The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-02-03
Instantaneous Photography.

| lHe process OF instantaneous photo
graphy, as perfected recently in London
and IN this country by lockwood, has re-
suited in many changes in the mode o
| taking ordinary photographs and has el;
iarged the field Of photography by bring.
Ing within 1t the work of picturing objects
in motion? The history of tho nstautanc
GUS process of photography Is, like that If
all other Inventions, full of failures. The
| golatinc used instead of collodion as 8
medium for the chemicals employed in
making negatives Is u delicate substance,
tho manipulatlons Of which need great cx-
perleDce and Judgment; its proper pre-
paration Is 30 tedious that 1t Is not probable
That photographers will attempt to prepare
thclr own plates as at present, but will buy
them ready prepared, in large quantities,
tho plate being dry and practically inaltera-
BILE. The gelatine is first boiled for many
hours, then mixed with the necessary salts
of silver and potassium then passed through
sieve-lik'; cloths, washed in water to ex-
tract the excess Of chemicals, boilel again
for day and then spread on tho glass
plates. Even the lninutcst care III pro por-
tions and treatment results in plates Of diff
fcront quality. Some plates arc too sens-
tive and become black, even after al eX-
posurc of fraction of i. second; others DO
not give clear pictures. So rapid is the
effect Of light that the motion of the hand
has been found to be too slow, and pucu-
matte device has been introduced by which
the slight pressure OF rubber bulb throw
up disk which covers tho aperture OF the
camera and brings it down again. In Mr.
ltookwood's studio 4 long tube goes from
the camera to any part Of tho room, the
bulb which ends it being carried in the
operators hand. When he sues good
expression or position Oh the part of tho
sitter he squeezes the bulb, no matter iu
what part OF the room he may be, aud the
picture is taken. But even This ple imatic
disk is not rapid enough for pictures taken
out Of doors. For this purpose Il wo Jdcn
side is used with round hole Ill it.. AS
the slide falls the opening passes the
camera aperture and gives view oil the
scene, which lasts for about the hundreth
part Of second In pictures taken aL the
Battery by this process of gelatinc coating
and slides tho finest ropus Oh ships, steam
boats going ut full speed arc as distinct rs
If tho boats had been at rest, and each
wave was distinctly pictured as it was at
that fraction of Il second.
For artists the instantaneous process Of
fers tho most valuable kind of aid. No
matter how animated scene it can be
photographed as easily as a lablcau. a
ballroom with dancing going OIL, the
musicians fiddling, people talking, laugh
ing and yawning, Can now be phos, graphcl
with case. Rogers, the sculptor, has used
the process TO take pictures OF athletes
struggling. The men struggle without
any thought OF the camera, and when they
get through there are a half dozen nictllrna
Rogers as effective. All he had to do was
to squeeze his rubber bulb and the thing
was done. Horses trotting and COWS
grazing are easily taken. One picture
taken recently represents five pigs feeding,
one OLD fellow scratching his back as he
gazes stolidly at the camera. A cat and
her kittens make pretty group.
In taking children ana very old persons
the advantages Of this process are invalua-
bic. The child is allowed to move about
until it takes good position, when the
picture is made. Old people who dislike
the ordeal of sitting are photographed be-
fore they know ii, all such things as head
rests and props being done away with.
Pictures OF persons laughing are full OF
life, and it may be said OF all pictures
taken by the instantaneous pr Jccss thut tho
still, unnatural expression almost I'm.
avoldable when q person is obliged to slt
with head proppcd up, staring ut camera
for half q minute is done away with. In
the opinion Of many persons it will not bc
long before photographers head-resls will
be sold for old iron.