My usual method of enlarging from small camera shots is this. I enlarge a transparency (positive) up to 6½×8½ or 8×10. “In an Italian Village” was an 8×10 positive, sharp lens. Then, either with a soft focus or a sharp focus lens, I enlarge to whatever size I want and whatever effect I'm after. The advantage of enlarging the positive is that you can do any faking you want to better advantage, and when your enlarged negative is done you can print in any medium you wish, so I always make enlarged negatives. I don't think I've made a bromide enlargement in twenty years. “In an Italian Village” was enlarged from a part of a 45×107 mm. stereo, a little larger than my thumb-nail. The enlarged negative is 11×14. It was printed in multiple gum, four printings, pigment 50-50 lampblack and indigo.
H. A. Latimer.
Night Pictures in the Streets
See [Crow's Nest Restaurant,][ also The Arch of Jewels, New York City—Mr. Alcock's picture was made under similar conditions.]
Picturing New York with a camera after dark is perhaps one of the most interesting phases of pictorial photography. After spending several evenings prowling about for subjects that will lend themselves for night pictures you start out one evening to transfer these mental images to the plate. A little patience, endurance, and a great deal of enthusiasm will do wonders. It is not the easiest thing in the world to start out with an 8×10 view camera, a good substantial tripod, and several plate-holders. A strong tripod is absolutely necessary on account of winds, jars, vibrations, etc. To avoid halation use portrait film, take the view where there are no glaring lights, and develop with Azol. Judge your time according to the amount of light (two to ten minutes). Capping the lens each time a lighted moving vehicle comes along helps the picture. For night pictures probably the best medium is gum palladium, because it lends itself to the mellow evening lights.
Sophie L. Lauffer.
How to “Work Up” a Negative
“Along the Canal” was taken about mid-day in July in bright sunlight, Graflex 4×5, Cooke lens working at one-twentieth of a second, F 11, on Seed 26x plate, Pyro (Kodak powders) developer. In working up, first make Solio print and enlarge by photographing up to 6×8. On this negative sky and some trees were painted out, using glass side to work on. From this negative print was made on American platinum paper, first the foreground, then the sky printed from negative which will suit subject. Retouching can be done on this print with carbon pencil. You then have a print which can be enlarged to any size, using Smith lens. This print is on Spanish hand-made paper, hand-coated with platinum.
W. E. MacNaughton.