An Improved Apparatus for the Application of Electric Light for Photographic Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 26th Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 27th Dec., 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for the Application of Electric Light for
Photographic Purposes.
I, FELIX JULES CHARY of 9 Rue de Londres, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Photographer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to the application of electric light for photography and has for
its purpose to permit the use of a brilliant light by diffusing the same. To this end
I employ an electric arc lamp which is placed in the focus of a reflector, the depth of
which is preferably one third smaller than its breadth, it may have 24 centimetres
diameter to 8 centimetres depth.
The reflector is mounted on a universal joint allowing it to be turned forward, back-
ward, to the right and to the left. The lamp provided with the reflector is placed on a
tripod or stand. The second apparatus employ is a large hemispheric reflector of
preferably 1 mètre 40 centimetres diameter, of paste board or similar material, the
interior of which is painted white. This reflector is so mounted as to allow it to be
turned forward and backward. In operation I place the lamp slightly behind the
person or model to be photographed and the large reflector in front, so that the
luminous rays proceeding from the lamp are curved back by the said reflector and
describing an angle of 45° fall onto the model.
Between the lamp and the model I introduce a screen covered with muslin and
serving to lessen the direct illumination of the lamp, and on the opposite side of the
model I place a mechanical screen similar to those employed in the studios, for softening
or intensifying the shades.
In this manner 1 obtain negatives of a great softness, in which great contrasts are
not produced and the prints of which are equal to photographs produced by solar light.
For busts and the like I use only one lamp; for full length portraits two lamps and
two reflectors, of which however, one is slightly smaller than the other; I place my

page_text: two lamps over one another and the small reflector below the larger, subsequently
proceeding as with busts.
For groups employ three lamps, placing two of them side by side and separate
them from each other, according to the number of subjects I take the light of the two
lamps is directed into the larger reflector.
The third lamp is, like its reflector, always placed above the others and chiefly serves
to light the garments, etc., I then operate as with busts and foot portraits, always
taking care to make the light to describe an angle of 45 degrees.
Dated this 16th day of March 1887.
HERBERT & Co.,
67, Strand, W.C.,
Agents to Applicant.

page_text: An Improved Apparatus for the Application of Electric Light for
Photographic Purposes.
I, FELIX JULES CHARY, of 9, Rue de Londres, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Photographer, 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, and accompanying drawing (that is to say):-
My invention has for its object improved apparatus for the application of Electric
light to the purpose of taking photographic pictures.
For this purpose I use apparatus by which a large quantity of light is made available
and is diffused with sufficient uniformity, after describing an angle of 45 degrees from
a reflector. I use one or more foci of light as may be most advisable in different
circumstances.
These foci of light consist of electric "are" lamps of any effective form of construc-
tion. To these lamps I adapt a silver plated concave reflector the depth of which is
about one third of its diameter, for instance 24 centimêtres diameter to 8 centimêtres
deep, and I arrange this reflector so that the light is at its centre or focus.
reflector is preferably mounted upon adjustable supports so that it can be inclined
backward or forward, and to the right or left.
The
In the accompanying drawing, which is in illustration of my invention, Figure 1
represents the electric lamp provided with the reflector described and mounted upon an
adjustable stand or support.
The second part of the apparatus which I make use of for the purpose required,
consists of a much larger reflector preferably about 1 metre, 40 diameter, hemispherical,
and of pasteboard or other like material, white inside.
This reflector, which is shewn in figure 2, is carried upon a moveable stand on which
it can be raised or lowered, and is suspended upon two pivots so that its inclination
backward and forward can be altered and adjusted.
In order to make use of the improved apparatus described, the electric lamp is
arranged a little behind the sitter who is to be photographed, and the large reflector
last described is arranged in front, so that the rays of light falling upon the latter are
reflected upon the sitter after making an angle of 45 degrees.
Between the lamp and the sitter a muslin screen is interposed which serves to
soften the direct rays, and on the opposite side of the sitter a moveable screen is
adjusted such as is ordinarily used in studios to soften or to increase the shadows.
In this way excellent photographs are obtained, in which the whites are never
burned, and which are in every respect equal to photographs taken by sunlight.
For busts and half lengths, a single lamp only is used for full-length portraits two
lamps are used and two of the separate reflectors-one somewhat smaller than the

page_text: other. The two lamps are arranged one above the other, and the smaller reflector
below the larger one.
For groups three lamps are used, two side by side but at a distance apart dependent
upon the size of the group, and the light from the third lamp being directed upon the
larger reflector. The third lamp, as well as its corresponding reflector, is always
placed below the others and serves principally for lighting the dress and accessories,
and the apparatus is used in the same manner as already described taking care always
to make the light describe an angle of about 45 degrees.
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:
The method of diffusing the light by double reflectors, that is to say by directing it
upon a reflector from which it describes an angle of 45 degrees before falling upon
the person or object to be photographed.
Dated this Zorn day of November 1887.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Inventor.