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The ferrotype and how to make it - The Grian Press

The ferrotype and how to make it - The Grian Press

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98<br />

THE FERROTYPE.<br />

derived from the bath, of the time of exposure,<br />

whether <strong>to</strong>o long or <strong>to</strong>o short, of the propnety of<br />

the lighting <strong>and</strong> posing, <strong>and</strong> of the action of the<br />

develoj)ing solution ; in every particular of which<br />

there is an endless variation which taxes every<br />

power of the mind, <strong>and</strong> the study of which is an<br />

endless source of pleasure <strong>and</strong> exc<strong>it</strong>ement. It is<br />

well, also, <strong>to</strong> accus<strong>to</strong>m the eye <strong>to</strong> note, <strong>and</strong> the<br />

mind <strong>to</strong> judge of the strength of light passing<br />

through the lens, <strong>and</strong> thrown on the ground or<br />

object-glass, so that <strong>it</strong> will not be necessary <strong>to</strong><br />

guess at the proper time of exposure. This may<br />

be made a matter of certainty by a course of<br />

careful observation, <strong>and</strong> of noting all mistakes,<br />

<strong>and</strong> remembering all successes.<br />

In this connection, I am tempted <strong>to</strong> give ex-<br />

pression <strong>to</strong> a feeling of contempt which I have<br />

always felt for mere guess-work in this or any<br />

other art or business. It be<strong>to</strong>kens the lack of<br />

that careful hab<strong>it</strong> of study <strong>and</strong> observation,<br />

w<strong>it</strong>hout which no considerable degree of success<br />

can ever be attained. What would be said of<br />

the watch<strong>make</strong>r, <strong>to</strong> whom you had taken your<br />

watch, if he could not indicate the exact nature<br />

<strong>and</strong> cause of the s<strong>to</strong>ppage or the variation you<br />

wished corrected? So of the Ferrotypist, if he<br />

could not tell wherein his picture was defective,<br />

<strong>and</strong> had not the abil<strong>it</strong>y <strong>to</strong> apply the proper<br />

remedy. Of course, all this must be acquired,<br />

but <strong>it</strong> can never be acquired w<strong>it</strong>hout much

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