Overview:
“Photographic Amusements” is a comprehensive guide to various photographic techniques and tricks, originally published in 1896 and revised in 1922 by Frank Roy Fraprie. The book assumes a basic understanding of photography and focuses on showcasing interesting photographic effects that can be achieved by utilizing mirrors, lenses, and various other techniques.
Throughout the text, the author reveals historical context, including a chapter on spirit photography, which was a popular and often fraudulent practice in the late 19th century. The book also explores more technical aspects, such as the science behind telephotography and how to take instantaneous pictures of moving objects. Numerous examples and illustrations are provided to demonstrate these unique techniques.
Key Findings:
- The book explores various photographic techniques and tricks, emphasizing the creative potential beyond standard portraiture and landscape photography.
- Spirit photography was a popular practice in the early 20th century, often involving manipulation and deception to produce ghostly images.
- Instantaneous photography, made possible by the advent of dry plates, opened up new possibilities in capturing motion and scientific phenomena.
- Telephoto techniques, using opera glasses attached to cameras, enabled photographers to capture distant objects with a magnified view.
Learning:
- Spirit Photography: The book delves into the history of spirit photography and exposes some of the common tricks and manipulations used by fraudulent practitioners. Readers will learn about the use of double exposures, pre-prepared images, and other techniques to create the illusion of ghosts and spirits in photographs.
- Instantaneous Photography: The book introduces the concept of instantaneous photography and explains the techniques used to capture moving subjects, such as galloping horses and flying birds. Readers will gain an understanding of shutter speeds and the importance of using rapid lenses for successful results.
- Telephoto Pictures: The book explains how to adapt an opera glass for use as a telephoto lens, allowing for a magnified view of distant objects. Readers will learn about the limitations and advantages of using this simple yet effective method.
- Composite Photography: The book describes the process of composite photography, where multiple images are combined to create a composite image. Readers will learn about the techniques and applications of this method, which can be used for scientific studies or for creating unique portrait effects.
Historical Context:
The book was written in the early 20th century, a period of great innovation in photography. The development of the dry plate had revolutionized the field, making photography accessible to a wider audience and facilitating advancements in capturing motion and scientific phenomena. The book reflects the fascination with the new possibilities of photography and the desire to explore its creative potential.
Facts:
- Spirit photography was often fraudulent: Practitioners would use double exposures, pre-prepared images, and other techniques to create the illusion of ghosts and spirits in photographs.
- Dry plates revolutionized photography: Dry plates, introduced in the 19th century, allowed for easier and more portable photography, facilitating advancements in capturing motion and scientific phenomena.
- Telephoto techniques can be achieved with opera glasses: Attaching an opera glass to a camera enables photographers to capture distant objects with a magnified view.
- Composite photography can be used for scientific studies: The process of combining multiple images can be used to study facial features and other traits.
- Pinhole photography produces diffused effects: Using a pinhole in place of a lens allows for long exposures and can create unique diffused images.
- Photographs can be made without light: A dry plate can be exposed to a copper coin in a developer, resulting in a negative image of the coin.
- Electric photographs can be created: Using an induction coil, electric charges can be applied to a dry plate, creating an image of the object connected to the coil.
- Luminous photographs can be made with Balmain’s luminous paint: This paint emits light after exposure to a light source, allowing for the creation of luminous photographs.
- Leaf prints can be made by placing leaves on sensitive paper: The delicate structure of the leaves can be captured by exposing the paper to light through the leaves.
- Photographs can be printed on silk and other fabrics: The Primuline Process allows for images to be printed on fabrics and developed in various colors.
- Silhouettes can be photographed with a simple setup: A white screen illuminated from the side and a black background create the illusion of a silhouette.
- Photographs can be distorted by manipulating the film: Detaching the film from the glass and stretching it can create exaggerated and comical images.
- Artificial mirages can be created with a heated metal plate: By setting up a scene in front of a heated metal plate, the photographer can capture an image that simulates a mirage.
- Photographs can be colored with powders or dusting-on techniques: A tacky substance is exposed under a positive transparency, and colored powders adhere to the sticky parts, creating a colored image.
- Magic vignettes create reversed vignettes with black margins: This effect is achieved by using a vignetting mask that blocks light from the edges of the plate.
- Photographs can be made to appear and disappear with heat: Using a convex glass filled with wax and a mounted portrait, the image can be viewed by melting the wax, then disappears as it cools.
- Photographs can be printed on apples and eggs: By exposing the fruit or egg to light through a negative or stencil, an image can be created on the surface.
Statistics:
- 15 to 30 minutes of exposure: This is the time required to capture a landscape with the light of a full moon.
- 1,000 yards per minute: This is the speed of a galloping horse.
- 294 feet per second: This is the speed of the swiftest birds.
- 1,625 feet per second: This is the speed of a cannonball.
- 15 to 30 grains of primuline: This is the amount of dye needed to dye fabric for the Primuline Process.
- 40 grains of silver nitrate: This is the amount of silver nitrate needed to sensitize the film inside a bottle for the “Photograph Inside a Bottle” technique.
- 2 to 5 minutes of sunlight: This is the exposure time for the powder or dusting-on process.
Terms:
- Anamorphosis: A picture distorted according to a specific law that appears normal when viewed with special apparatus.
- Actinic: Relating to the chemically active light rays that affect photographic emulsions.
- Halation: The blurring of an image due to light scattering in the emulsion of a photographic plate.
- Diazotize: A chemical process used to convert an amine compound into a diazonium salt.
- Non-actinic: Not capable of affecting a photographic emulsion.
- Orthochromatic: Sensitive to a wider range of colors than ordinary photographic materials.
- Isochromatic: Sensitive to most colors, with the exception of red.
- Fluorescence: The emission of light by a substance when it absorbs radiation.
- Telephotography: The use of a specialized lens or technique to capture distant objects with a magnified view.
- Composite photography: A process of combining multiple images to create a composite image.
Examples:
- Spirit Photograph: A classic example of a fraudulent spirit photograph involves a sitter posed in front of a dark background, and a ghostly image superimposed using a double exposure or a pre-prepared image.
- Instantaneous Photography: A horse in motion is captured in mid-stride, showcasing the ability of instantaneous photography to freeze motion.
- Telephoto Picture: A distant landscape is photographed using an opera glass attached to a camera, showing the magnified detail of the scene.
- Composite Photography: A composite portrait of a group of people is created by combining multiple photographs, illustrating the use of this technique for scientific studies or for creative effects.
- Pinhole Photography: A landscape is photographed using a pinhole camera, resulting in a soft, diffused image.
- Electric Photograph: A coin is placed on a dry plate and connected to an induction coil, resulting in an image of the coin.
- Luminous Photograph: A luminous photograph is created using Balmain’s luminous paint, showing the image glowing in the dark.
- Leaf Print: A leaf is placed on sensitive paper and exposed to light, revealing the delicate veins and structure of the leaf.
- Primuline Process: A fabric is dyed with primuline, exposed to light through a negative, and developed with a color developer to create a colored image on the fabric.
- Silhouette Photograph: A person is posed against a white screen illuminated from the side and a black background, creating a silhouette image.
- Distorted Image: A photograph is manipulated by detaching the film from the glass and stretching it, resulting in a comical, exaggerated image.
- Artificial Mirage: A miniature Egyptian landscape is placed in front of a heated metal plate, creating the illusion of a mirage in the photograph.
- Magic Vignette: A photograph with black margins around the subject is created using a vignetting mask.
- Disappearing Photograph: A photograph is mounted behind a convex glass filled with wax. The image appears when the wax is melted and disappears as it cools.
Conclusion:
“Photographic Amusements” is a fascinating and insightful guide to the creative and technical possibilities of photography. The book offers a glimpse into the history of photographic practices, exploring popular trends like spirit photography and exposing common tricks. It also delves into more technical aspects, such as the science behind telephotography and instantaneous photography, and provides readers with practical tips and methods to experiment with a variety of photographic effects. By exploring the book’s historical context, facts, and examples, readers can gain a deeper appreciation for the creative potential of photography and the evolution of photographic techniques.