ROLES FOR FLASHLIGHT PORTRAITURE.
The camera should generally be about on a level with the chin of the model, and the lamps are usually about 1 ft. above it and slightly to one side, so that the light falls at an angle of about 60'', and is about 6 ft. from the figure. A suitable arrangement is shown by the diagram (Fig. 613) A A are four lamps, B reflectors, sitter, n background, and E camera. The light must be outside the field of view. Various modifications may be adopted with more lamps. The usual plan is to have a general, even, or diffused light, and a principal illuminant to pick power, or a larger number of the ordinary kind. Care is necessary in disposing the lamp or lamps so that the whole of the group may be equally illuminated. The sitters should he told not to look in the direction of the lamp, or they will prob ably half close their -eyes at the moment of exposure. Although it should be seen that they are all prepared and properly arranged, it is better if they are not an ticipating the exact moment of exposure.
Plate XV., facing p. 193, is an admirable example of a large flashlight group.
out the high lights and give force to the figure. Let the wool around the pipes soak up some spirit from the saucer, and in each pipe put with a spoon about 5 gr. of magnesium powder. Then pose the model 3 ft. from the background to avoid the cast shadow, choosing if possible a profile view of the face, and always look ing away from the light ; get an assistant to hold a lighted taper, first above the head and then at the feet of the figure, and focus it sharply and insert a stop. Insert and draw the slide. Now run the taper along the pipes to light the cotton wool, and let the assistant light up a couple of inches of magnesium ribbon held in pliers or between two coins. As soon as the ribbon is well alight, discharge the pump smartly, and the powder will he sprayed from the pipes through the spirit flame, a brilliant illumination resulting. Flashlight groups require lamps of greater