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ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1937 



The photography of floorings is another sphere of usefulness. The 

 reflection of windows and light colored walls are frequently trouble- 

 some. The pattern in linoleum floors and the grain in wood floors, 

 as shown in plate 3, can be brought out in a very striking manner. 

 It so happens that the angle normally used by the photographer in 

 photographing a floor or floor covering is such that the Pola-screen 

 is very effective. 



The Pola-screen has a number of applications in architectural 

 photography. It occasionally happens that a buUding is to be photo- 

 graphed late in the day, and an undesirably bright oblique reflection 

 from the low sun partially hides detail in an exterior wall. The 



c,V^^ L/GAy;. 



CLEAR BLUE SKYLIGHT ARRIVING 

 AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE SUNS 

 RAYS IS POLARIZED. 



FiQUEE 3.— The sky may bo darkencl by the Pola-screen without affecting the monochrome rendering of 

 foreground objects. The strongest effect is attained with the camera axis roughly at right angles to the 

 sun's rays. 



Pola-screen can subdue this reflection to show the detail desired. 

 Reflections from tile and slate roofs can frequently be subdued as 

 desired. 



Another application concerned with oblique reflections is in sub- 

 duing reflections which are distracting or harmful to best composi- 

 tion. In photograpliing motor cars, it is generally desired to subdue 

 to some extent the glossy reflection from the sides and tops. As the 

 motor car is frequently photographed at an angle to the camera axis, 

 considerable control of such reflections is possible (pi. 4). 



So far we have considered only obUque reflections over which con- 

 trol can be exercised with a single Pola-screen at the lens. To sum- 

 marize — while many reflections are desirable because they reveal 

 texture, form, and position of objects, reflections should be and can 



