The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1860-06-06
The Science of Photography.


From the Detroit Free Press.we take
the following beautiful description of the
triumph of mind in one Of tho depart
monts of ant. The poetry of chemistry
and mechanism is here presented in ap-
propriate wording:
"The science of Photography ranks
among those wonderful creations of the
human mind which have been reduced by
the divesting touch of familiarity to the
standard Of the commonest agencies of
life. We witness its effects every day,
without an inquiry into the subtle pro-
cesses by which they are wrought, and, if
we ever bestow n thought upon tho sub
ject, gain but a dim perception of the
mysterious charm which clings To so un-
accountable a problem. Many of the
greatest inventions Of modern times were
foreshadowed in tho romance of Eastern
tales, growing out of the uncurbed imag-
nations of dreaming poets and story
telers, but that which is now the greatest
wonder of all, was never called into be-
ing by their wild imaginings. The pow
er of the genii to transform worlds, or of
an alchemist to dissolve the universe, was
to them but tho theme OF an idle hour.
The power of the suns rays to fix the
living lineamonts of nature on glowing
canvass never animated their idealism, or
drew upon the wealth of their poesy for
extravagant metaphors wherein TO sing its
praises. 1t was left for practical reality
to accomplish that which imagination for
got to dream into romantic existence.
"The silent invisible process accomplish
es with flash of light the labor which
was once the work of weeks in tho hands
of an artist, and the perfection to which
the system has becen brought far eclipses
the efforts of the ordinary limnerin accu-
racy as it does in speed. There is no cs-
timating the changes which have been
brought about by this wonderful agency,
which, although mysterious in appearance
and pregnant with unaccountable attri-
butes, is yet so simple that a child might
learn its application and understand every
popularity. When we come to appreci'
ate one single fact in relation 10 the &C.
ton of light on sensitive substances, we
have the whole secret. A paper satura'
ted in solution of iodine, or of rice water
or even of ordinary writing-ink, acquires
on exposure to the suns rays darker hue
which increases gradually until the point
is reached when no further action will take
place. If we intercept by any simple
method portion of the rays which fal
upon the paper, the parts covered by tho
shadow must of course fail to receive the
color which results to other portions which
have direct contact with the suns rays
If we cut an image from paper, or paint
it on glass, and lay it on The preparation
or, in lieu of either method, place upor
the saturated paper a piece Of lace or ne
work, it is obvious that the suns rays
striking through the interstices of the fab
ric, will color the paper where it is un
covered, and leave it without color wher,
it is covered. The lace-work or the i'm
age painted on the glass, will be marked
on the prepared substance more or les
distinctly in proportion to the sensitive
ness of the chemical saturation. BY tn,
same process, shadow thrown upon tn,
chemical substance, while it is exposed t
the light, intercepts and causes the ray
to color around its shape, and preserve
the spaces which it covers from positive
change. If a prepared glass be place.
in such manner that mans image cal
be concentrated upon it in the form of
shadow, the light will color around tn
image so formed, and, so far as it can pen
citrate through, will color slightly the shad
ow itself, thus forming picture with a
the lights and shades which strike the ey
in the real object. To effect this end, th
glass which is TO receive the ambrotyp
impression is coated with a thin cuticl
of collodion, with which is combine,
small quantities of iodide of potassium
and iodidc Of silver. BY dipping in SC
luton Of nitrate Of silver, this preparation
acquires such marvellous sensitiyeness tha
it will receive the impression of light in
second. The camera, an instrumen
which by the use of glass lenses, conccr
trates lights and shades, throws the shac
ow Of the person in a concentrated forr
upon this prepared surface, and, whom th
light is admitted by removing tho cove
of tho instrument tho plate instantly q,
sumes the white color which constitute