Editorial comment for this plate:

A VERMONT HAY-FIELD.

The pretty rural scene which embellishes our magazine this week was made by Mr. W. H. Crocker, an amateur of New York City. “The negative was not submitted as an example of high grade photography, but simply as evidence that remarkably satisfactory results can be obtained with low-priced lenses, when properly used,” writes Mr. Crocker. ” The negative was made with a 5 x 7 Waterbury lens, using f/25, and an exposure of about four seconds. In this connection I desire to say that negatives made with this lens compare very favorably with those of my friends who use very much higher priced objectives No man can shoot well, ride well, or row well, unless he is thoroughly conversant with all the peculiarities of his gun, his horse, or his boat. This applies equally well in photography, and certainly many a low-priced lens has been hastily condemned because its peculiarities have not been studied, and because the owner has not applied himself to a thorough knowledge of all its possibilities. The negative was developed with eiko-cum-hydro.”

William H. Crocker: 1861-1937

William Henry Crocker I was a member of the wealthy Crocker family and a prominent member of the Republican Party. Over the course of his business career, he became the president of Crocker National Bank.—Wikipedia (2026)