Monday
Dear Pat,
Hope you're not too busy to read letters. I have been very busy with the hobby, especially with the new speed light and developing and enlarging. Yesterday, I finished a roll of film in the afternoon, developed it and printed the same day. You'll find lots of gimmicks added to the dark room when you come home. Nothing elaborate or expensive, just ideas I picked up here and there.
I made a bracket to hold the speed light aimed at the cieling [sic] for bounce flash. That's the best results yet for black and white interior shots. The flash doesn't blot out shadows from available light sources or throw strong light on faces. Gives a very natural looking picture. The enclosed snap of grandma was done without flash -- just available daylight. [Snapshot no longer with the letter.] She is frying oysters and you can tell by her expression that the oysters are fighting back.
I'll have to buy you some new paper soon as I have been using up yours. Seems all you have is No. 2 and some of my negatives are pretty thin. I believe this one of grandma would come out better with No. 3 paper. After I found some glossy paper you had, I stopped using your double weight semi-matte. That paper you cut at the Fair, was it "Velour Black"?
I bought a processing kit for Ektachrome film but haven't used it yet. I'm still gathering bottles. You have to make up six solutions, a pint of each, and have them ready to pour in to the developing tank at the right moment and at the right temperature. 'Fraid the novelty is going to wear off that deal pretty quick. I'll probably go back to having them processed even if it does take a week or so.
Sent your laundry off today. Mother is helping with the regular wash tonight. Grandma has her kitchen all torn up to be painted this week. If you send anything more home, better put in a packing list.
We are pleased with your marks this semester so far, the ones we heard about, anyway. Sorry to hear that your glasses were broken. We can't quite figure out how you sat on them in Don's pocket.
We are wondering whether you received the art book and your check from Uncle Sugar. Let us know next card-o-gram.
Have to go now. New Pop. Photog. just arrived today and I have only glanced at it. See you soon.
Love, Dad.