The Cine Technician (1943 - 1945)

110 THE C 1 X E T E C H X I C I A X November— December, 1941 make a steep dive downwards, making sure thai the end my camera was on was still above water. 1 started the camera on the signal, and the submarine accordingly dived so steeply that it disappeared rapidly, to my increasing concern, until just my camera and the top half of me were visible ! Of course the submarine was under perfect control, but I needn't say how relieved I was in see it surface again. So ended a film which I regard as the most difficult him of my career so far. Don't misinterpret me ; 1 am not making us out to be heroes. It would lie fatuous to compare our hardships on this picture with those of so many soldiers and civilians in this shuddering war; but as films go, although I have taken my camera all over the world: on live volcanoes, in fever-ridden jungles, scorched deserts, and on the perishing heights of the Himalayas. I have never had a job that was so onerous and nerve-breaking. I think I agree with one of our seamen who has been torpedoed already in this war. He said, quite seriously, that he would rather he torpedoed again and really cast adrift in a lifeboat, than have that him experience again. OBITUARY Olaf Bloch News of the death of Olaf Bloch on 10th October at the age of 72 will have been heard with regret by all those who crowded into his lectures at the Royal in Russell Square and by those who for many years came to rely on his guidance and help in all their problems of photographic technique. Olaf Bloch received Irs earliest scientific training at the Finsbnry Technical College and followed this by wide experience at the Royal Institution in hospital work and in chemical manufacture. In 1910 he joined F. R. Renwick and B. Y . Storr at Ilford Limited, and the remainder of his working life was spent in service to photography. At Ilford, Bloch plunged straight into all the complexities of photographic manufacture. His first work concerned the production of panchromatic plates, then only a recent development, and from this beginning he retained throughout a keen interest in the application of sensitising dyes and valued always his collaboration with the organic chemists who conceived and produced them. Research in emulsions became his main activity and from his laboratory came a stream of new emulsions to maintain the position of Ilford materials in the photographic world: to mention only one. the Sofl Gradation Panchromatic Plate, still, in its modernised form, a firm favourite. Blocdi took a keen interest in the affairs of the Royal Photographic Society, and he was electei President in 1981. a few month-, after becoming Chief Chemist of Ilford Limited. He was eve enthusiastic to apply new principles to production methods and he leit no one in his company in ignorance of the value of his laboratory. At the Royal he was always a popular lecturer combining a great deal of instruction with eveji more of his unique brand of humour. The discovery and application of a new sensitiser, giving infra-red plates more sensitive than any know] until then, led to the series of lectures and demonsi ral ions ii >r which Olaf Bloch will be best remenibered 1a most photographers. A remarkable range of applications for infra-red photography was developed under his forceful guidance. The Royal Society, the Royal Institution, the Royal Soc of Arts, the Institute of Chemistry, the Institute of .Metals, the British Association and the Physical Society, were among the distinguished bodies which sought and obtained his services as a lecturer. It was fitting that he was chosen to preside at the commemoration of the Centenary of Photograph v at the Royal Society of Arts on Ma 17th." 1030. ' Through close collaboration with Dr. F. \Y Aston. F.R.S., he produced the "Q" plate, particularly designed for the recording of chat atomic particles of low penetration, and used in Dr. Aston's famous investigations of the isotopes Consulted by astronomers throughout the world. Bloch produced many plates having speeial qualities, fur the photography or the moon, the specfcographic examination of meteors, observations a' an eclipse of the sun and many other purposes .Most useful of all. perhaps, and certainly n widely used, are the special emulsions, evol under his direction, for the recording of atomic particles derived from cosmic rays, or produced through radio-activity, or by the breakdown of atoms under bombardment from the cyclotron. For these services to science. Bloch was mad an Honorary LL.D. of Aberdeen University. II also received the Progress Medal and the Honorar Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society. and was a Fellow" of the Royal Institute Chemistry and of the Institute of British Photographers. Away from his work. Olaf Bloch was a keen gardener at his cottage in Surrey. At the aja •~>1 he took up mountaineering and attained tt high honour of membership of the Alpine Club. In 1937 deteriorating health sadly curtailed a these activities, and after his retirement I active participation in laboratory work in 1939 h wisdom and humour were greatly missed b\ his colleagues. G.P.