improve. Remember that in taking a yacht from a wharf
you must keep your camera as low as possible. I have
frequently dispensed with the tripod and held the camera
on the edge of the wharf itself. You will get a better idea of
the different angles of view from the pictures on the table
than from further explanation on my part.

A view finder is an absolute necessity, and it must be
masked to coincide with your focussing screen exactly, or you
will never be able to place your object with any certainty.

With regard to lenses, almost any ordinary landscape or rapid rectilinear is well adapted for the work. A wide angle lens is quite unsuitable. Most of my pictures are taken with a Lancaster single lens or a rapid rectilinear, and as far as I can see, the palm goes to the single lens. Focus a point rather nearer than the yacht will be, and stop from ƒ16 to f20 as you think fit. The distance need not be microscopically sharp. If you use the tripod leave the nut loose, so that you can swing the camera to place the boat in a suitable position. You need not be afraid to tilt the camera, as there are no buildings on the water to show the effect, and the boat itself is out of perpendicular anyway.

With regard to plates, I will not mention any particular maker; any ordinary plate will do. Rapid plates are not necessary. I have tried several, and never got a picture on one that pleased me yet. Isochromatic plates give good

results.

Most of your shutters are either Lancaster, Thornton, Pickard, or drop shutters. They are all good, but do not ask them to do work they were never intended to do. It requires a special shutter to take a boat going at full speed broadside on and close to your lens. Take them at an angle, and they are fast enough.

As in most other branches, the development is a great point, and I am certain a great deal depends on the choice of a suitable developer. I have tried hydrokinone, eikonogen, rodinal, pyro-ammonia, and pyro-soda. With the first three I have several fine-looking negatives and many bad ones. The bad ones will not print at all, and the good ones are a disappointment when put in the frame. True, some of my pyro negatives look very shady, but they all print well, and that is the great point. We do not want negatives to look at.

Practical Picture Frame Maker,

GILDER & PLUSH WORKER.

GORDERS BY POST PROMPTLY ATTENDED TO.

Opposite Wesleyan

Church.

I do not condemn these developers. Probably in other hands they are a greater success. I simply state that I get better results with pryro soda. It is made up according to the Ilford formula and used as they direct, as modified by exposure, light, &c.

If your picture be taken in bright sun, shining direct on white sails, and you pour an ordinary developer on, what can you expect but a hard negative with painfully dense sails. In this case keep back your pyro, and get all the softness you can by diluting your developer. Again, you take a yacht on a rather dull day, the light sails, light clouds, boat painted perhaps a light French gray, pine spars, drab coloured ropes, and water that will develop almost as fast as the sky, especially on a calm day.. Where is your contrast? There is hardly any in the view, but you can make it to a great extent, though not with the same developer that you used with the former negative. Use more pyro and bromide, and do not be too liberal with your soda. You may not perhaps get exactly what you want, how many can? but you can get nearer to it than if you go on in a haphazard manner. It is well said that we learn from our failures, and I agree with the statement. You may lose a few plates at instantaneous work, but perhaps you do that anyway, and they will decrease in number with every effort. Several of you have taken up this branch during the past few months, and appreciate the difficulties of getting a good picture and also the pleasures of success.

There is one thing I may mention, which is that while our bay is a splendid one for yachting, it is a difficult matter to take the races. The boats do not pass any of the wharves near enough for a picture, and when they are at their nearest you are almost looking at the sun. If you go after them in a small boat its motion will probably blur your picture, and there are no steamers available for the purpose. The shores are also bare and straight, and do not make a nice background. However they are there, and we must make the best of them, but at times they are very obtrusive. If you had a dark shore as background it would prevent you developing for contrast, as in the latter case you would have it almost as clear glass in the negative. Of course if the shore is a moderate distance from the yacht it will develop in better proportion with the rest of the picture.

FOR FOOTBALLS AND ALL

GO TO

Sporting Requisites, BROWNLOW'S SPORTS DEPOT,

MALOP STREET, (next H. Franks'.)

To sum up, the chief points are a view finder in exact register, keep your camera low, and work with as open a stop as you can consistent with sharpness. Take the vessel at an angle rather than broadside. Use ordinary plates, and on dull days develope for contrast, in any case use your judgment. Do not be impatient, as some pictures will develop in ten minutes, while others may take an hour. In a wind steady your camera from vibration.

INTERCOLONIAL

EXHIBITION

AND

PHOTOGRAPHIC
CONGRESS,

1896.

The second Intercolonial Photographic Exhibition and Congress was opened at the Exhibition Building, Melbourne, on the 22nd April, by His Excellency Lord Brassey, who was accompanied by Lady Brassey and party. The Vice-President Prof. Kernot, Members of Congress and Exhibition Trustees received the Vice-Regal Party, and showed them over the collection of Photographic work, also the works of the Melbourne Art Club and Sketching Club. His Excellency declared the Exhibition opened, and stated he was delighted with what he saw, and hoped to again pay a visit before it closed. He had no idea that the Photographic Art had come so near perfection in the colonies, and urged all to make it known and visit it, so that it would be a success.

To describe the Exhibition fully in this Journal space would not be available, but the collection is a splendid one. And in many sections show a great improvement in the work of various Exhibitions from that shown at the 1st Exhibition held by the Gordon College Association last year. But the work this year being framed gives the whole a far better appearance, still there is room for great improvement in many sections, notably that of Seascape and Yachting. This should form two separate sections; it is not fair to the Exhibitor. The Seascapes shown were very fine work. Yachting the same, and cannot be judged correctly when combined. Club Work is open for improvement. If it were

H.

THACKER,

Printer, Lithographer,

Bookbinder and Paper Ruler, &c., RYRIE STREET, GEELONG.

All Orders receive prompt attention, combined with cheapness.

understood that so many prints would be allowed, also the best
and greatest number of processes, then Clubs could work
accordingly, but we must say that the Working Men's College
Club deserve the prize for their collection of 23 frames repre-
senting 13 different processes. Amongst the best in this class
was a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo by Mr. Ralph, also opals by
A. J. Campbell. In the Animal Section D. Le Souef's work
was highly creditable, the subjects were mostly taken in the
Zoo. Amongst the leading prize takers in this class were
Messrs. A. J. Campbell, J. B Thornley, C. Gruncell, F. Styant
Brown.

The Gordon College Club's Members, although not
extensive exhibitors, still hold a place in the prize list.
In Portraiture J. Wadelton secured 2nd; Seascape & Yachting,
C. O. Dentry 2nd; Landscapes, A. J. Wood, 1st; J.
Hammerton 3rd; In very many sections the work was printed
rather dark, while others over toned. Many enamelled prints
showed as usual under mounts buckling which is irritating to
the eye.
In the enlargement section some good work was
shown by Mr. Bennet. In the collection of loan work by the
Victorian Society some excellent work was shown, but with
this as in many other cases the exhibits were hung too high,
and could not be properly seen and inspected. A large dis-
play was made by various Warehouses of the latest improve-
ments in photographic apparatus and materials. The
collection of enlargements shown on the Austral Bromide and
star paper were worth inspecting. The Exhibition is of a very
extensive and instructive character, and reflects credit on the
Executive Committee and its Hon. Sec. L. Hart, F.R.M.S.

The first meeting of the Congress was held on the evening
of the 23rd, when the President, R. L. J. Ellery, Esq., C.M.G.,
delivered his opening address after the minutes of last Congress
were read by Mr. J. Hammerton (Sec. Gordon College A.P.A.)
and confirmed. The following rules for the guidance of the
Congress were submitted and passed :-

1st. The object of the Congress is the interchange of Photographic Knowledge, and the dissemination of the same amongst the Australasian public, and the consideration of all matters of interest to Amateurs and Professionals.

J. HAMMERTON & SON,

Jewellers, Engravers, Designers,

GOLD AND SILVER MEDALS AWARDED FOR JEWELLERY. WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.

GOLD, SILVER,

2nd. The Congress will assemble annually, and will determine at its first sitting the place of next meeting, and also appoint its officers, president, vice-presidents, hon. treasurer, and secretaries.

3rd. That a local committee be formed by delegates from the Photographic Association in each colony.

4th. The administration of the business of the Congress to be undertaken by the local committee nominated by the colony in which the Congress shall be held.

5th. An Exhibition shall be held annually in connection with the Congress, which shall be organised and managed by the local committee of the colony in which the Congress shall be held.

6th. Members of Photographic Associations may become members of Congress by sending a fee of one shilling to the Hon. Sec. of the Exhibition and Congress then in formation. The Congress may elect honorary members. The annual fee of ten shillings to be charged to non-members of Photographic Associations.

7th. The Executive Committees of Exhibitions and Congress held in 1895 and 1896 shall be considered the founders of the Photographic Congress of Australasia, and become life members of same.

8th. That the constitution of the Congress shall not be changed except at the annual meeting; three months' notice of such change shall be given to the local committee.

9th. Voting by proxy shall be allowed.

During the Congress many valuable papers were read, also demonstrations on various processes given. It is stated that the exhibition will be kept open till the end of June. It is advisable at these Congress meetings to hold them during Easter of each year, and hold them in the afternoons, so that a greater number of delegates could be present, and save so much waste of time between the afternoon and evening sessions. It is to be hoped that the next Congress committee will start at once and arrange the sections for next meeting, and improve on those already held.

ticians, and Lapidaries,

LITTLE RYRIE ST., GEELONG.

hies, Badges, Gold & Silver Jewellery in stock, or made to order.

D

STONES IN ROUGH BOUGHT.