Helpful Hints for Photographers from Ensign, Kodak & Coronet

 

The following was written on a coupon for a free booklet about Ensign Cameras.

HELPFUL HINTS for Photographers.

Sunshine makes all the difference to a photograph. It lights up the shadows, puts in contrasts, and makes the pictures thoroughly pleasing.

Therefore: Take your "Snapshots" when the sun is actually shining, or only lightly covered by clouds.

Don't attempt to make "Snapshots" in Winter or on dull evenings at any time. Make a "Time" exposure instead.

Always hold the Camera very still during exposure.

Don't have the sun dead in front of you - preferably it should be to one side or the other, or behind. 

When making a "Time" exposure rest the Camera on some suitable support, such as a table and hold the Camera quite still.

Try and arrange your subjects in front of a pleasant background.

Don't forget to wind your film to the next number after making an exposure.  

This next advice comes from the instructions written for the Coronet 44, a 127 film box camera:

Points to Remember

Always take "snaps" in bright light with the sun at your back. 

Hold the camera quite still when taking the picture - depress the shutter release very gently. 

Load and unload the film in the shade or indoors, and do not leave the camera about in strong sunlight for long periods. 

Do not let sand or dust get into the camera - it may ruin the shutter mechanism. The best way is to keep the camera in a case when not in use.

 

The next guidelines come from Kodak's "How to use your 'Brownie' Six20 Model F Camera".

 

Follow These Simple Picture-Making Rules

In Good Light:

Set control lever to "I" (instantaneous) for all snapshots.

First, check the distance. For subjects between 5 and 10 feet, pull out the close up slide; for subjects more than 10 feet away, be sure to have it pushed in. 

Next, check the light. The subject can be in bright or hazy sunlight, between an hour after sunrise and an hour before sunset. When the subject is in brilliant sunshine pull out the filter slide to get better clouds and rendering of subject colours.

Now compose the picture and decide whether it s to be horizontal or vertical. The viewfinder shows you what your picture will include. Hold the camera steady, or camera motion may blur the picture.  

Press the shutter button inwards with a gentle squeezing action.

Wind on the film to the next exposure.

In Poor Light:

For snapshots in poor light, or after dark, fit a 'Kodak' Flasholder. Used with type F or M flashbulbs, a 'Kodak' Flasholder will give you perfect pictures at snapshot exposures.   

It is possible to take pictures of static subjects in poor light without a Flasholder if a brief-time exposure is made. Set the control lever to "B". Place the camera on a tripod or film support. Be sure the camera front is within 2 or 3 inches from the edge to keep the support from showing in the picture.

Steady the camera and press the shutter button slowly. The shutter will remain open for as long as the shutter button is held in. It will close when the button is     released. After making "B" exposures, move the control lever back to "I".

The exposure times needed will depend on the lighting conditions and subject, and cannot be specified exactly. Exposures between 5 and 15 seconds will generally give satisfactory daylight pictures indoors.

 

Further advice from Ensign:

Memorise these Points and you'll get Better Snaps

Your best snapshots will be those taken in brilliant sunshine when you can give "Instantaneous" exposures. When the light is dull or your subject in deep shadows, use a tripod or similar support for your camera, and give a "Time" exposure - an "Instantaneous" picture would be underexposed.

It is always better to give a little too much exposure rather than too little.  

Always try to select the best view point, and get the best compositions into your picture - it makes all the difference.

90 per cent of your pictures will probably be made of your friends. Do not put them in front of brick walls, as though they were going to be shot - select a nice background.

Try to get the sun at your right, or at your left. Never have it directly in front. Avoid having it directly behind - this tends to make your pictures dull and lacking in contrast.

Be sure your subject is included in the finder.

Hold the camera firmly and level.

Press the shutter gently.

So, some pretty consistent guidelines there from all the manufacturers.  In short, keep the camera level and still, don't shoot directly into the sun, make sure the camera is on a flat surface for Time exposures, check your distance from the subject, and remember to wind on.

If there's one thing these guidelines also highlight, it's that manufacturers' film recommendations should be taken with a pinch of salt:

Use the right film and the prints will look after themselves - But it must be Ensign Film. 

Make good snaps certain with Coronet Roll Films.

Always use Kodak Film 620.

Always say "Ensign" when buying films.

The brilliant sunshine rule isn't so imperative now. With plenty of medium and fast speed films out there you don't have to restrict yourself to only shooting in bright sunshine, which is handy in the UK. Plus many modern films are happy to be pushed if necessary in development, so overall the need for sunshine is less of an issue. 

The rest of the guidelines are still pretty solid though.