A SIMPLE PORTRAIT LAMP. By A. W. WESTON. HE professional photographer has many a good lamp at his disposal, but the amateur of modest means still looks for the ideal inexpensive light, which must be soft and powerful, yet cheap enough to be within the reach of all. Alas, it is only an ideal at present, for cheap lights even when strong enough, are generally insufficiently diffused. use. It appears to me that the best way in which we can diffuse the light without losing its strength, is by moving the actual source of light over a large area at the precise moment of its Flash powder would of course be too quick to allow of this unless several discharges were used and the most suitable method is to employ magnesium ribbon cut three or four lengths. These igniting simultaneously take three or four seconds to burn. I first pursued the idea with a kind of wand burning ribbon at one end, and the arrangement being long and easily worked, it allowed great control of lighting. However, the arrangement of which I give a sketch, is more certain to give an evenly diffused light with even less trouble. The example which was taken with the same, illustrates the completeness of diffusion as no reflections whatever were used to aid it. It appears rather a strange arrangement for a ribbon lamp, but its construction is as easy as it is cheap. Taking one bamboo cane about four feet long, some fairly thick wire, and a half of a broom stick, we proceed as follows: A hole is bored in the broom stick at A to receive the cane B, and eight small holes are bored in the cane to receive four wire holders, CCCC. Of course the pieces of wire are cut to the required length and threaded through the holes before being bent to the final shape of C. Having bent the holders it is only necessary to fill the rings D with cotton wool and bind it over tightly with fine wire to form four spirit lamps, and then the pieces of ribbon being tapered to a fine point and secured by the clips E. After saturating the cotton-wool with methylated spirit we have the lamp ready for use. c. O A. W. WESTON. E C1 It will be apparent that so long as the cane is kept in a horizontal position as it would be when rested on two projections FF, the flame is safe from the magnesium ribbon. But to take the lamp up by its broom stick handle and then twist the cane to a vertical position, brings the flame directly underneath the fine. points of the ribbon which catching directly give a fourfold light. We do not stop here, however, but continuing to revolve the handle, and perhaps mov ing it along at the same. time, we diffuse the light over a very considerable area, and so diffuse the four points of light that they become equal to the diffusion of daylight admitted by a window four feet square or even larger. Such a lamp is easy to make, easy and cheap to use, easy for the sitter and excellent for results. A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCY. By GEO. D. JOPSON. HAT profession is advancing with greater strides than that of the photographer? "For a' that" what standard has the photographer as a professional man? Should not there be some higher goal for the photographer to strive for than the making of pictures for so much per dozen? Should there not be some degree higher than the winning of a prize at a convention? Should not the learned and skilled photographer be placed on the same plane with the physician, lawyer or any other skilled professional man? Should not the photographer who possesses much skill and learning be placed in a position where he will be in the eyes of the public several degrees above the "quack" photographer? Do you ask how this is to be accomplished? Only in one way. By the photographer's passing an examination as to both the technical and practical parts of photography. He should have a thorough knowledge of his chemicals, instruments, and art of making pictures. This is a good subject for our national and state associations and for our leading photographic societies. We must include our amateur friends in this for among them are those to whom the professional photographer is much indebted and to whom such a degree should be given. A clergyman may, by passing certain examinations, receive the degree of D.D., Ph.D., LL.D., etc. Should not a degree be created for the learned photographer as well? Should not he be a- well! let us say Doctor of PhotographyD. of Ph. From whence should he receive this degree? From some high institution of learning that will institute a department for such a course. What about the photographer who can not leave his business to attend such an institute but is desirous to obtain such a degree? Possibly some arrangement may be made whereby he can take his course by correspondence. Enough said. The wise can see and realize the idea and I trust the suggestion is a practical one to them. |