The herald., 1897-10-31

and then he took up the broken thread
Of our conversation.
He is a Hungarian, is this wizard of
the camera. Born in Buda-Pesth, and
raised in Paris, France, since he was
eight years old. He graduated from the
Academy OF Photography in that city
and followed his profession there until,
in 1856, he came to America to Guerin' S
gallery in St Louis. For four years he
has been chief operator in Marceau's s
San Francisco gallery, and since that
gentleman opened his handsome studio
here Mr.. Hegyessy has filled the same
position in Los Angeles, with the added
responsibility of manager
Nov, this Juggling with ones own
he'd is Il very simple process 1t con-
sists of cutting holes the size of the in
tended head, in a pasteboard the exact
size of the sensitized plate. these holes
to he used in places where the heads are
to appear in the finished picture.
only one opening, or hole, is used at
a time, and the head is photographed
through it on black background, in
different positions, and through as
many holes as the operator wishes the
head to appear in the finished picture.
"To make the head of the juggler ap-
pear on his hand, in the act of catching
or throwing it, the head should be pho
tOgraphcd through the hole in the paste
board that is in the exact center of the
plate. Then the figure of the juggler
should be photographed, full length, and
with one hand stretched out under the
very center of the plate in position to
receive, or hold, the head which was
photographed last.
You understand, of course, that the
heads taken, on a black background,
through only a small opening, leaves the
rest of the plate unexposed, but still
sensitive to any later impression to
which it is subjected by the will of the
operator.
Here is another experiment." said
Mr.. Hegyessy, and he drew from his
pocket and handed me the picture of d
youth in the act of depositing upon a
small table human head, the features
of which showed it to be the same per-
son. The face of the standing figure
wore the serene expression of placid en-
joyment that any well-regulated waiter
feels when he places before his patron an
especially delectable dish. But the pa
tron in this instance, seated on the other
side of the table, wore a look of frozen
horror, and well might he, for it was the
same face as that of the waiter, and
again of the head that was offered as q
piece de resistance.
ITO serve ones own head to oneself"
chucllled Mr.. Hegyessy, on viewing my
petrifaction, sis manipulated in man.
ner similar to the juggling picture. First
the head is photographed at the exact
height above the calculated center of the
table, on q black background, through Il
hole in a pasteboard. Then, by cover
ing with another pasteboard half the size
of the plate the figure is taken in sitting
position by the table with Mortified ex-
preston called up, presumably, at the
sight of it's own head.
"When this is done, the figure is
changed to the other side of the table,
standing with a plate, hat or any other
old receptacle in it's hand, and under the
very spot where the head was photo
graphed at the first exposure. The re-
suit, as you see, presents something Of
a puzzle to the uninitiated."