British Journal of Photography Almanac Annual Summary of Photographic Inventions and Events in Photographic History/1882
From George Eastman House : Notes On Photographs
Edited by W. B. Bolton
Whatever may be the general opinion as to the progressive character of the
year 1881 in matters photographic, there can be no disputing the fact that the
task of selecting and chronicling its notable events and occurrences is a more
than usually difficult one. In saying this, I do not wish to imply that it has been a
year of stagnation-far from it. The records in the journals show that at least the
usual amount of energy has been displayed by experimentalists, and the
character of the work which has appeared in the exhibitions sufficiently testifies
that that practical workers have not been slow in applying the experience thus
placed at their disposal.
It scarcely needs to be said that the all-pervading feature of the year has
been the gradual spread of gelatino-bromide plates in every direction- o in this
country merely, bun in every portion of the globe. The gradual improvement in
our knowledge of the working of dry plates, and the removal one by one of the
difficulties which have hitherto formed stumbling-blocks, have, at length, firmly
established the new order of things in many studios where previously the
experimental stage had scarcely been passed.
Amongst the details of the processes which have received special
attention during the year may be mentioned the important operation of
development; and, thanks to the published experience of some of the leading
dry-plate workers-including Mr. W. K. Burton, Colonel Wortely, and Captain
Abney-much new light has been thrown upon what has hitherto been considered
a difficult and somewhat uncertain process. Closely allied to development is
intensification; and here, again, a considerable amount of labour has been
expended. In the earliest days of the practice of gelatine the necessity was felt
for a suitable means of strengthening the sadly too numerous negatives which,
for over-exposure or other causes, were deficient in density. The various
methods of mercurial intensification-which, so far s collodion negatives are
concerned, has almost lapsed into oblivion-were resuscitated and many new
ones added; but there is too much reason to fear that those who have placed
implicit faith in the permanence of their negatives so treated have had bitter
cause to regret what must be called their misplaced confidence. From mercurial
back to silver intensification, it has been attempted to show, is an easy and a
desirable change, and very plain instructions have been published for working
the latter method.
Those who will look back at their gelatine negatives two years ago, will
probably find amongst them many which, though they satisfied at the time, and
possibly printed in a tolerably respectable manner, would at the present day be
rejected. It came to be accepted as a part and parcel of the gelatine negative
that it should be entirely different from a collodion one. In place of the clear glass
shadows of the latter it was customary to accept the dull, smoky-coloured films
which were supposed to be a necessity with gelatine. It has been proved,
however, that not only are such fogged or veiled images not a necessity in
gelatine negatives, but that if accidentally such a result show be obtained it may
in the majority of cases be entirely removed. For this purpose alum-mixed
according to different operators with various substances-has come into general
use, and plays a by no means unimportant part in the photographic laboratory.
In the department of emulsion making nothing very striking has occurred
during the year. Dr. G. A. Kenyon has shown that it is possible to conduct the
principal portion of the operations necessary in ordinary daylight if the emulsion
be subsequently treated with bichromate of potash. Mr. W.K. Burton and others
have endeavoured to simplify the process of freeing the emulsion form soluble
salts; and considerable discussion has taken place with regard to the value or
otherwise of silver iodide in the emulsion.
Mr. L. Warnerke has discovered a new fact in connection with gelatinebromide
plates, and one which he hopes to apply usefully in different ways. He
has found that the film, after exposure and development with pryo. And ammonia
becomes insoluble in proportion to the extent of the combined action of the light
and developer. Utilising this fact he proposes to apply it to various purposes,
including not only the production of negatives but also photoglyptic moulds.
Mr. W. B. Woodbury has made a still further improvement on his process
of printing in permanent colour, to which he has given the name of “Stannotype;”
but it is not yet worked in this country. It consists in making a gelatine relief in
the ordinary way as for Woodburytype printing, using a positive instead of a
negative, so as to produce a reversed relief. This, when dry, is “faced” with tinfoil
and used as the printing matrix, dispensing entirely with the costly hydraulic
press and other machinery. The process is thus so simplified as to be brought
within the reach of any ordinary photographer.
Amongst the scientific events of the year must be classed the appearance
of at least tow comets, one of which has been successfully photographed by Dr.
Huggins, Dr. Draper, and others.
Electric lighting is gradually working its way into use as an auxiliary in
portraiture, and the recent inventions of M. Faure, enabling electrical force to be
stored for use, promise to render its employment more general.
We have to record the formation of two new societies, namely, the
Newcastle-on-Tyne and Northern Counties’ Photographic Association and the
North Wales Amateur Photographic Society.
Besides the ordinary annual exhibitions of the Photographic Society of
Great Britain and the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, there have been
exhibitions at Manchester and Newcastle; and within a few weeks of the
appearance of these lines three more are announced-one under the auspices of
the Society of Arts, another at Dundee, and the third at Sheffield.
Amongst those removed by death during the past year we have to regret
the loss of Messrs. J. R. Johnson, M. Noton, Adam-Salomon, S. R. Lock, and R.
W. Thomas-all well known names in connection with the past history of
photography.