I
r THE OREGON: SUNDAY JOURNAL. -PORTLAND, VSUNDAY MORNING. . EIARQI 2 1903
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O CATCH the
image of a
fleeting human
emotion to
put a human
thought upon
canvas is the
dream of all
painters, c o ti
stantly pur
sued, seldom
realized. The
camera has
made more Jtearly possible the capture of
the expression of human emotions, but the
Success of the search can never be a matter
of mechanics.
'The search for a moment's expression
must be made by a reader of human nature
uho knows the evasive quarry sought. It
must be a matter of the close study of in
'dividuality, of fancies and of shadings of
character.
Arm tJif hunter for human nature with a
camera and a knowledge of the mechanics
of photography and a part of the task of
transferring thought to paper has been ac
complished. Equip the same hunter also
with the gift for the studs of expression
and there-is going to be a result from the
hunt. '
Few persons are so equipped. The pos
session of the scientific knowledge and the
capacity for reading expression are rarely
combined. The maker of the photographs
reproduced on this page appears to have
Jeen doubly endowed.
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I ARA' F. T. PKICE makes portraits that
speak to you. She does her interesting
work in her own home in Mount Airy.
a suburb of Philadelphia. She; has fitted
up a studio there that bears little resemblance
to the ateliers of the professional photographers
of the cities.
It is a "homey'' sort of place, a library
joined with a little alcove room, the two rooms
separated by an archway. The little alcove
room is the domain of the sitter. The hunt for
human nature is made with a big camera, from
the library side of the arch between the two
apartments.
' There isn't even a skylight. The light that
- serves' the photographer's purpose comes in
through a big colonial window, and is con
trolled by curtains.
Mrs. Price makes all sorts of portraits, but
her cleverest work is done with children as her
subjects. The juvenile sitter is set at ease with
a pleasing toy or an dhticing cake, and a confi
dential chat with the artist begins. The big
camera is placed in position, and when, in the
conversation, the interesting point is reached,
"snap" goes the shutter, and one of the happiest
expressions of, childhood has been put upon film.
The photographer is especially equipped for
her work, because , she has studied expressions
from the standpoint of one who has to under
stand themi She was 'for years engaged in giv
ing readings and character recitations. What
she earlier learned to 6how she now has the
faculty of reading when she sees it in others.
"SOMETHING, DIFFERENT"
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"I strive to get something different when I
make a portrait," says Mrs. Price. "I think
when I get something different that is good that
I have done something worth while. I try to
- find a phase of character in my subject, and
then I try to get it on the plate.
"That's the whole story, and I suppose that
, is the reason why relatives and friends of my
subjects say that my pictures are 'speaking likenesses.
I began to make photographs four years over-that difficulty, only to find that the images
ago. without any idea of ever becoming a pho- j iid get were 'far from being satisfactory.' This
: ,. tographer. I was going on a holiday outing arid represents one of the stages."
1 saw a Uttle camera in "a window, marked down Here Mrs. Price showed one of those ama-
' Z cn- -L.bou8nt it I made some snap- teur photographs everybody has seen. It was
shots that people said were good. an ambitious attempt at artistic lighting. It
1 ' "t rejW th6ifir8t- It, was. a long time be- 4 showed one side of the sitter's face dead white
f0M J.de "oai Qt o good. and the other side smothered in the blackness
, was a hard rosd to gravel to reach the 0f eternal night.
point w here I was convinced that I could make "But just such work as that is what made
portraits that were worth the name. After the jt possible for me to learn to do things right.
- nrst buccessful snapshots I acquired real Every mistake showed me that there must be a
camera. , 1 was surprised to find that I made way to do the same thing successfully, and thatis
lot c plates that had nothing on.them. I got hat Xixxiod to do.
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some sittings in dozens of positions. Of course,
I make photographs in the old album poses, if
my customers desire them, but I never do if I
am left to do what I like, and generally the peo
ple like best what Hike best.
"To work with children is my chief delight.
I am able to get their confidence. I play games
with them. We have all sorts of make-believe
parties, and when we are , on the right sort of
terms I begin my work, and I get pictures that
parents approve of. The picture of the little
girl with a cake I think is particularly good.
The caption is literal. She coyly asked me if
1 would have a piece of her cake, and J was
ready for the fleeting expression. The picture
of the child with the toys was equally fortunate.
He was really at play when it Was made. His
expression tells what pleasure he was experi
encing.
GOOD FIELD FOR WOMEN
"Do I think women make good photogra
phers? Indeed, I do. They are patient enough'
to study their subjects, and that means a pros
pect of success with difficult sitters. But I've
nothing against the men. Much of what I know
I owe to the friendly interest of professional
photographers who were willing -to correct my
Ti . , , . ' i j ji' i. ' errors and suggest improvements in my work.
"It took nearly two years and during .that . Th haye aided mQ un3efi8nl and to them l
time.1 was as well equipped withmechamcal ap-, owe great deal of my success.
phatLTw T7 "I believe that there is a fiQld for women
eras and lenses, but 1 did nothave experience. . ' , ' tud i,I ,. , j
When I g6t so that I could make a portrait that m photography,, Those who have patjence and
looked right I began to have hope. This is the . ta'f , u, it. ( They will not interfere
picture That convinced me thaA could make with, thomen, who are in .the work. Ecaders of
ortraits" " ' ' the monthly magazines see that the number of
Here the photographer showed : the portrait WOIen f fishing photographs .worthy of high
of a young girl which would reflect credit upon - ss reproduction is - increasing all the tnaa.
her work as a photographer, even today. . . Woman-should and undoubtedly wUl, have her
"That, decided me. I tried' to make; other," ucc688 m the field of child-portraiture, butthe
portraits equally good, and I;succeedeL, Then i temperament of the woman who attempts this
a friend who saw my earlier work asked me to , work must be suited; tp the task." .
make a portrait of a child. That was my. first , . . Mrs Price s experiments, it must be said,
professional order. Then I went into' photogra-" not been, along the ,hnes; of most : of the
phy a a business and made -this. studio in my amateurs who have become,' professional pho
home. I, have worked' two yearsasSa'profes- tographers. Her outfit has been of the profes
Hional 'and have had hundreds' of sittings.'. .ftj . Bronal type fromtheday of discarding the 80
have ndver violated my rule of ,'givirig' to every j, cent .camera , with which, she,; begn .her work,
portrait its own individuality., "l have not lost, She has.lost sight of no department of her busi
the interest.of the amateur, and I'don't;believe ' iefs. She has studidd the Mechanical and scien
that I ever shall be able to do my work' mechan- ' t!fic sides Of it thoroughly, all with-a 'view to
ically. I find something new in' eVery, subject. rnaking. them do all they, can- to bring out the
I look for it, and there are few faces that do not - artistic Bide which she has been-so. successful
give the photographer 'something different ' that n presenting.- She is convinced that mecbawcal
willstand out in a good photograph. . equipment Iras much to, do, with insuring tho
"I try to make the sitter feel at home. I right sort of Results. She develops her own neg
'visit . with' jmy callers ior a ilc. 'I talk -to , atives andpnnts herown metUMS.ho is pre
them and, learn from, a brief study of cach iaco pared to do this because, her plant .is so con
its greatest portrait possibUities.- Then I begin venicntly arranged and perfectly equipped as to
to-work and work quickly. ; . try ta' avoid tire- .guarantee perfect wort (
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