Photographing a catastrophe
From Photographic Amusements 1922
BY
WALTER E. WOODBURY
INCLUDING A DESCRIPTION OF A NUMBER OF
NOVEL EFFECTS OBTAINABLE WITH THE CAMERA
On this page we reproduce a curious photograph by M. Bracq, which appeared some time ago in the Photo Gazette.
Despite all the terrible catastrophe which it represents, carrying pictures along with him in his fall, the subject has not experienced the least uneasiness, not even so much as will certainly be felt by our readers at the sight of the tumble represented.
The mode of operating in this case is very simple and we are indebted to La Nature for the description of the method employed by M. Bracq. The photographic apparatus being suspended at a few yards from the floor of the room, in such a way as to render the groundglass horizontal (say between the two sides of a double ladder – a combination that permits of easy focusing and putting the plates in place), there is spread upon the floor a piece of wall paper, about 6 feet in length by 5 feet in width, at the bottom of which a wainscot has been drawn. A ladder, a few pictures, a statuette, and a bottle are so arranged as to give an observer the illusion of the wall of a room, that of a dining room for instance. A hammer, some nails, etc., are placed at the proper points. Finally, a 5 feet by 2 1/2 ft board, to which a piece of carpet, a cardboard plate, etc., have been attached, is placed under the foot of a chair, which then seems to rest upon this false floor at right angles with that of the room.
Everything being ready, the operator lies down quietly in the midst of these objects, assumes a frightened expression, and waits until the shutter announces to him that he can leave his not very painful position. This evidently is merely an example that our readers will be able to modify and vary at their will.
___________
WALTER E. WOODBURY
FORMERLY EDITOR OF “THE PHOTOGRAPHIC TIMES,” AUTHOR
OF “the ENCYCLOPEDIC DICTIONARY OF PHOTOGRAPHY,“
” ARISTOTYPES AND HOW TO MAKE THEM,” ETC., ETC.
REVISED AND ENLARGED BY
FRANK R. FRAPRIE, S. M., F. R. P. S.
EDITOR OF “AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHY “
Ninth Edition
AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHIC PUBLISHING CO.
BOSTON 17, MASS.
1922