To the Editor of the "Norra-Caixa Dairy News."
Sir,—Having had occasion 10 admire the beautiful and artistic collection reproduced in the Annual Review for 1923 of the World's Pictorial Photographie Work, "Photograms of the Year 1022," edited by its talented Editor Mr. F. J. Mortimer, F.n.p.s., I cannot help a sigh in -thinking that Shanghai, possessing, as undoubted: ly it does, so many really artistic amateur photographers, should not be represented in this notable publication, and at the same time possess an active photographic Society. I say active, as I well know we do have a Photographic Society of Shanghai," but unfortunately dormant, requiring only stirring to revive it. It is in the nature of the Shanghai man 10 be so engrossed in his absorbing business that few think to attend to any artistic or learned meeting or lectures. The natural result is that our women folks have taken the lead and there is not a day that passes in which either the British or the American Women's Associations' members are not regaled with some highly instructive and learned study given by some of their sisters at their meetings. Unfortunately for us mere-men we are deprived in toto of the advantage of even savouring these erudite studies. It certainly makes me proud to see our gentler sex dedicating their spare time in educating themselves and also imparting to their sisters their knowledge. and I cannot but feel, I must con-. fess candidly, distressed at their thus supplanting us!
But revenons a nos moutons,—photography. I know of no hobby which has-been so keenly taken-up, appearing to become a more essential factor in our daily life. But unfortunately for its pictorial and scientific side, the majority content themselves with a Kodak snapping at whatsoever they meet, regardless of the technical details required to make a pictorial -work and not a travesty of their hobby, I dare say following to the letter the Kodak motto, You press the button and we do the rest." The results are an enormous amount of films wasted, but of course to the benefit of the trade.
What is desired is a_ really Shanghai artistic amateur, who can reach a real standard of merit, and I understand there are dozens of such amongst us, all working individually and only by personal experience realizing undoubtedly notable pictorial and technical work, as I have had many occasions to admire.
Undoubtedly ce-operation is the fashion of this century. Without wanting to waste your valuable space by descanting on the value of ce-operation amongst photographers, may I suggest that. Shanghai, which boasts of being, the Model Settlement, should possess an_active Photographic Society?
I understand that the dormant: Photographic Society of Shanghai
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.