Improved Means for Facilitating the Taking of Photographs by Artificial Light.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Oct., 1899- Accepted, 24th Feb., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Facilitating the Taking of Photographs by
Artificial Light.
I, CHARLES BERNHOEFT, of 3, Rue du Genie, Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of
Luxemburg, Court Photographer and Manufacturer, do hereby declare the naturo
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
-
This invention enables instantaneous photographic pictures to be taken by
night as well as by day, such pictures being equivalent to the best day-light
exposures
To produce equivalent instantaneous views in the day, direct solar light would
be required. This light however casts deep shadows. In fact, it is altogethei
too harsh for the production of effective portraits
Now the present apparatus operates with indirect light only, and reproduces
all the details of light and shade of the model in a manner attainable only
with diffused day-light and by a protracted exposure
With this apparatus the time of exposure 18 so short, that even objects in
motion may be photographed
Any danger of fire is averted and any explosion 19 impossible owing to the
fact that the apparatus is open and that metal is used in the construction of its
main body
Inasmuch as the apparatus is suspended at some distance above the floor, it
18 adapted to be used in any studio and may be connected with any photographic
camera, without being in the way If desired the apparatus may be supported
upon a fiame arranged in the room.
The lamps of the apparatus may be recharged very quickly and without the
least inconvenience, as by means of certain mechanism provided for the purpose,
the lamp which buins magnesium mixture may be raised or lowered as
equned
In operation the improved apparatus 18 smokeless, even though the lamp be
changed with a large quantity of magnesium powde
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying diawings in which
Figure 1 is a general perspective view of a portion of a photographie studio
fitted with my apparatus
Figure 2 18 a vertical section of the reflector with the flash lamp shown in
position.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a photographic studio with my improvements
applied thereto, and
Figure 4 shows a pneumatic actuator for simultaneously operating the camera
shutter and igniting the flash powder in the lamp
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 a a 18 a metal reflector measuring say, about
one metie square at its base and lined internally with white enamel
The reflector is made of the shape of a truncated pyramid, at the top of which
18 a small orifice a¹ in which is secured the end of a pipe or chimney b affording

page_text: an utlet for the smoke and communicating with the outer atmosphere either
duect on though the medium of the chimney of the room.
The reflector a 1s
provided with a perforated plate a to which is suspended the flash lamp
ccare white curtains secured to the lower edges of the four sides of the
eflector a, the object of these curtains being to prevent the smoke, if it should
happen to be blown downwards, from spreading throughout the apartment; the
curtains, while transparent as regards light, are impervious to the very dense
smoke evolved by the burning magnesium
is the lamp, which may be moved to any desired position by means of a
chain to the end of which is attached a counter poise-weight & movable on a
roller.
When it 18 desued to make an exposure, the lamp 18 raised by means of the
weight to near the aperture a¹ and left hanging at a predetermined distance
therefrom
1
Owing to these combined arrangements, the light, produced in the lamp d
by the magnesium, 18 1efteoted by the four sides of the reflecto a with the result
that such light is indirect, and is diffused over the reflector and model by the
curtains o
The curtain c which 18 situated on the side nearest the object to be photo-
graphed is twice as long as the side curtains, as shown in Figure 1 of the diawing.
The side opposite to that where the object to be photographed is situated
should be shut out during the exposure by a curtain e, made of somewhat thick
white material, so as to avoid diffusing the light uselessly throughout the studio
Where the apparatus is arranged lengthwise in the studio, it enables
panion pictures to be taken, provided another curtain, similar to e, is hung on
the opposite side.
"
16
com-
fare curtains which are drawn back and seive to reflect the side-light emanat-
ing from one on the other of the curtains c, the apparatus being, for this reason,
placed at a distance from the said curtains f so that the light given off by the
side curtains c may be diffused over the curtains f
By means of an electric wie, the lamp is connected with the camera as herein-
after described so that the lamp shall flash precisely at the same moment as the
shutter opens for an exposure.
In the centre of the apparatus there is provided a chain which serves to open
a valve, to allow the smoke to escape, and also to operate as a means whereby the
angle at which the light falls upon the object or model may be ascertained
Referring to the improved arrangement of studio shown in Figure 3 a is the
metal shade or reflector for the flash lamp.
918 a large screen of sheet-non 91 18 a square screen of sheet-11on painted a
dull-white and is a similar dull-white screen The sheet iron screen g 18
divided at the inner side into four parts in which are arranged reflectors adapted
to throw the light upon curtains arranged to receive the same The inner side of
the screen g may be provided with any desired number of reflectors but I prefei
to use four as stated since there is less risk of breaking than when one large
reflector 18 used
The flash lamp may consist of a wooden plate furnished with asbestos or
vulcanized fibre When it is to be used it 18 drawn up close under the per-
forated plate of the reflector a the flame then by its heaf rarefies the an therein
with the result that the escape of the smoke through the chimney 6 take place
with great rapidity The light emitted by the lamp d 18 thrown by the inner
walls of the reflector a and scieen g upon the screens and g and is then thrown
indirectly upon the sitter or object to be photographed situated in the shade of
the screen see Figure 3. The screen g¹ may be extended by the removable
blind gif desired.
At and above the open side of the reflector a 18 ai ranged a removable horizontal
blind and behind the reflector g³ 18 a vertical curtain i extending down to the
Hoo

page_text: ✓ are several gley or light absorbing ourtains or blinds hung in front of the
curtain which serve to regulate the white light coming from this latter
Similar toned grey or light absorbing curtains or blinds may with advantage
be placed in front of all the white curtains or blinds so as to enable the light
to be regulated in the same manner as they are now employed in studios for
toning down the light from the windows.
The lamp 18 ignited by means of an electic battery and it can be moved up
01 down by operating the weight when required for recharging.
The simultaneous operation of the camera shutter and ignition of the flash
lamp 18 effected by the pneumatic actuator shown in Figure 4 of the diawings in
which is a contact device consisting of a contact spring and a milled headed
contact Berew the said spring being adapted to be brought into engagement
with the screw by pneumatic means as hereinafter described.
m is a bulb of the kind usually employed in connection with photographic
shutters, the said bulb communicates by means of a rubber tube mi with a
flattened bulb m² so that when pressure is exerted upon the said bulb m the
anid flattened bulb m³ will move the sping into contact with the screw and
thus close the magnet cucuit, though the lamp To the tube m¹ is connected
another tube m³ communicating with the shutter n of the camera in a well
known manner
It will readily be seen that when the electric circuit is closed for the purpose
of igniting the lamp the current will pass from the battery through the con-
ducto o to the contact spring, thence through the contact screw ( and con-
ductor to the lamp thus igniting the magnesium powder or the like and causing
the flash of light necessary for impressing the image upon the sensitive plate.
If a powerful illuminant such as gas, electric light or other suitable light be
used, even the operator is enabled to see the light-effects upon the person during
the posing or focussing just as they will finally show upon the picture.
It is thus possible for the operation to judge whether the light-effects are
favourable and to modify the same as he may think fit by means of the grey-
coloured curtains or blinds, in front of the white curtains, in the same manner as
if he were operating in daylight The great advantage of this flashlight arrange-
ment which advantageously replaces the daylight studio is thus obvious, as 18
also the fact that it not only admits of a mere mechanical manipulation but
enables the operator to use and display his artistic abilities as thoroughly as
when he is working by daylight.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1 Photographic apparatus for exposures with artificial light, consisting of a
reflector a of the shape of a truncated pyramid from which the smoke escapes
through the pipe or chimney b; the depth of the Eaid reflector being such that no
dnect light can fall upon the model or object being photographed, the light
proceeding from the reflector a being indiect, and passing through curtains c,
secured to the base of the body of the reflector a there being arranged, within
the said reflector a, a magnesium lamp d, controllable by means of a chain, and
capable of being ignited by a suitable electie appliance, the said lamp d being
so connected with the shutter of the photographic camera, that the kindling of
the lamp and the opening or closing of the shutter may be effected by means of a
single contact effected by the operator at the desired moment.
2 Apparatus for taking instantaneous photographic pictures by artificial light
consisting of a flash lamp and reflector, a screen for pievonting the light falling
direct upon the person or object to be photographed, the said screen having one of
more reflectors arranged upon its inner side for reflecting the light of the lamp
upon a number of other screens a removable blind vertically arranged curtains,
and light absorbing curtains in combination with means for simultaneously

page_text: operating the flash light and camera shutter substantially as described with
reference to Figure 3 of the drawings.
3 Apparatus for taking instantaneous photographic pictures by artificial light,
consisting of an adjustable flash lamp alanged within o in proximity to a
1eflector, means for electrically igniting the said lamp in combination with means
for simultaneously operating the shutter of the camera, and reflecting sereens
and light absorbing curtains all arranged substantially as described and shown
in the diawings
Dated this 98th day of October 1809
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.