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Here's an early photographic magazine. It's dated August 23rd 1926. There are plenty of good articles in it, such as how to mix up your developer, how to photograph bats, and the latest news on Agfa colour plates. One of the adverts was from Wallace Heaton of New Bond Street. This shop was a famous name in photography, the Harrods of the photographic world. For many years it was a family firm where you got impeccable service and attention, just like Harrods. But it was eventually taken over, by Dixon's of all people. End of an era. Their advert featured the Paff reflex roll film camera with an f/6.8 anastigmat lens, all for under £2. One feature in the magazine that particularly caught my attention was headed HOLIDAY HINTS and told photographers what they could expect from various locations around the country. Here are a few hints. NORWICH — Famed for a cathedral, a very fine lot of mustard works and a maker of caps. The first makes an excellent photograph, the second makes a splendid cheese sandwich, and the third makes a lot of money. RYE — Mostly marsh, but, like most other things, a really good marsh will make a nice picture if you get it in a good light from the right angle. This means that when it is printed, it probably won't look like a marsh at all, which is all to the good. GORLESTON — Here there is plenty of sand and numbers of ladies who are quite ready to bathe, but are waiting for the tide to come up. What more need be said? JARROW — Music-hall comedians would not talk of Wigan if they knew Jarrow, for if they knew Jarrow, they probably wouldn't talk at all—they'd be speechless! That is why, if you go there for your holidays, take your camera; there is so much to take, especially if the glue factories are not working. HENLEY — Plenty of most excellent pictures can be had at Henley: the river girl, for instance, not à la chocolate box, but as she really is—all hot and bothered, trying to pull her punt pole out of where she stuck it last. ILFRACOMBE — On the hills of Devon, which look good in any photograph, particularly the rolling heather; ordinary heather, as you know, does not roll. A picture of Ilfracombe harbour with the tide out is a good as one with the tide in, although there is not much in it. More HOLIDAY HINTS soon. |