American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1926)

Twelve AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER December, 1926 Scientific Author Has Wide Experience In writing "A Professional's Notes for the Amateur," the second installment of which appears in this issue of the American Cine mat ographer , Joseph A. Dubray, A.S.C., draws from a wealth of cinematographic experience that extends over a period of years during which time he has enjoyed an enviable reputation as a cinematographer of the first magnitude. Panchromatic Expert Dubray is especially known among the profession for his pioneer work in the field of panchromatic film, having been one of the first to investigate this type of stock which is coming into an extremely wide vogue. In fact, the A.S.C. member is looked to as an authority in this line of work, in which he, now as heretofore, is conducting exhaustive experiments. Many well-known cinematographers of today "broke in" the profession under the tutelage of Dubray, so that he is eminently fitted to write such an educational series as is appearing under his by-line in the current issues of this publication. Scientific Study Dubray's camera career was preceded by a thorough education in various institutions on the Continent, where he specialized in scientific studies. He was born in France and educated at the School of Chemistry at Milano, Italy, of which place of learning he is an alumnus. He was initiated in the photographic profession in his father's portrait gallery in France. Here he, at an early date, began specializing in ortho and panchromatic work, making reproductions of classics which eventually found their way into the celebrated galleries of France, Italy, Spain, Belgium and Holland. Other phases of scientific photography gained his attention, and he devoted a great deal of time to X-ray, microphotography and spectrophotography. Film Work His primary experience with motion photography was as early as 1898; in the following year, he attained his first commercial results. After several years of freelancing, he became affiliated with Pathe-Freres. With this organization he served un Writer of Articles for American Cinematographer Is Authority in Profession til 1910, at which pioneer date he was given the signal of honor of being assigned to go to the United States to organize and take charge of the pho < tographic department of the Pathe studios at Jersey City. Dubray continued this connection until 1913 when the call of freelancing again caused him to visit Cuba, Mexico and the West Indies for travel and scenic material. Coming back to the United States, he joined the Wharton Studios at Ithaca, N. Y., and remained there until 1914 when, immediately at the outbreak of hostilities, he answered the call to fight for the tri-color and was at once off (or the field of battle in France. In June, 1918, he was assigned to the Fifth Division of the A.E.F., as interpreter, and served in this capacity until the conflict closed. Back to Camera Following the armistice he hastened to New York to resume his cinematographic career. He became identified with Famous Players-Lasky with whom he served for several months, at the end of which time he came to Southern California to be chief cinematographer for Louis Gasnier. He photographed many of that director's efforts, including "Kismet." Then came a long engagement over a period of four years with Robertson-Cole, after which he again took to freelancing in which he at the present is still engaged. Dubray is an accomplished linguist. Besides English, he speaks fluently, among other tongues, French, Spanish and Italian.