By BRAD SMITH
(Brad Smith is, at 28, one of New
York’s leading photographers. His
articles on photography have ap
peared in numerous national mag
azines and he has published three
books.)
When a bunch of amateur pho
tographers gather for shop-talk,
they have only one thing in com
mon: they take pictures.
But they all want good pictures.
That’s easier said than done. It’s
not simply the ownership of ex
pensive equipment. You need care.
When I am
lecturing one
of my classes,
a frequent
question put
to me is:
“What is the
greatest single
factor in mak
ing a good pic
ture?” Frank
ly, I don’t
know. Many
good books
have been written on each one of
the hundreds of elements of pho
tography.
I do know, though, what can’t
be too strongly stressed: composi
tion. Study the picture before you
trip the shutter. Remember that
you and I are inclined to overlook
many familiar things that will
spoil a picture. The camera is
familiar with nothing. It shows
what it is pointed at. Many other
wise good pictures are ruined by
not “noticing” an ash can in the
background of an informal garden
scene.
Care is required of you before
you actually make your exposure.
Be sure you are looking at the
same picture you want impressed
on film. Then, when you’re satis
fied, don’t let one of your fingers
drift in front of the lens.
For that matter, be sure your
lens is clean in the first place.
Wipe it off with a small piece of
Pond’s Tissue before you take
your shot. Keep some Pond’s in
your pocket for just this purpose.
If you take your camera to the
beach, it is an excellent idea to
open it when you get home and
five it a good dusting. If you use
'ond’s on the metal parts, you will
eliminate the chance of rusting.
Don’t take pictures with just
vertical and horizontal lines. Use
the diagonal line — and use it
often. This kind of li*;e gives your
picture the suggestion cf move
ment. Walk around until von have
a line working from corner to cor
ner—a brook, a fence, a road, any
thing. Then put your subject mat
ter on that line.
Most amateurs don’t use this
rule and their prints look static.
Coffey Insures Everything—
Remember?
Let Us Help in the Time
of Your Bereavement
A
SERVICE
AND
3fteatdifid
Arnold Funeral Chapel
627 H Street Phone 20095
Anchorage
FIRST-OF-LIFETIME EXPERIENCES OF SCOUT
START AT RAILROAD STATION IN ANCHORAGE
Moose Bingo to Benefit
Scouts, Health Council
There will be a benefit Bingo
game at the Moose Hut on
June 21 at 8:30 p.m., Don In
galls of the Moose Lodge an
nounced this week. Proceeds
of the game will be divided
equally between the Valley
Health Council and the Boy
Scouts.
The money for the Boy
Scouts is earmarked for Harry
Campbell's Valley Forge trip,
for which the lodge has prom
ised financial support, Mr. In
galls said.
Refreshments will be served
and the Moose fair queen can
didate, Miss Barbara Hecker,
will be present to cheer the
winners and console the losers
in the evening's play.
Baby Contest Judging
Is Set Back a Week
Because of a last-minute flurry
of appointments in the baby con
test. sponsored by Palmer Studios
and Palmer Drug Store, the vot
ing for winners has been delayed
a week, photographer Gene Gyur
iak announced this week. Five
babies were entered in the con
I test on the June 12 closing day,
! and it was necessary to extend
| the time in order to prepare their
: photographs for the contest.
Mr. Gyuriak asks everyone in
terested to “look for the babies in
the windows next Monday.” The
display will appear in the front
window of Palmer Drug Store at
I that time. Voting will continue
| for a full week, with the ballot
I deadline set for 8 p.m. on Monday, ;
! June 26. Winners will be an
nounced as soon as votes can be
; counted.
Everyone is invited to register
a vote for the baby of their
I choice.
i To Siarl for Stales Today
I Dr. F. R. Sims, Palmer dentist, j
! planned to leave for the states to
! dav on a six weeks’ vacation. He
| said he will spend most of his
Outside leave at Omaha, Neb.
During Dr. Sims’ absence, Dr. Jo
seph Bell will solve Palmer’s
dental problems.
• Palmer’s Jamboree Scout, Har-1
ry Campbell, Jr., is farther south'
today than he has ever been in '■
his life before. At press-time he
was still moving toward the equa
tor. Harry boarded a train last
Tuesday evening (for the first
train ride he’s ever taken) en
route to Seward and a boat trip
to Seattle.
The Palmer Star Scout was one
of a troop of more than 40 Alas
kan Boy Scouts who will go to
Valley Forge for the National
Scout Jamboree to be held there
next month. The troop is led by
Palmer’s Scoutmaster, Victor Alf
sen.
Mr. Alfsen announced, just be
fore leaving, that Palmer and
Anchorage Scouts are responsible
for the stencils which will dec
orate Jamboree tents. Palmer
artist Rusty Dow contributed “10
swell Alaskan designs” to be used
for this purpose, the Scoutmaster
said.
Palmer’s representative to the
Jamboree goes through the com
bined efforts of 12 local residents
and five Palmer organizations.
Helping to finance the trip, in
addition to the funds Harry
earned and contributed himself,
were:
Vernon Fridley, Lucius Ross, ;
Mr. and Mrs. Don Irwin, Cy
Kiehl. Rev. Victor Alfsen, Jack
Maze, Marvin Slaughter. Dr. Lee
McKinley, Jack Cope, Harry
Campbell, an anonymous con- j
tributor, the Ladies’ Aid of the
United Protestant Church, Boy j
Scout Troop 654, Kiwanis Club of j
Palmer, Palmer P-TA, and the
Palmer Moose Lodge.
PLAN COOKIE SALE
The Ladies’ Aid of St. John’s ;
Lutheran Church will hold a _
cookie sale at the Trading Post
tomorrow. Mrs. Alava Roetman j
announced today. The sale will ‘
begin at 10:30 a.m., and will con- j
tinue until the stock is sold out. j
RETURNS TO PALMER
Frank Trainer, with the ground
water branch of the U. S. Geo
logical Survey, has returned to
Palmer for the summer season.
Mr. Trainer was stationed here
last summer.
Coffey Insures Everything—
Remember?
For
Dining
For
Dancing
For
Refreshments
Fine Whiskies — Beers — Liqueurs
ALPINE INN
Mile 61, Glenn Highway
Phone l-J-31
Restaurant Opens
At Knik
KNIK—Mr. and Mrs. Chet Bur
den of Knik this week announcec
the opening of the Knik Koffe<
Kup, a restaurant located in thei
home. Catering to fishermen am
hunters in the Fish Crefek area
the restaurant will be open fron
the breakfast hour to 10:30 p.m.
the week around.
At present, the Koffee Kup wil
seat eight diners, Mrs. Burdei
said. If the project is successful
the present quarters will be en
larged and made permanent.
Lutherans to Hold
Sunday Communion Service
There will be a special commu
nion service at St. John’s Luther
| an Church on Sunday, Rev. Jo
. seph Frenz announced today.
I Church services at St. John’s be
> gin at 3 p.m.
| HURT IN FALL
, William Couey, an Alaska Road
i Commission employe, was hospit
, alized by injuries this week. Mr.
Couey suffered a fractured collar
[ bone and head injuries, in a fall.
i
The Burdens are homesteaders
in the Knik area, where they have
lived for the past three years.
Palmer Transfer
C. H. Meier, Prop.
Palmer, Alaska
Call 49-J-2 Write Box 1745
GENERAL HAULING
Coal and Oil Storage Space
Palmer Anchorage Valdez
A TIE
Is a Perfect Gift for Dad
on Father's Day (June 18)
Moke Your Selection from Our Fine Range
of Colors, Materials and Patterns
(We Feature the Famous Botany Line)
SMILEY'S CLOTHES FOR MEN
(Palmer Drug Store Bldg.)
Arctic Melal Works
Palmer, Alaska
(Across from Grange Hall)
General Sheet Metal Work
Air Conditioning
Furnaces