number of lantern slides were shown, from negatives taken by various members during last year's meeting, Mr. Pringle being at the lantern, and Mr. Bothamley acting as a very competent showman. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the members of the Convention was held at the Guildhall on Wednesday morning, Mr. W. Bedford, president, in the chair. After business of a routine character, a discussion took place for the purpose of deciding where the Convention should hold its meeting of 1892. Official invitations were received from the Edinburgh Photographic Society and the Devon and Cornwall Camera Club, the latter invitation being to Plymouth, and held good for the summer of 1893 in the event of the place of meeting for 1892 having been decided upon. On the motion of Mr. A. Pringle, it was unani- ford for his excellent address. Mr. Pumphrey, in the course of a few happily chosen words, pointed out how photography ought to win the attention of all municipal bodies, because of its help in preserving for us and pos terity the images of many things which, in the course of time, were passing away from us. He referred not only to buildings, but to new cuttings on railways where geological sections were exposed. These, he considered, should be photographed in their original freshness, and before their characteristic features were altered by the action of the weather. Mr. Pringle, in proposing a vote of thanks to the retiring president, Mi. C. H. Bothamley, referred to his untiring energy, his simplicity of speech, and his scientific accu racy, which, he considered, amounted to a marvel. lie informed the meeting that the county of Somerset had lately had the good fortune to acquire Mr. Bothamley s services as organising secretary under the Education Act, “and certainly,” he said, “no one is better fitted to fill such a responsible post.” After a reply from Mr. of an exhibition has been singled out for distinction as an example of an evanescent printing process, and that another has been similarly honoured partly for the reason that it was taken without a lens. But we must not be too hard on our judges ; ; we voluntarily submit our work, and must abide by the verdict and the reasons which prompt it, though one could wish that rules might be adopted for exhibitions which would tend more to the glory of photography and less to that of the individual photographer and the process he employs. It is, nevertheless, true that science and art react mutually on one another, and are interdependent ; consequently, the photographer who is a true artist can as little afford to despise the aids of science as science can afford to ignore the requirements of art. The demand is made for the more accurate rendering of tone and colour, so that we may nd longer be shocked by the palpable resort to expedients which constantly meets us in photographs which would be admirable as pictures if it were not for the sus picion of unreality such practices engender. Moreover, let us not imagine that there is any danger of our art being made too easy. Even if automatic photography be an accomplished fact, some measure of responsibility will still rest with the individual who drops in the coin. Though “art is a translation of nature,” it must always be remembered that “ we make from within us the world which we see ” and transcribe. It is true our translations of nature may be cold glitter beside the reality, but photography is our pencil, and if we use her fairly she will not fail us. It fell to the lot of Mr. Pumphrey, president of the local photographic society, to return thanks to Air. Bed- Photography for Women has been recommended so often and so earnestly as a business that, now that some few are taking it up as a serious occupation, it is interesting to note the special differentiation of the pursuit which attracts the sex that wears and loves gowns. There are a few portrait photo graphers among women who meet with only moderate success, curiously enough, in posing their subjects, but find a field of use fulness in the picturing of children. There are springing up also dress photographers, whose business, though a new one, appeals so strongly to certain feminine instincts, that the seeds of success seem likely to sprout and thrive. One of the two or three already established was saying : “ So far my work has been mostly the reproduction of trousseaus. Brides come to me to be pictured in all their different wraps and hats and gowns. For a girl whose wedding came off last week, I made twenty- six costume pictures. She had them bound into a wedding album. Of course it takes ingenuity to get variety of atti tude and to bring out the best points of each toilet. I think women prefer to go to women on such an errand, because they think a man, down in the bottom of his heart, might conceal a smile.”—New York Recorder,