Dominick Volini Photography

Premo Junior Cameras

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:24:51 +0000

The very simplest camera for making pictures is a camera of the fixed focus type. Such cameras require no focusing or estimating of distances, and as they do not have to be opened, are always ready for immediate action.

The Premo Juniors are cameras of this kind and they are even easier in operation than the usual camera of this type, possessing, as they do, the remarkable simplicity of loading and operating provided by the Premo Film Pack.

To make a picture with one of these cameras is a matter of seconds only. The first step is to load the camera, and this is effected in any light by opening the back, dropping in Premo Film Pack and then closing the back.

Second, set the shutter for time or instantaneous exposure as required by the subject. This is accomplished by merely moving a lever up or down.

Then glance at the finder, which reflects the image on a reduced scale, just as it will appear in the finished picture, press a lever and the exposure is made. To change films for successive exposures, pull out successive film pack tabs.

The Premo Juniors are particularly well adapted for the use of boys and girls, by reason of their low cost, substantial construction and simple operation. This does not mean that the camera is not suitable for older people, for there are many grown up amateurs who prefer cameras of this simple type, and are using Premo Juniors with marked success.

For all ordinary work, such as portraiture, snap shots in good light and average landscapes, they are capable of producing very good results. These cameras are all fitted with tested lenses, automatic shutters and horizontal and vertical finders. They are substantially made to withstand hard knocks, covered with imitation leather and attractive in appearance.

The negatives made with these cameras are of such quality as to yield very good enlargements and any amateur can make his own enlargements by use of the Brownie Enlarging Camera

A Developing Sink

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:11:47 +0000

Many amateur photographers are obliged to do their developing in odd corners and under conditions which render the hobby somewhat irksome if a large number of plates have to be treated. The main difficulty is to secure an adequate water supply and to dispose of the waste water. At a small expenditure of money and energy it is easy, however, to rig up a contrivance which, if it does not afford the conveniences of a properly equipped dark room, is in advance of the jug-and-basin arrangement with which one might otherwise have to be content. A strong point in favour of the subject of this chapter is that it can be moved without any trouble if the photographer has to change his quarters.

The foundation, so to speak, of the developing sink is a common wooden washstand of the kind which has a circular hole in the top to hold the basin. A secondhand article of this sort can be purchased for a shilling or two. A thoroughly sound specimen should be selected, even if it is not the cheapest offered, especial attention being paid to its general rigidity and the good condition of the boards surrounding the basin shelf.

Refraction of Light in Photography

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:51:19 +0000

A ray of light failing perpendicularly through the air upon a surface of glass or water passes on in a straight line through the body; but if it, in passing from one medium to another of different density, fall obliquely, it is bent from its direct course and recedes from it, either towards the right or left, and this bending is called refraction. If a ray of light passes from a rarer into a denser medium it is refracted towards a perpendicular in that medium; but if it passes from a denser into rarer it is bent further from a perpendicular in that medium. Owing to this bending of the rays of light the angles of refraction and incidence are never equal.

Transparent bodies differ in their power of bending light–as a general rule, the refractive power is proportioned to the density–but the chemical constitution of bodies as well as their density, is found to effect their refracting power. Inflammable bodies possess this power to a great degree.

The sines of the angle of incidence and refraction (that is, the perpendicular drawn from the extremity of an arc to the diameter of a circle,) are always in the same ratio; viz: from air into water, the sine of the angle of refraction is nearly as four to three, whatever be the position of the ray with respect to the refracting surface. From air into sulphur, the sine of the angle of refraction is as two to one–therefore the rays of light cannot be refracted whenever the sine of the angle of refraction becomes equal to the radius* of a circle, and light falling very obliquely upon a transparent medium ceases to be refracted; this is termed total reflection.

* The RADIUS of a circle is a straight line passing from the center to the circumference.

Since the brightness of a reflected image depends upon the quantity of light, it is quite evident that those images which arise from total reflection are by far the most vivid, as in ordinary cases of reflection a portion of light is absorbed.

Velox Paper

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:17:10 +0000

by Nesster under CC BY

Velox is the very best paper for amateur use for it is simple to use, thoroughly dependable and is made in a variety of grades and surfaces to fit all sorts of amateur negatives.

It prints in any light, requires no dark room and permits the amateur to utilize his evening hours in print making. Its simplicity of manipulation and extreme gradation make it suitable for photographic work of every kind.

Velox is divided broadly into two kinds of paper called “Regular” and “Special” (hard and soft) each division containing a variety of surfaces. “Regular” papers develop quickly and are best suited for negatives lacking contrast. “Special” papers develop slowly, and give soft effects from hard negatives. Use “Special” Velox for negatives producing good results on “Printing Out” paper (such as Solio), and “Regular” only with very flat negatives (negatives lacking contrast).

Velox surfaces: In the “Regular” class are carbon (matte surface), Glossy, Glossy double weight, Velvet, and Velvet double weight. “Regular” Velvet Velox is semi-gloss and gives prints of exceptional beauty. This paper will give satisfactory results from very flat negatives.

In the “Special” class, the surfaces are Carbon (matte surface), Portrait (smooth matte), Portrait double weight, Rough, Glossy, Glossy double weight, Velvet, and Velvet double weight.

“Special” Velvet Velox has a greater range than any of the other “Special” papers.

Royal Velox is coated on a soft, mellow-tinted stock, which when re-developed affords all the soft delicacy of a rare old etching. It is made in two grades, “Regular” and “Special” and one surface, just rough enough to produce the desired effect.

Kodak Film Tank

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:48:03 +0000

Development, that former bugbear of the amateur photographer and especially of the beginner, is made a simple proposition by the Kodak Film Tank—fully as simple as any part of the photographic process.

The Kodak Film Tank automatically develops every roll of film put into it, just as well as that roll of film could be developed by the most experienced photographer. If directions are followed, if the chemicals are mixed and the temperature regulated according to instructions, a boy or girl can get just as good results from the Kodak Film Tank as an expert by any method.

In other words, every roll of film put into the film tank, where the simple directions are implicitly followed, will come out developed as well, or better, than that roll of film could be developed in the dark room by the most experienced photographer. And it is very simple, it eliminates the dark room entirely, developing the film in broad daylight, and is so compact as to be easily carried and used anywhere.

The Kodak Film Tank consists of a winding box, a light-proof apron, and a heavily nickeled brass solution cup with cover. In the Brownie Film Tank, however, no cover is necessary as the film roll itself is turned. All articles can be packed in the box, making the entire outfit self-contained.

The film to be developed is placed upon a reel in the winding box, the cover is placed on the box and the film is wound around an axis in combination with the apron, in such fashion that, when completely wound, the apron protects the film effectually from light, and may be removed from the winding box safely at any time. It is then lowered into the cup of developer, the cover attached and the film left to develop for twenty minutes. After development the film is removed for fixing.

Every step is performed in daylight and the exact time necessary for development, in combination with the chemical formula, has been scientifically worked out, so that all differences of exposure within reasonable bounds are taken care of. Especial attention is called to the new 2½-inch size, for the development of 1A or 2A films.

Kodak Lenses

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:30:01 +0000

by mecookie under CC BY

The regular R. R. and meniscus lenses used on Kodak and Brownie Cameras have always been the best lenses of their respective types that could be secured. These lenses are perfectly adapted to everyday amateur photography, producing pictures under normal light conditions that leave nothing to be desired by the average amateur.

For those, however, who wish even greater efficiency and capabilities, we supply the anastigmat lens equipments.

The superiority of the anastigmat lens, without attempting to go into the technicalities of the subject, consists of—Perfect definition over the whole negative, absolute flatness of field, and higher speed.

In R. R. lenses the tendency to lack of definition toward the edges, which always occurs in an uncorrected lens, is so slight as to be unnoticeable except to the most expert eye. In a true anastigmat, it is entirely eliminated.

The speed of a lens is determined by the relative size of the diaphragm opening. An R. R. lens cannot be used at an opening greater than ⅛ its focal length, commonly designated asf. 8. But an anastigmat lens can be so corrected as to permit the use of larger diaphragm openings and still produce sharp, clear negatives. This larger opening admits more light within a given time than that of the R. R. lens, hence the anastigmat is much faster. Thus the Zeiss or Cooke Kodak Anastigmat lens, working at an aperture of f. 6.3 admits 60 per cent. more light in a given time than does the R. R.

This speed advantage enables the user to make short exposures on dull days or under poor light conditions, where hopelessly undertimed negatives would result with an R. R. lens. And under proper conditions, exposures up to 1/250 second with a Compound shutter and 1/1000 with a focal plane shutter, can be made with the anastigmat.

In the last few years there has been a steadily increasing interest in and demand for anastigmat lens equipments among amateur photographers, and we responded to this demand, first by furnishing the Special Kodaks fitted with Zeiss Kodak Anastigmat lens, f. 6.3—a lens fully corrected and offering the advantage of high speed.

These have been followed by the Six-Three Kodaks. These differ from the Specials in that they are simply our regular Kodak models, without the special covering and finish of “Specials,” and fitted with anastigmat lenses specially designed by Taylor, Taylor & Hobson, for Kodak use and called the Cooke Kodak Anastigmat. This lens works at f. 6.3 and is fully corrected in every particular.