As Mr. Woodbury stated in his introduction to the original edition of
this book, in order to avoid misunderstanding, it would be well to
explain at the outset that it is not intended as an instruction book
in the art of photography in any sense of the word. It is assumed that
the reader has already mastered the technical difficulties of
photographic practice and is able to make a good negative or print.
It was the purpose of the author to describe a number of novel and
curious effects that can be obtained by the aid of the camera,
together with some instructive and interesting photographic
experiments.
The contents of the work were compiled from various sources, chiefly
from "The Photographic Times," "The Scientific American," "The
American Annual of Photography," "La Nature," "Photographischer
Zeitvertreib," by Herman Schnauss, and "Les Recreations
Photographiques," by A. Bergeret et F. Drewin; and the illustrations
were likewise taken from various sources.
In conclusion the author or compiler modestly lays claim to very
little himself, quoting the words of Montaigne, who said:--
"_I have gathered me a posie of other men's flowers, of which
nothing but the thread that binds them is mine own._"
And yet so popular did the book prove that in the course of its first
ten years of life, it ran through edition after edition.
The publishers of "The Photographic Times" later acquired the
copyright of the popular volume and published three editions.
The publishers of AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHY acquired the book during the
Great War through their purchase of "The Photographic Times," but in
spite of a steady demand for the book after the limited stock had been
sold out, did not find it advisable to reprint it until now.
In putting the book to press at this time, most of the original plates
have been used. A number of the old pictures have been replaced by
more modern examples and 14 pages have been added to the book,
including several new topics.
The publishers would be glad to receive manuscripts and pictures
describing and illustrating novel and interesting photographic effects
not mentioned in this volume, to be published in AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHY
and incorporated in the next edition of PHOTOGRAPHIC AMUSEMENTS. They
also request that photographers who make photographs illustrating any
of the topics treated in the book, and especially those illustrated by
wood cuts, may submit them for consideration, as they are prepared to
purchase such as may seem available for the next edition.