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Show Women Who Have Become Experts in the , '' Art of Photography-Something : About the Fair Ones. t CAMEBA CLUES OF THE G0UNTBY. Extraordinary Advantages to Females Given by the New York Camera Club. ' Ordinary folks who don't feel a profonnd concern in such matters, but know that amateur photography has of late taken a atrongor hold than ever on the affections of many, would be surprised to find that of the large number of members belonging to the camera clubs at least one-third are women, and that In the good town of New York alone there are s score or more of ladies of leisuro who know vastly more ubout lenses, plates, prints and procehses than old Father Daguerre himself ever did. And they are by no means the unintelligent wiclders of the handy little Kodak, or do they content their ambitions souls with more detective snap shooting, but they study the scientific branches of their art and develop tone and finish by many different dif-ferent processes, prints of which a professional profes-sional might be proud. In 1888 the New York Camera club was organized to satisfy the growing demands of the amateurs for a common home where congonlal souls might meet to enjoy the pleasures of social intercourse, and use the well arranged photographic conveniences, and from the very day of its inception, on the payment of proper fees and dues, all the privileges of the club were extended to ladies applying for membership. They were requested to read papers before the 1 club, submit lantern slides of their own making with successful pictures for exhibitions, exhi-bitions, and now and then at the flatteringly flatter-ingly urgent request of the male members they have accepted offices of importance. A PHOTOGRAPHIC GENIUS.' Prominent among the club's lady members mem-bers is Mrs. Richard P. Lonnsbcrry, whose work, in point of artistic merit and perfection per-fection of finish, is second only to that of the most skillful professionals. This littlo dark eyed woman, who is busy over her social duties, has yet found the time, through her pure love of photography, to study and practico the best methods. Por-traituro Por-traituro is her specialty, and for posing subjects she possesses a positive genius. With men, women and children she is equally successful, and scarcely ever does she see a lovely baby face framed in curls, a young friend whose features and color-' color-' lng especially seem adapted to reproduce well on the plate, that the beloved camera Is not produced and a moBt arbitrary youngster or shy girl coaxed to sit a second before the lense's searching eye. In her studio and laboratory photographs photo-graphs are piled everywhere. Charming old ladies in white caps, dignified bishops in their stately robes, famous literary, artistic and theatrical folk who are Mrs. Lounsberry's friends look out from group frames and open albums, and more frequently fre-quently than all does one find pictures of the three small Lounsberrys, taken at every age, in all manner of quaint costumes, cos-tumes, and in every stage of the day's duties and pleasures, from peeping out of the morning's bath till in little white nightgowns, like threerellow headed cherubs, cher-ubs, they go the round of family kisses. At one period in the New York Camera, club's history a discussion arose among the members which was somewhat difficult to solve satisfactorily for the entire club. Many resigned to organize the American Boclety of Amateur Photographers, of which Miss Catherine Weed Barnes is a prominent member. Though this lady lives in Albany, and her club is domiciled In New York, her interest in its advancement advance-ment never lags, and, in conjunction with v two clever men, she edits a handsome monthly devoted to the interests of amateurs. SEVERAL CLEVER WOMEN. ' Miss Barnes is a gifted musician, and at , one time was an ardent student of art, but some years ago a camera fell into her hands and Bince then all the time and study to be spared from her duties was lavished lav-ished on photography. She is, without doubt, the cleverest lady amatour in America. Amer-ica. In the grounds of her spacious home in the capital city she has built a laboratory laborato-ry and studio perfeotly equipped with all the necessary apparatus. Fifty lenses, ground by famous makers, are counted among her most precious treasures, and the studio boasts an array of painted scenery scen-ery that would Btock a small theatre. One clever little woman, Mrs. Laber, of Faterson, whose husband was a stock raiser for tho city markets, purchased a small camera, and all unaided, except for the formulas given in a paper pamphlet, taught herself to take small but charming photographs. . Looking about to see to what practical use the easily acquired but T&luable knowledge could be put, she decided de-cided to take pictures of her husband's blooded cattle. Eventually the same photographs pho-tographs were passed between the dealer and cattle men living at a distance, and in this manner many sales were negotiated and satisfactorily closed. . Any woman of intelligence can master the simple formulas of photography unaided un-aided by a teacher, and after some experi-rnt experi-rnt learn to do pretty work with a camera cam-era for which she need not pay over $20 or iS. In and aronnd Boston there ore many well known women who use a camera constantly con-stantly and well. Miss Alice Longfellow, daughter of the poet; Miss Horsford, Miss Dolia Stickney, Miss Alice Stone Black-well Black-well and Mrs. Isabella Barrows are but a few among them. Mrs. Andrew Carnegio, who goes coaching, sailing and walking with her husband over Colorado, California, Califor-nia, Norway, Scotland and the Moditer-' Moditer-' ranean, carries in a very tiny leather covered cov-ered box slung over ono shoulder a Kodak camera with which she catches delicious bits of views here and there. Chicago, a city blessed with many of the fair and comfortable things of this world, also possesses a handsome Camera club, of which Mrs. A. C. McClurg is one of the vice presidents, and Mrs. N. Gray Bortlett a director, who is not only the best amateur ama-teur photographer among'ladies of that city, but makes excellent lantern slides, a difficult and delicate branch of the art. New York Sun. |