LOCOMOTION IN MAN 185 



all the phases of a performer's movements, and afford 

 the artist a choice of more or less expressive and 

 graceful positions. 



Choice of Method for obtaining Artistic Results. — Both 

 kinds of chronophotography answer excellently for 

 securing artistic results. Figs. 112 and 113, taken on a 

 fixed plate, are of interest, for they clearly demonstrate 

 the uniform transition from one attitude to another. 

 Photographs taken on a moving plate can be more 

 numerous for the reasons previously given in Chapter 

 VII., and therefore offer a greater variety of attitudes, 

 and, further than this, they can be taken with any 

 kind of background. And although we have generally 

 adopted a black background, that is only because the 

 figures stand out more sharply. 



If a light background is used, some of the outlines 

 of the figures stand out very poorly. In using a dark 

 background, care must be taken not to let the light 

 fall exclusively on one aspect of the model, or else 

 the parts in shadow may be confused with the back- 

 ground. On the other hand, in using a light-coloured 

 background, if the model is in lull sunlight, violent 

 shadows will be thrown on to the field, and look so 

 fantastic that it is as well to avoid them. This can 

 be done by placing the background at some distance 

 from the model so that the shadow fails to reach the 

 distance, and is lost in the ground. Skilled photo- 

 graphers have a thorough knowledge of the conditions 

 of light, and are therefore able to photograph their 

 subject to the best advantage.* 



* It is not only the material on which the prints are obtained that 

 influences the artistic merit of the picture, the polish on some 

 photographs may render the subject difficult to distiDguish under 

 certain conditions of light. As to reproductions on paper, the different 

 methods are of unequal merit. In typography, Bimili-gravures give 

 some of the best effects, but they are not so good as those obtained 

 by proof impressions with thick ink. 



