Improvements in connection with Artificial Light Photography.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 4th June, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in connection with Artificial Light Photography.
I, CHARLES EARP ELLIOTT of 36 Jewin Street, Aldersgate Street, in the City
of London, E.C., Photographic Apparatus Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature 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 :-
The object of my invention for improvements in connection with photography
taken by the aid of artificial light, is to provide a method and means for obviating
or preventing the occurrence of deep, heavy and decided shadows upon the picture,
as obtains with the systems hitherto employed, and I attain this by the employment
of a device or devices whereby the rays of light from the source employed are
deflected and reflected and generally diffused around and about the sitter or object
to be photographed, so that only such shades or tints exist as tend to beautify the
picture.
My invention consists of a portable tent or canopy, in one piece or in sections
and when placed together ready for use may be of any shape or size desired, but
preferably, rectangular, and not larger than is necessary for the purpose, the inside
of which, or such part or parts thereof as may be desired, is or are lined or
otherwise provided with a white or other light tinted surface, adaptable from a
photographic point of view, as a surrounding for the sitter or object to be
photographed. The artificial light employed may be any of those well known
to the profession by which the most actinic effect can be produced, but I prefer to
use that obtained by the combustion of magnesium ribbon, and a strip or strips
of this, is or are, arranged or disposed, within a suitable screen or shield, preferably
semicircular in horizontal cross section, the flat side or base of said semicircle
being the open or front part thereof, and covering said opening, and attached to
said screen or shield by any convenient means, I provide an angulated surface
having a central opening, through which the rays of light from the burning ribbon
are reflected by the inner surface of the screen, this being painted or otherwise
coated with a white, or other light tinted surface, dull or glazed, as may be desired.
Upon the said angulated surface when fixed upon the screen, I hinge or otherwise
pivot, so as to cover the opening or aperture therein, any suitable number of
louvres, but preferably four or thereabouts, each of which may be rendered adjust-
able to any angle by the means of chains, supports, or quadrantal suspenders, or
any other convenient means. The said surface and the louvres thereon may be
painted, distempered or otherwise coated with a white or other suitable flat tint,
but preferably the former, and the apparatus so constructed may be mounted
upon an adjustable tripod or other stand capable of permitting the apparatus
thereon to be raised, lowered, turned or placed in any position desired, and the
whole may then be suitably disposed within the aforesaid tent or canopy, at either
side of the camera, and more or less facing the sitter or object to be photographed,
and by a suitable arrangement of the apparatus and its accessories to be hereinafter
fully described, the light may thereby be deflected and reflected upon any part of
the interior of the tent or canopy, or upon other reflectors or louvres suitably
disposed therein, so that the light may by them be caused to expand, spread or
circulate, or be condensed, concentrated or located, or otherwise diffused around and
about the sitter or object, in any desired manner for obtaining the best effect, at the
discretion or will of the operator.
In order that my invention and the manner of operating the same may be clearly
understood I have appended hereunto a sheet of drawings, in which,
Figs. 1. 2. and 3 are front, side, and back view respectively of the said angulated
surface with the louvres thereon.

page_text: .
Figs. 4. 5 and 6 are front, side and back view respectively of the semicircular
screen or shield as preferred to be employed by me for containing and holding the
magnesium ribbon, and describing one type of adjustable stand upon which the
same may be mounted.
Fig. 7 is a view shewing the position that Fig. 1 occupies with and upon Fig. 5.
Fig. 8 is a front view of a supplementary angulated screen or reflector to be used
in the manner hereinafter described.
Fig. 9 is a cross section of Fig. 1 illustrating one of the means I may employ for
pivotally adjusting and holding the louvres at any angle desired.
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the entire apparatus as it would appear when in
use, or ready for use.
Similar letters of reference are used to indicate the same or like parts, throughout
the drawing.
In carrying my invention into effect I provide a portable tent or canopy of any
suitable size or shape, but preferably rectangular, which may be entire, or in parts
or sections to facilitate packing or transport, consisting of two sides A and B,
top C and buck D, and these when placed together and connected by the means of
screws, bolts, hooks and eyes or other suitable means would appear as at Fig. 10,
and within this the sitter or object to be photographed would be disposed in the
position shewn by the chair E, or thereabouts.
The screen or shield F, which may be made of cardboard, tin, wood, or other
suitable light material, and painted, distemptered or otherwise coated internally
with a suitable glazed or flat tint, preferably white, may be provided with any
suitable arrangement for holding the strips of magnesium ribbon c, such for instance
as a rod or the like a, having one or more sliding clips 6, or clip brackets may be
attached to the inside of F if preferred, for the same purpose. The said screen or
shield F, may be mounted upon adjustable legs clipped or otherwise fixed thereto,
or upon a tripod having an adjustable top or legs, and F may be provided with a
door at the back thereof so that the ribbons c may be placed therein and lighted
from the back of the screen. Or the ribbons may lighted from the front if desired,
and the screen F in lieu of said door may be provided with a swivel or hinge d,
connected to a vertical stand G, and by the means of a thumb nut or the like e,
and a thumb screw or the like f, the said screen may be adjusted to any position.
A flat surface piece H, which may be made of cardboard, tin, wood or other
light substance or material, provided with a central opening or aperture g, and
wings h h', adjusted to, or capable of being adjusted to any angle, is painted or
otherwise coated with any suitable flat tint, preferably white, and attached to the
front or open part of F by any suitable means, which for convenience, may be by
that of slotted eyes formed in the back of H, engaging with hooked studs i, and i¹
upon the edges of the front of F. Upon the thus exposed face of H, and between
the wings and h¹ I hinge or otherwise pivotally connect any number (preferably
four or thereabouts) of louvres k, made of cardboard, tin, wood or other light
substance, painted, distemptered or otherwise coated to correspond with H, and
rendered capable of being adjusted to any angle relatively to H, by the means of
chains m, as at Figs. 1 and 2, or by that of fly nuts m³ screwed upon the ends of
the pivots as at Fig. 9, or by any other suitable means. The apparatus thus
arranged, and shewn more particularly by Fig. 7, is then suitably placed within the
tent or canopy, upon the right or left of the camera J, preferably in the position
shewn by Fig. 10.
The camera J being suitably focussed upon the sitter or object situated upon,
at E, and the screen or shield F, the wings he and louvres & suitably adjusted to
deflect or diffuse the light in the manner desired, the magnesium ribbon c is then
lighted and the photograph taken in the usual way.
The light given off during the combustion of c, is reflected by the interior of F
directly upon the louvres k, and by them deflected and reflected (according to the
angle thereof) upon the roof or part of the roof C, or the side A, or both, of the
tent or canopy, and again reflected by C, or A or both, upon and around the sitter

page_text: or object at E, and by a proper adjustment of the said reflecting surfaces, the light
may be so diffused that, any degree of light and shade may be obtained at will, and
according to the taste and skill of the operator, a picture may be obtained, the
tone and finish of which will equal if not excel any picture obtained by daylight
exposure.
may when considered necessary to further enhance the effect desired, make use
of a supplementary deflector or reflector K, provided with fixed or adjustable
wings oo, and if desired mounted upon an adjustable stand L, similar in construction
to that of G and its accessories def. The said piece K may be of similar material
to that of H, and painted, distemptered or otherwise coated in a like manner and
for the purpose of deflecting or reflecting the light in any manner desired, may be
disposed in any part of the tent or canopy, facing as at Fig. 10, or at any angle to
or with the sitter or object at E, or to or with the apparatus from which the source
of light is derived.
Or I may for the purpose of more effectually attaining the ends desired, make
use of strips or small sheets of dark or black cloth, paper, or calico, glazed or
otherwise, disposed within and about the interior of the tent or canopy, or around
and about the sitter or object at E, or above, below or otherwise adjacent to the
source of the light, the object of these being to soften, reduce or otherwise
neutralize and diffuse the light, this being in some case necessary according to the
color of the habiliments or the complexion of the sitter, or the contour, color or
other considerations in connection with the object being photographed. An example
of the disposition of the said dark strips is shewn by the dotted outlines of same
at ppp within the tent at Fig. 10.
may use louvres similar to k but provided with a hook or hooks so that they
may be thereby connected to any part of the interior of the tent or canopy, and by
painting or otherwise coating said louvres so that one side may be white or tinted
while the other may be dark or black, so that these may be employed to enhance
the effect produced by K or p at the will of the operator.
I have previously mentioned that I may make use of any of the well known
means for obtaining artificial light, but I prefer to use the screen or shield F, in
combination with magnesium ribbon for this purpose, for the reason that, by a
proper adjustment of the length of the ribbon c, I am enabled to get a longer or
shorter exposure at will, and by a careful manipulation of the apparatus described
and forming the subject of my invention, any person skilled in the art of photography
may obtain a perfect picture with any degree of light and shade desired, at any
hour, in any room or place, and within a space of far less dimensions, than that
needed in any of the systems or means of obtaining photographs by artificial light
hitherto adopted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1st. For improvements in connection with photography taken by the aid of
artificial light, the method and means herein set forth, for deflecting, reflecting,
spreading, circulating, concentrating, condensing or otherwise diffusing the light
around or about the sitter or object to be photographed, for the purpose of
toning the lights and shades of the picture, and the apparatus herein described
for attaining the same, the whole combined, connected and operating substantially
as and for the purposes stated, and in the manner shewn by the appended drawings.
2nd. For improvements in connection with photography taken by the aid of
artificial light, the construction and use from any material or substance, of a screen
or shield F, with or without a door therein, provided with a bar a and clips 6 or
any suitable equivalent therefor, for holding a strip or strips of magnesium ribbon e
during the combustion thereof, and mounted upon adjustable legs, tripod, or
stand G, carrying a face plate H, provided with fixed or adjustable wings h h¹, and
aperture 9, and upon which is pivotally mounted any number of louvres k, rendered

page_text: adjustable by the means of chains m as at Figs. 1 and 2 or by that of a fly nut m¹
as at Fig. 9, in combination with reflecting or deflecting pieces K, having fixed or
adjustable wings o o¹, with or without an adjustable stand L, the use of strips of
dark material p, or double colored louvres as equivalents therefor, disposed in any
suitable manner within a tent or canopy entire or in parts lined, painted or otherwise
faced internally with a white or light tinted surface, the whole connected, combined
and operating for attaining the ends set forth, substantially as described and shewn
by the accompanying drawing.
0 of Amuil 1900
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
.4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.