DOI Heft:
No. 25 (April, 1895)
DOI Artikel:Briant, Rowland: Snow as a subject for the camera
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17294#0045
Snow as a Subject for the Camera
<*
" a snow scene " (Second Prize, " Studio " Competition) by a. g. cooke
become for the first time possible. In mountain fall. For which there is a reason possibly, though
districts this is often noticeable. no excuse. The reason might be described as "a
The selection of a picture motive, a matter of rational desire to avoid unnecessary risk to health
superlative importance to the photographer, seems in the pursuit of a favourite hobby;" or, more
to be subject to quite unfamiliar conditions under briefly, as a version of laziness. It must be con-
the influence of winter. Snow with its broadening fessed, however, that serious pictorial work is
tendency, hoar frost with its detail accent, and fog accomplished out of doors in winter, under some-
with its mysterious blotting-out capacity, will what uncongenial conditions. For a set of most
between them give such an unfamiliar aspect to a prosaic facts come into play, which a good deal
familiar scene, that previous knowledge of it will interfere with the calm and patience requisite for
count for little. The selection must be made ot securing the best results.
Nature in the mood she is in at the moment. For instance, tramping or standing about in the
The first impression produced by snow or frost snow makes the feet very cold ; handling apparatus
is frequently deceptive. After having settled down cooled to several degrees below freezing-point, does
to the gloominess of dull winter days, and having not exactly assist finger manipulation. Nor is it
become accustomed to the dinginess of dormant very exhilarating to have your breath constantly
trees and underwood, the vivid glow of the snow is condensing in fern-pattern ice upon the focussing
so welcome, in rapidly beautifying everything, that screen. Still less inspiring is the endurance
it is easy enough to fall into serious errors of judg- required for a good pinhole exposure on an open
ment, as to what is really interesting, in a pictorial common, with a cutting north-east wind blowing,
sense. Garden walks bordered by evergreens, It usually needs an enthusiast to work under such
loaded with lumpy snow, do not offer the most adverse conditions; but it is certain—supposing he
promising material for even photographic scraps ; be possessed of the other needful qualifications—
and that is a low enough ideal at any time ! None that the enthusiast will ever obtain the best results,
the less, these snow-shrouded shrubs have their None the less, art is a good deal hampered, how-
full tail of plates wasted on them, with each fresh ever successfully practice may triumph; and no-
33
<*
" a snow scene " (Second Prize, " Studio " Competition) by a. g. cooke
become for the first time possible. In mountain fall. For which there is a reason possibly, though
districts this is often noticeable. no excuse. The reason might be described as "a
The selection of a picture motive, a matter of rational desire to avoid unnecessary risk to health
superlative importance to the photographer, seems in the pursuit of a favourite hobby;" or, more
to be subject to quite unfamiliar conditions under briefly, as a version of laziness. It must be con-
the influence of winter. Snow with its broadening fessed, however, that serious pictorial work is
tendency, hoar frost with its detail accent, and fog accomplished out of doors in winter, under some-
with its mysterious blotting-out capacity, will what uncongenial conditions. For a set of most
between them give such an unfamiliar aspect to a prosaic facts come into play, which a good deal
familiar scene, that previous knowledge of it will interfere with the calm and patience requisite for
count for little. The selection must be made ot securing the best results.
Nature in the mood she is in at the moment. For instance, tramping or standing about in the
The first impression produced by snow or frost snow makes the feet very cold ; handling apparatus
is frequently deceptive. After having settled down cooled to several degrees below freezing-point, does
to the gloominess of dull winter days, and having not exactly assist finger manipulation. Nor is it
become accustomed to the dinginess of dormant very exhilarating to have your breath constantly
trees and underwood, the vivid glow of the snow is condensing in fern-pattern ice upon the focussing
so welcome, in rapidly beautifying everything, that screen. Still less inspiring is the endurance
it is easy enough to fall into serious errors of judg- required for a good pinhole exposure on an open
ment, as to what is really interesting, in a pictorial common, with a cutting north-east wind blowing,
sense. Garden walks bordered by evergreens, It usually needs an enthusiast to work under such
loaded with lumpy snow, do not offer the most adverse conditions; but it is certain—supposing he
promising material for even photographic scraps ; be possessed of the other needful qualifications—
and that is a low enough ideal at any time ! None that the enthusiast will ever obtain the best results,
the less, these snow-shrouded shrubs have their None the less, art is a good deal hampered, how-
full tail of plates wasted on them, with each fresh ever successfully practice may triumph; and no-
33