July 20,1896.

THE AUSTRALIAN PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNAL.

159

FLASHLIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY.

By Chas. Gruncell, Hobart (Ilford Gold Medallist for Flashlight Photography).

It has been a matter of surprise to me that while flashlight work has received considerable attention in England and other parts of the world, both from professionals and amateurs, this fascinating branch of the art seems to be almost entirely neglected throughout the Australian Colonies.

There is no reason whatever why this should be so, unless it be that amateurs and others have “tried their ’prentice hands” at it and failed, or have been deterred from taking it up from an erroneous impression that it is a most difficult and expensive pastime, with far greater chances of failure than of success.

My object in these articles is to dispel any such idea, and to give such detailed and practical information on the subject as will enable any one with a very limited experience in photography to command success in ninety cases in every hundred.

But, first, a word as to the utility of flashlight work. I have been asked this question on several occasions, and have wondered that any intelligent person should fail to see its usefulness. One is enabled by its means to obtain photographs of places and scenes utterly impossible in any other way. Daylight is dispensed with, and is substituted by one more actinic in its character, and far more thoroughly under the control of the operator. Portraits may be taken at night: pretty and effective family groups and gatherings secured amid all those everyday surroundings which make the word “ home ” so dear. What more delightful and welcome present could be received by absent members than a photograph of “ those at home ” by the old fireside, in the “ dear old room ” where the happy days of youth and childhood were spent in the long long years ago ?

If, for no other reason, flashlight photography should take a leading place, and be valued

highly by all interested in the art; but when, added to this, one can also secure permanent records of visits to the caves and caverns of the earth, work in the mines, and last but not least, of the various acts and scenes in amateur and other theatrical performances—to say nothing of fancy dress balls and the like—I think little need be said further in its favour. That it is possible (and comparatively easy) to do such things, I hope to show by means of the photographs which the Editor has kindly undertaken to reproduce in illustration of these articles.

Without further remarks, I will go into the matter, beginning with the

“ Apparatus.”

This, as already mentioned, need not be of an expensive character, or deter any amateur with even very limited means. Of course, should he be a millionaire, he may be as extravagant as he pleases ; but although he may thus make the work somewhat easier, I will not guarantee his pictures will be improved thereby. The illustration, “The Music Lesson,”—one of the Ilford Gold Medal pictures, and the negative of which that Company made a request to purchase—was taken by means of a battery of “ five penny clay tobacco pipes.” The secret of success was the arrangement of the lamps and figures in the picture, and which the reader may easily repeat by following the directions given :—

For an ordinary room up to 24 by 14 feet (the size of room in above picture), procure four round sticks—straight broomsticks will do well —about forty inches long, and seven-eights of an inch thick. Get the smith to fit a brass or stout tin ferrule seven inches long at the end of stick No. 1, in which to place No. 2. Cut two pieces of dry and heavy timber, each 20 x x 2 inches. Mortise these so that they will be across each other even with the floor, in such a manner that the centre of the crossing portion is about 14 inches from the long ends. Make these to fit tightly into each other, but so that they may be knocked apart for packing purposes. A thumb-screw going nearly through will secure them vffien in use. Bore a hole just large enough to fit end of stick No. 1, almost— but not quite—through the centre of the cross, and put a screw-eye into each end of both

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