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Archive texts:
History of Photography


The Pencil of Nature (1844-46)

by William Henry Fox Talbot

Part II (cont.): PLATE X. THE HAYSTACK


ONE advantage of the discovery of the Photographic Art will be, that it will enable us to introduce into our pictures a multitude of minute details which add to the truth and reality of the representation, but which no artist would take the trouble to copy faithfully from nature.

Contenting himself with a general effect, he would probably deem it beneath his genius to copy every accident of light and shade: nor could he do so indeed, without a disproportionate expenditure of time and trouble, which might be otherwise much better employed.

Nevertheless, it is well to have the means at our disposal of introducing this minutiÆ without any additional trouble, for they will sometimes be found to give an air of variety beyond expectation to the scene represented.


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