Alfred Seaman and the PCUK
The Photographic Convention of the United Kingdom through the stereoscopic camera of a Derbyshire photographer
REPORT OF THE DELEGATES OF THE LONDON & PROVINCIAL PHOTOGRAPHIC ASSOCIATION TO THE EDINBURGH CONVENTION OF 1892.
" Big Ben " was booming twelve when the tender conveying one of your delegates left the Westminster pier en route to the good ship Seamew, picking up on the way delegates from other societies. Your other delegate was found already on the Seamew, completing various arrangements made for the comfort of our party, which numbered ten, ladies and gentlemen. Off Greenwich we discerned friend Haddon quietly taking a shot at our passing vessel. We gave him a hearty cheer, regretting at the same time that he was not with us.
Time on shipboard passed pleasantly; what with deck quoits, cards, and discussions as to developers, especially the new one, " Rodinal," the spirited representative of which popular combination was one of our party. Indeed, so deeply were its merits discussed, that the very engines we fancied, seemed to say "Rod-i-nal, Rod-i-nal, Rod-i-nail" in their revolutions.
Many groups on board were taken; the captain himself, seeming to be rather fond of the operation, was posed several times. He also kindly slowed down when passing the " Bass Rock," and sounded the steam whistle, causing the gulls in thousands to fly off the rock, making a very fine picture.
At all times a gay and beautiful city, Edinburgh was certainly looking its best as your delegates approached its ancient port, and continued to do so, without a break, during the continuance of their stay.
At seven o'clock on Monday evening we assembled in large numbers to be welcomed by the Lord Provost, who, in the course of his remarks to us, referred in a most able manner to the great strides photography has made in recent years. He was followed by Mr. C. H. Bothamley, who in the absence through illness of our retiring President, Mr. W. Bedford, introduced our new President, Mr. George Davison, whose exhaustive address, coupled with his genial manner, was much appreciated by every one present.
Our first excursion, which was to Melrose and Dryburgh on Tuesday, under the leadership of Mr. Blanc, was most successful, particularly for the stand cameras, subjects being mostly of an architectural nature, and the light not being particularly good, it was not so favourable for the large contingent of hand-camera men, and so (and here let a mild protest be put in) they accordingly amused themselves by taking shots at un-offending groups of their fellow-pilgrims.
The drive from Melrose to Dryburgh, through the charming Lowland scenery, was most enjoyable, and a thing to be remembered. Our leader Mr. Blanc, was most assiduous in pointing ont the various beauties in the architecture, and coaching us well up as to the historical associations of both Melrose and Dryburgh. The post-Convention meetings on Monday and Tuesday evening were held in a large room in the Royal Hotel kindly placed at our disposal by your popular member, Mr. H. M Smith. Here toast and song, interspersed with anecdote, prevailed till the small hours, then came changing plates, and many and amusing experiences would be related, particularly about the member who always backed his plates in his bedroom, in a very dim light, and found in the morning, on waking that his night shirt, face and neck, to say nothing of the sheets and pillow cases had all been liberally treated with the same excellent mixture " Whisky " was suggested as a possible cause, but the effect was not generally admired. After two or three performances of that nature, added to which, in some instances (when very bad), was the labour of washing the stains out, before leaving the bedroom, that member omitted to back any more plates.
On Wednesday morning a large party of hand-camera men, headed by “Poor little Mr. Brown," started off very early for Newhaven to take “Fish Wives," and partake of "Fish Breakfasts;" both objects were satisfactorily attained, one gentleman owning to having exposed 24 plates in an hour on the former characteristic subjects ; indeed, in such a pursuit it is surprising what early risers photographic enthusiasts can be. Notwithstanding the special license granted by the Lord Provost and Magistrates for the prolongation of our post-Convention conviviality at Daish’s ; and doubtless many characteristic pictures of Scottish fisher folk enriched the collections of the number of hand-camera men who were up in the morning early.
At the annual meeting at ten, it was decided to hold the next Convention at
Miss Catharine Weed Barnes then read her paper on "Amateur Photography in America;" she alluded to the fact that far too many workers there, as here, begin and end with detective cameras, they procure one expecting that it will do every kind of work, and very naturally soon get disgusted; no one could appreciate photography at its full value till they had realised all the possibilities of time exposures. Miss Barnes also alluded to American workers not giving enough consideration in choosing a subject and to the poverty of her country in historical objects ; she did not consider the clear atmosphere of America was so well adapted for general landscape work as the always blamed English sample, and claimed that American-made cameras were far more suitable than those of English make for use in her country; they were lighter, had more improvements, the plate-holders also were more compact and lighter. American sizes in both negative and lantern plates were the best. She also alluded to a violet-coloured lens for the truer rendering of half-tones to be used in place of the back combination of a rapid rectilinear lens, giving, with portraits especially, a remarkably improved effect.
In the discussion which followed, Mr. H. Sturmey said no doubt America was far ahead of England in the use of photography in certain studies, and for book illustrations, but he could not agree with Miss Barnes as to the superiority of American cameras, and the American slides might be lighter, but they were quite as bulky. Mr. Howard Farmer's paper on the “Deficiencies in the Training of Photographers” was read by Mr. Cembrano. It treated the subject very cleverly from nearly every standpoint, and caused a large amount of discussion.
Mr. George Mason stated that, as to the limited supply of good assistants, the matter rested with the assistants themselves; so few to make themselves all-round men, contenting themselves wit one branch, and even the use of one maker's lenses. Mr Bothamley then, by desire, opened a discussion .on development. He stated that he had not found much difference in results between pyro and hydroquiuone, and had not yet been able to find out any great superiority of pyro and soda over pyro and ammonia, or, vice versa. He questioned whether the greater softness in negatives claimed .by the users of ammonia would not be due to general fog. He could not agree altogether with Messrs. Hurter & Driffield's theories, as he thought that the experiences of distinguished workers should he taken into account; if Messrs. Hurter & Driffield were right, then nearly everybody else was wrong.
On Thursday morning the greater number of us went to St. Andrew's, and an enormous number of plates were exposed on the cathedral ruins, the old castle, and the beach and harbour, and the fine golf links. We were blessed with splendid weather, and it was acknowledged that the Edinburgh Committee, in selecting such interesting places for the outings, deserved the most unqualified praise. Some complained of the long distances that had to be traversed by rail; but the heated political discussion that generally arose, owing to the great victories the Gladstonians were gaining every day, seemed to make the train journeys less irksome, if sometimes they were rather noisy.
On Friday your delegates went to Cramond Bridge, securing some fine views there and along the river Almond, and in the evening the annual dinner was held at the Waterloo Hotel. It was attended by a very large number, the presence of ladies, for the first time, giving the banquet a.most enjoyable appearance. Many were the toasts, and deep was the regret expressed that some of our most popular members had been unable to attend the Edinburgh meeting. The musical arrangements were under the management of Mr. George Mason, who eclipsed himself, and induced a number of ladies and gentlemen to entertain us by song and recitation.
On Saturday morning, at ten, the Council Meeting was held. Mr. George Mason, of Glasgow, was elected President of the next Convention, to be held at Plymouth; the accounts were passed, showing a balance to the good; and so ended the most pleasant and successful Convention meeting up to date.
It was very gratifying to your delegates to observe that at all the outings, and meetings, and dinner there were more members of the London and Provincial present than of any other Society, not even excepting the local (Edinburgh) Society), whom we must take this opportunity of thanking for the great trouble they had been put to in arranging all the excursions, luncheons, &c. To Mr. Blanc, the President, and Mr. Barclay, the Hon. Secretary, great praise is due, and also to many other Edinburgh gentlemen, who laid themselves out to amuse and entertain us ; indeed, nothing was wanting on the part of the Local Committee to make the meeting what it has been— "a thorough success."
"Auld Reekie " has seldom been seen to better advantage, and the Clerk of the Weather was decidedly on his good behaviour.
On Saturday morning we all dispersed, many going north, amongst others your delegates, who went, via Callender, to spend a pleasant time at the Trossachs, then through Loch Katrine and Loch Lomond to Helensburgh, on the Clyde, and sailing down the estuary of the Clyde to the Isle of Arran, where more plates were exposed, and your delegates parted, one coming home by the west coast, and making a pleasant little jaunt into Tipperary, thence home via Southampton and Dover, having had a very enjoyable time on the water; the other delegate returning shortly after by the east-coast steamer.
R.P. Drage and J Weir Brown