Exhibition - 1894

The Industrial Exhibition in the Opera House, Tuam Street, Christchurch

1894

THE EXHIBITS.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND PRINTING.

During the last few years several notable improvements have been made in photography, and some of these are illustrated in the work of the Christchurch photographers who have sent specimens of their productions to the exhibition. Prominent among the improvements in question is the "Matt Surface," which is dull, instead of glazed, as is that of the ordinary photographs. Again, the isochromatic process enables "colour values" to be expressed more accurately than was possible a few years ago, so that the differences between various colours are made more evident in the picture. A new "printing-out paper" —gelatinised chloride paper — enables the photographer to obtain better and more permanent "prints" than formerly.

The exhibit of Messrs Standish and Preece, consisting wholly of "platinette" Matt-surface photographs, is a fine exemplification of artistic photography. A notable feature of the display is an excellent enlarged portrait of his Excellency Lord Glasgow, who had given the firm his patronage. This is surrounded by a charming array of portraits, in all the sizes popular now-a-days. The pictures are mostly those of ladies and children; and the likenesses are good, the pose of the figures artistic, and the tone exquisite. Every picture is clear, soft and, in a very high degree, effective. Some of the portraits have been taken with "fancy lights," and striking, yet pleasing effects produced thereby.

At the head of the left-hand staircase Mr Sorrell has a really fine exhibit. Two enlargements, each twenty-four inches by sixteen inches, are lifelike pictures, admirably soft and delicately finished. Mr Sorrell's Matt surface "artistotype" photographs, which he shows in great variety, are charming; they have a soft gray tone, similar to that of a high-class steel engraving, and, he states, are not liable to be damaged by wet. A large assortment of ordinary enamelled photographs of great merit completes an artistic and effectively arranged exhibit.

Messrs Wrigglesworth and Binns are represented by three splendid enlargements, one of a life size half-length portrait of the late John Ballance, the other of a half life - size three - quarter - length picture of Sir George Grey, and a group representing the Ballance Ministry sitting in cabinet. The last-named is three feet six inches in length and two feet six inches wide; the likenesses are admirable, the figures are effectively grouped, and the work, as a whole, is almost beyond praise.

Mr C. H. Manning has an excellent likeness of Lord Onslow and several other very fine photographs, including reduced, pictures of the deeply interesting series of portraits of the Canterbury Pilgrims, taken to the order of Mr Bush. A good deal of interest has been excited by a couple of frames, one containing engravings of ladies' "reformed dress" adopted in Europe and America, and the other the costumes worn by the supporters of the movement in Christchurch.

Star, Issue 5021, 6 August 1894, Page 4