International photographer (Jan-Dec 1934)

J Hue, 1934 T 1 1 INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER Nine in a bi-pack form, which would not permit him to photograph black and white objects over a background. Now it was possible, through the use of a panchromatic emulsion, to photograph both black and white, as well as any colored object. Frank Williams had first become interested in panchro out every portion of the setting except the portion where ing out any undesirable portions of the set. By this prothe horsemen can be seen riding. That portion is left clear. When the camera records the horsemen riding along, it also records them with a background of castle and mountains, the painting and the riders are blended Top — By Ralph Hammeras, is a miniature barnyard. Center — Snow scene in miniature. Right — A miniature landslide such as is used in earthquake scenes, etc. Center — Showing a miniature plane landing. Right — George Teague and his "rear projection" equipment. The picture is projected to the window which represents the side of a traveling train. Lower — Showing how a glass shot is made. No. 1 Left — Is the scene photographed from real life. No. 2 shows the painting and real life scene before they are correctly balanced and No. 3 is the final scene as shown on the screen. Courtesy Willis O'Brien and George Teague. matic emulsion in 1918. On September 1 of that year, Fox released the Annette Kellerman "Queen of the Sea." Sequences of this picture were photographed with panchromatic emulsion. Then panchromatic film was only sold on special orders. It was necessary to order 8,000 or more feet of film, which was made in 200-feet rolls. The panchromatic film would only keep two months. It is of interest to note that pancbromatic emulsion was used by the experimenters in color. For experimental purposes, Williams had bought 2,000 feet from a color experimenter. He used this type of film for a number of later pictures. In addition to the "mask" process, there are three other processes — the projection, the color separation, and the glass shots. The glass shot is used for adding atmospheric scenery, while automatically blocking out other undesirable portions of a set. As the term implies, glass is used, on which is painted a picture. For instance, one may see a motion picture setting with high mountains and a feudal castle in the background. In the foreground are some horsemen riding. The general method of making such a scene is to set up a plate of glass several feet in front of the camera and paint the pictures of the mountains and castle on the glass. The painting of the mountains block Please mention The Internationa! Photogra realistically. The painting serves the purpose of blockcess, it is not necessary to construct castles or other large sets. Walter L. Hall perfected this process for successful motion picture use. He began working on it during the filming of the D. W. Griffith "Intolerance," in 1916. In its first form, glass was not used. Instead the paintings were put on compo-board, then the outlines of the painting was cut away. This painted matte was set up in front of a camera and then in the background was built the remainder of the set for the action of the players. Of course, it was not as simple as that ; to make a glass or a matte shot of this kind requires artistic skill and particular ability in lining up the perspective of the foreground picture with that of the constructed set. Glass shots are used in practically every picture todav Hall patented the process on March 29, 1921, as No. 1,372,811. There had been earlier patents on this process; in fact, William Callcott was granted a patent on December 13, 1864, No. 45,449. The Callcott patent, however, refers to a stage illusion and was not for photographic purposes. On March 5, 1912, A. Engelsmann was granted patent No. 1,019,141 on a system of combining actors and the glass plate. The glass was placed in front of a painted drop. pher when corresponding with advertisers.