Whenever snapshooters get together, the season is ripe then for a snapshot party. Such a party is a splendid entertainment idea—whether its intention is serious picture-taking or just plain snapshot fun.
The party can take two (forms. Guests can be sent out on a "picture-hunt"—each one assigned to bring back snapshots of a certain type. Or, a room can be fitted up with a few photo lights at the host's home, and each guest given a picture idea to illustrate.
Guests should be told to bring their cameras, loaded will suitable film. Since most parties will be held at night, the preferred film is one of the new high speed "super" type. The host should also obtain a few simple exposure guides, to assist guests who have not had much experience in taking night pictures.
For a picture hunt, one guest can be assigned to picture street scenes; another can picture shop windows, and another can take snaps of elec-trio signs. Brightly-lighted subjects without movement should be chosen, since outdoors at night short time exposures will be necessary with most cameras, Though if any of the guests have ultra-fast-lens cameras, give them stiffer assignments.
For an "at home" party, a list of picture-titles should be prepared. Humorous titles or assignments are preferable, and guests can serve as models for each picture. One person could be assigned to picture a characterization of Napoleon, Another could picture an Indian climbing a mountain, and a third might be told to portray a dachshund viewing a The more outlandish the titles, the more room they leave for the picture-taker's imagination—and the more fun he will have arranging his picture.
Properly, snapshot parties should be planned as a series—each member of a group holding one. Then, pictures taken at one party could be exhibited at the next Such a party series can provide entertainment all season for a group of camera fans—and it would be a delightful project for a camera club.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.