INTERIORS BY FLASHLIGHT.
The foregoing article by Mr. Ritch thoroughly covers the ground of Flashlight Portraiture but we wish to follow it up with a few remarks upon flashlight work in a general way. Aside from the making of portraits there are many uses for the flash.
Frequently it is desired to take a photograph of an interior which, by reason of a lack of illumination, or because some window, which cannot be covered, comes within range of the camera, is impraCticable by daylight. In such cases a flash light solves the problem. Again, it is desired to photo graph a very large room which is lighted from only one side by daylight. To get a full time exposure in the darkest corner of the room would cause a decided over-exposure near the windows. A flash light, concealed from dire& line with the lens by some article of furniture or by a screen, illumi nates the dark corner and gives a properly lighted exposure of the entire 1'00 rn.
These are the ordinary uses of the flash light, and by following the simple rules laid down, the amateur can make pictures with as great an assurance of success as when making snap-shots out of doors. For the produffion of unusual effe&s, however, one must study all the conditions, weighing carefully cause and effeel, and must not yield to disappointment if success be not obtained at first.
There are many ways in which the flash may be made to co-operate with other artificial light, or with daylight, to produce a unique or artistic effect, and to the serious worker it offers another means to the end most desired by all photographic workers, pictorial effect.
The Eastman Flash Sheets provide a simple and effe&ive method of producing the flash. Being of great actinic power they impress the image upon the sensitive surface of film or plate quickly, although the flash is less blinding than that of ordinary powders.
The fact that flash sheets burn slowly as compared with flash powder makes them far safer to use—the danger from explosion by careless hand ling being reduced to a minimum.
Pin a flash sheet by one corner to a piece of cardboard which has pre viously been fixed in a perpendicular position. If the cardboard is white it will at as a reflector and increase the strength of the piCture. All being in readiness, open the camera shutter, stand at arm's length and touch a match to the lower corner of the flash sheet.
Close the camera shutter.
When two or more sheets are to be used they should be pinned to the cardboard, one above the other, the corners slightly overlapping.
As a matter of precaution, place a piece of cardboard beneath as well as one behind the flash sheet, so that in case a spark should fall it will do no injury The light should be placed two feet behind and two to three feet to one side of the camera. If placed in front of, or on a line with the front of camera, the flash would strike the lens and blur the piCture. It should be placed at one side as well as behind, so as to throw a shadow and give a little relief in lighting. The flash should be at the same height or a little higher than the camera.
Having the camera and flash sheets in position, set the camera shutter open, as for a time exposure, but using the stop ordinarily used for snap shots.
Touch a match to the lower corner of the flash sheet. A bright flash will follow, which will impress the picture on the sensitive film. The shut ter should be closed quickly after the flash. Otherwise, unless the room is in total darkness, objeCts or lights would begin to impress themselves on the film even without the flash.
The number of flash sheets required to light a room varies with the distance of the objeCt farthest from the camera, and the color of the walls and hangings. The larger the room, of course the greater will be the strength of the flash required to cover it. With the flash sheets, the strength of light can easily be controlled. Simply use as many of the sheets, pinned together in the manner above described, as are necessary. The following table will be found useful : Arrange the chairs in the form of a semi-circle, facing the camera, so that each chair will be exactly the same distance from the camera. Half the persons composing the group should be seated and the rest should stand behind the chairs. In case any of the subjeals are seated on the floor the limbs should be drawn up close to the body, not extended towards the camera. If this is not done the feet will appear abnormally large in the pielure.