The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-03-29

RICHARD JAR TAKES THE FIRST MOONLIGHT
PBoToGRAPH--THE VAULT IN WHICH GAR
FIELD RESTS TUE SUBJECT OF TIE ExPERI-
nENT.
from the Cleveland Leader.l
Mr.. Richard Jahr, n young German che
mist and photographer, has accomplished a
great feat among photographers-hc has
succeeded In taking the first picture by
moonlight. A few photographers and SCI
entists, including the late Professor ORA
per, have taken photographs of the
moon, but never moonlight landscape.
There are so-called "moonIight views"
but they arc taken at sunrise and printed
dark. The Philadelphia Photographer OF
February, 1882, says moonlight photo
graphs never have been taken, and the au-
thor gives IT as his opinion that the feat is
impossible. Mr.. Jahr is native Of Berlin
aud pupil OF the eminent German profess
sor DR.. Vogel. He came to America and
New York in August, 1881, and to Cleye-
land about two months ago, and Is now in
| New York.
oARFIELD's TOMB THE SUBJECT.
When be determined to attempt pho
| Biography by moonlight he selected sub
| ject OF sad national interest-the vault in
! Lake View cemetery which contains Gar
fields body. Dir. Jahr, one moonlight
night about two weeks ago. took bis camera
| 10 Lake View and made an attempt to pho
! tograph the vault. He says a moonlight
| photograph is possible only with the new
gelatine-bromidc plates, which are very
sensitive, and will take 4 picture fifteen
| times quicker than with the Older process.
The first night the plate was exposed three
and half hours, but no picture was OBJ
tanned. The operator knew not how to
proceed or what was needed before that
attempt, but he saw several defects In his
method, which at the next trial he was
| able TO remedy.
| The second evening he went out the
moon was obscured by clouds, and he lin
gered in the cemetery for hours III vain.
TIE PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN.
On the evening OF March Sd the young
German made his third scientific pilgrim
age to Lake View. The night was clear
aud very beautiful. He set up his camera
few minutes. before 8 O'Clock, and eX-
posed his sensitive plate for seven hours to
the moonlight. During that time he paced
up and down the silent cemetery with no
companion but the equally silent soldier on
guard. At 8 O'Clock A. Nj. he closed his
camera and went home with his picture
under his arm, developed his negative, and
secured an excellent print.
HOW THE PICTURE LOOKS.
The photograph is peculiar. The sky Is
very white, the trees black. The vault is
well taken, but the fact that the picture
was taken by moonlight is made evident
because the shadows fall IN two directions.
During the early part of the night the
shadows fell TO the west, and toward the
morning to the east. The effect is peculiar.
He says this is time of the year unfavora-
bile for moonlight photography, but thinks
that i'm the summer beautiful landscape
views can be taken. He says that il any
one doubts that the picture was taken by
moonlight he can call the guard to testify.
In the tropical countries where the moon
shines so brightly scenes will now he taken
in the night that cannot possibly be secured
during the day. These pictures will have
a peculiar charm because OF the contrast OF
light and shadow, which is exceedingly
keautifvi