IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF PRODUCING PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES AND IN APPARATUS APPLI- CABLE THEREFOR
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Gardner Colton, of Southampton Buildings,
in the county of Middlesex, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OF PRODUCING PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES AND IN APPARATUS APPLI-
CABLE THEREFOR Communicated to him from abroad by William Kurtz,
of the City, County and State of New York, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Gardner Colton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd July 1882.
IMPROVEMENTS
EDWARD GARDNER COLTON of Southampton Buildings in the county of
Middlesex.
IN THE METHOD OF PRODUCING PHOTOGRAPHIC
IMAGES AND IN APPARATUS APPLICABLE THEREFOR (A communication to ne
from abroad by William Kurtz of the City County and State of New York
United States of America.)
This invention has reference to an improved method of and apparatus for
producing photographic images in such a manner that the lights and shadows are
forced to move during exposure over the face of the sitter without the necessity
of any change in the usual appliances of a photographic studio, and by which
over exposed "high lights" and under exposed shadows are entirely dispensed
with, a thoroughly exposed negative made in a very short time and without a
reflector, and an artistic picture produced even by inexperienced operators with
little extra labor and expense. This process has the further advantage that
retouching is to a large degree dispensed with owing to the moving of the shadows
and "high lights" during exposure, whereby they are made to come out soft and
flesby and in a more natural manner.
The invention consists in a method of producing photographic images by which
the object to be photographed and the photographic apparatus are simultaneously
moved during exposure, so that the lights and shadows are forced to pass over the
object, and it consists in placing a rotary platform for turning the sitter, or a table
stand or other platform, upon a platform or turntable, on which the camera is also
placed, and mounted on a central pivot or on end wheels like a gun platform, or in
other suitable manner, and arranged to be moved through a suitable distance by
mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic or other means during exposure. By
this means the sitter or object passes through a series of different lights, and the
shadows moving become softer, producing more artistic pictures.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward Gardner Colton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd December 1882.
EDWARD GARDNER COLTON, of Southampton Buildings, in the county of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF PRODUCING PHOTOGRAPHIC
IMAGES AND IN APPARATUS APPLICABLE THEREFOR." (A communication to me
from abroad by William Kurtz, of the City, County and State of New York,
United States of America.)
This invention has reference to an improved method of and apparatus for
producing photographic images in such a manner that the lights and shadows are
forced to move during exposure over the face of the sitter without the necessity
of any change in the usual appliances of a photographic studio, and by which
over-exposed "high lights " and under-exposed shadows are entirely dispensed
with, a thoroughly-exposed negative made in a very short time and without a
reflector, and an artistic picture produced even by inexperienced operators with
little extra labour and expense.
This process has the further advantage that retouching is to a large degree
dispensed with owing to the moving of the shadows and "high lights" during
exposure, whereby they are made to come out soft and fleshy, and in a more
natural manner.
The invention consists of a method of producing photographic images by which
the object to be photographed and the photographic apparatus are simultaneously
moved during exposure, so that the lights and shadows are forced to pass over the
object, and it consists secondly of a moveable platform supporting the object to be
photographed and the camera, the said platform being provided with means for
being moved through a suitable distance during the time of exposure, and with a
rotary platform for turning the sitter or object.
In the accompanying Drawings,
Fig. 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section of the improved apparatus for
producing photographic images, and
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A represents a platform which is balanced on a centre-pivot a in a socket b of
the floor, or arranged with a pivot at the one end while the other end moves on
ways through an arc of a circle, or the platform may be moved at both ends over
guide-ways, as desired.
Upon the platform are supported at one end a chair or other support B for
the sitter or other object, while at the other end of the platform A is placed the
camera C.
At that end of the platform where the camera is supported is arranged a lever D
by which the platform is moved when required. In place of the lever, pneumatic,
hydraulic or other equivalent appliances may be used, by which the platform is set
instantly in motion at the proper time.
When everything is ready for exposure, the slide of the camera is withdrawn and
the platform turned on its pivot, or moved gently and steadily over the track for
a certain distance, so that the face of the sitter or other object to be photographed
will be compelled to pass through a series of different lights which also compels the
shadows to move over the face and become softer, as they are unable to settle on
the face and impart sharp contours thereto.
The platform may be of any approved construction, while the remaining
appliances are of the usual manner.

page_text: By this improved method and apparatus the photographic images are produced
by the same appliances as have been used heretofore either in the wet or dry
process, with this difference, that the camera and sitter or other object are placed
on a platform which is moved during exposure, so that the lights and shadows are
forced to move over the face of the sitter, whereby a more artistic distribution of
light and shade and a much better picture is produced.
The operator is by this method and apparatus enabled to expose the object first
in a half-light and turn it then into a strong light, which will give him the "high
lights" Inst, so that he becomes thereby complete master of his light without the
trouble and delay of adjusting curtains and blinds.
Pictures can also be taken in a shorter time, with very little retouching, and
furnish better portraits which have greater softness and rotundity and are a more
faithful reproduction of nature than the pictures with strong "high lights" and
shadows obtained by the ordinary method hitherto in use.
Having now described the nature of the said invention as communicated to me
from abroad and in what manner the same is to be performed I would have it
understood that what I desire to secure by Letters Patent on behalf of the said
William Kurtz is
1. The herein-described improved method of producing photographic. images
consisting in moving the camera and sitter or object simultaneously during exposure,
whereby the various lights and shadows are made to pass over the object being
photographed, as set forth.
2. The improved combination of apparatus for producing photographic images,
consisting of a movable main platform which is rotated on a centre pivot in a
socket of the floor (or otherwise suitably pivoted), a rotary platform mounted on
one end of the main platform for turning the person or object to be photographed,
and a camera at the other end, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Gardner Colton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal this seventh day of November one thousand eight
hundred and eighty two