^lye ^vi&\) |lixtttralt0t. 



Vol.. I. MAY, 1892. No. 2. 



PHOTOGRAPHING OBJECTS OF NATURAL HISTORY 



WITHOUT A CAMERA. 



BY GRE:KNW00D PIM, M.A., F.I,.S. 



Thk method of obtaining photographic transcripts of natural 

 history specimens without using a camera, to which I wish to 

 call attention, is by no means new. In fact, producing such 

 impressions was the ver>^ earliest form of photography that 

 was practised by Watt, Sir Humphrey Da\^', and others. 



These early attempts produced nothing but outline, and 

 it seems to have been reserv^ed for Mr. Joly, of Trinit}' 

 College, Dublin, to show, quite recentl}^ that by suitable 

 exposure, no little detail in such things as leaves, flowers, etc., 

 can be obtained, thus producing, in man}'' cases, charming 

 pictures, and not mere silhouettes. 



The plan is available for anything which is flat, or can be 

 flattened without losing its characteristic form, and which is 

 not too thick or too opaque; Mr. Joly having got good results 

 with even such unpromising subjects as monkvShood and fox- 

 glove. 



The materials and apparatus are extremely simple, and 

 almost no photographic skill is requisite. An ordinary" print- 

 ing frame, for printing from photographic negatives ; a sheet 

 of clear glass, and some pieces of sensitized paper are all that 

 are absolutely essential, if the paper used be that known as 

 " ferro-prussiate." A convenient size is y^ inches by 5 inches, 

 for frame, glass, and paper. All can be obtained from an}^ 

 dealer, for about one shilling and sixpence. The sheet of glass 

 is placed in the frame ; a spray of the flower to be copied, pre- 

 viously somewhat pressed between a couple of .sheets of blot- 

 ting paper, is placed thereon, next a piece of sensitized paper, 

 taking care to shield it from light as much as possible in so 

 doing. The back of the frame is now put in, and the plant, 

 paper, and glass are brought into close contact. The frame is 

 then placed in the sun, and after a sufficient exposure, the 



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