GB2275542A - Improvements in or relating to a camera apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A camera is adapted to create a composite photograph of a "customer" together with an image of a "celebrity". The image of the celebrity is initially present upon a transparency 7 in the form of a positive image on a totally opaque background. The apparatus includes a projector to project the image present on the transparency on to a film stock and subsequently to expose the film stock through a mask to the customer. Thus the image of the customer impinges on the film stock. The mask has an opaque area corresponding to the area of the film stock exposed when the image present on the transparency is directed on to the film stock. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A CAMERA APPARATUS" THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a camera apparatus and more particularly relates to a camera apparatus adapted to produce a photograph of a person commissioning the photograph (or "customer") together with a selected "celebrity".

It has been proposed before to supply a camera apparatus adapted to provide photographs illustrating a "customer" together with a "celebrity". Such cameras utilise masking techniques and conventionally one-half of the film on which the photograph is to be produced is blanked or screened in some way, and the image of the customer is then exposed on to the unmasked part of the film, and subsequently the masking is then reversed and an image of the celebrity is exposed on to the other part of the film. A composite picture is thus produced with the "customer" in one-half of the picture and the "celebrity" in the other part of the picture. Such pictures tend to look rather "false" and unlife-like since there is no real inter-reaction between the "customer" and the "celebrity" in the picture.

The present invention seeks to provide a camera apparatus in which a photograph of a "customer" can be produced together with a "celebrity" with the image portion of the "celebrity" overlapping the image portion of the "customer" so that a very life-like picture is created.

According to this invention there is provided a camera apparatus, adapted to create a composite photograph of a "customer" together with an image of a "celebrity" initially present upon a transparency, the image of the "celebrity" on the transparency comprising a positive image of the celebrity, the area of the transparency not carrying the image of the celebrity or an accessory to the celebrity being totally opaque, the apparatus comprising means to project the image present on the transparency on to film stock adapted to record the image, and means to direct on to the film stock through a mask the image of the customer, the mask having an opaque area corresponding to the area of the film stock exposed when the image present on the transparency is directed on to the film stock.

The image of the celebrity is to be understood to include any accessary which is to be visible in the composite photograph, and may comprise two or more celebrities, such as the members of a musical group. Thus this term is understood to have a broad meaning.

Preferably the camera includes a lens and an associated shutter assembly to be used when directing the image of the customer on to the film stock, there being separate projector means adapted to project the image present on the transparency on to the film stock.

Conveniently the camera apparatus comprises a filmholder adapted to hold the film, the holder being movable between a first position in which the film stock is aligned with the lens and the shutter assembly, and a second position in which the film-holder is aligned with the projector means.

Advantageously means are provided to detect when the film-holder is in the second position and to activate the projector means.

Preferably the means adapted to detect when the film-holder is in the second position comprise a microswitch, the micro-switch being adapted to activate a timer arrangement which, after a predetermined period of time, activates the projector means.

Advantageously the projector means comprises means to hold the transparency, a flash housing provided on one side of the transparency having a flash unit, the flash housing being connected to the main body of the camera.

Conveniently a guide is provided along which the mask may be slid into the operative position, the opaque area of the mask then lying between the film stock and the said lens and associated shutter assembly.

The apparatus may be provided with a counter adapted to count the number of operations of the apparatus.

Preferably the film-holder is adapted to hold selfdeveloping film stock.

The invention also relates to a method of making a composite photograph of a customer and a celebrity, the method comprising the steps of initially taking a transparency of the celebrity so that all areas of the transparency not showing the image of the celebrity of is totally opaque, creating a mask by shining light through the transparency on to an appropriate film, developing the film to form a mask, and then (in any order) locating the mask in front of film stock and exposing the film stock to an image of the customer, and exposing the film stock to an image from the transparency with the image from the transparency being precisely co-aligned with the image of the film stock masked by the mask; and subsequently developing the film stock.

The invention also relates to a photograph whenever made by such a method.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a camera apparatus in accordance with the invention, FIGURE 2 is a further perspective view illustrating part of the camera apparatus showing a transparency being inserted in position, FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the camera apparatus of Figure 1 illustrating a mask being inserted in position, and FIGURE 4 is a perspective view corresponding to Figure 1 showing the film-holder of the camera apparatus in an alternate position.

A camera apparatus in accordance with the invention intended for use to produce a photograph which shows a "customer" together with a selected celebrity. It is envisaged that an apparatus in accordance with the invention will be utilised at a specific location such as, for example, a football match, and the apparatus will then be prepared to enable photographs to be taken of the customer together with a "celebrity" selected from the football players appearing at the match. For the apparatus to be used for each celebrity there will be a transparency and a mask or silhouette.

Referring initially to Figure 1 a camera apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises a camera body 1.

Mounted on the front of the camera body 1, at an upper position, is a conventional lens and shutter mechanism assembly 2. Mounted on the rear of the camera is a filmholder 3 which may be of conventional design. Thus the film-holder may be a film-holder of the type sold under the Trade Designation POLAROID 550 (POLAROID is a Registered Trade Mark). Such a film-holder is adapted to hold a number (for example, 8) sheets of self-developing photographic film, such as that sold under the Registered Trade Mark POLAROID. As will be described hereinafter, the film-holder 3 may be moved from a first position to an alternate position, but in the position illustrated in Figure 1, the film-holder 3 is aligned with the lens and shutter mechanism assembly 2, so that when the shutter mechanism is activated an image of a person standing, for example, in front of the lens and shutter mechanism assembly 2, is focused on to film stock carried by the film-holder 3.

Also mounted on the front of the main body 1 of the camera is a flash housing 4 which is associated with a flash unit 5 adapted to inject light into the flash housing 4. As can be seen from Figure 2 the flash unit 4 defines a slot 6 in one side through which a transparency 7 may be inserted into the flash housing. The flash housing is connected, by means of a generally tubular connector 8 to the front of the main body portion 1 of the camera by means of a connecting ring 9. A transparencyfocusing lens and shutter assembly may be provided in the region of the ring 9.

The transparency 7 carries a positive image of a celebrity, but has a totally black or opaque background.

Thus light can only pass through that part of the transparency that carries the image of the celebrity.

The flash housing 4 and the associated flash unit 5 from a projection to project the image on the transparency on to the film.

The film-holder 3 is mounted for slidable movement on the rear part of the main camera housing 1 and may move from the first position shown in Figure 1 to a lower position shown in Figure 4 in which the film-holder is substantially aligned with the flash housing 4. If the flash unit 5 is then activated, light from the flash unit will be diffused within the flash housing 4, will pass through the transparency 7 and be focused by the lens in the region of the connecting ring 9 on to the film stock held in the film-holder 3.

A micro-switch 10 is provided, mounted on the body of the camera, adapted to be activated when the film-holder has been moved to the lower position. The micro-switch 10 is associated with a timer adapted to activate the flash unit 5 and the shutter of the transparency-focusing lens and shutter assembly.

The lower part of the body 1 of the camera is provided with a projection 11 which constitutes a socket to enable the body to be mounted on a tri-pod.

The upper part of the body 1 of the camera is provided with an upwardly extending guide 12 located at the rear of the body and adapted to receive, as shown more clearly in Figure 3, a mask 13. The mask 13 may simply be moved downwardly to transparency along the guide 12, the mask 13 then being positioned between the main body part 1 of the camera and the film-holder 3. The mask 13 comprises two substantially transparent areas. The lower transparent area 14 is adapted to be substantially aligned with the transparency-focusing lens in the region of the connecting ring 11 associated with the flash housing 4, and the upper region 15 of the mask which is only partially transparent, is adapted to be located between the lens 2 and the filmholder 3 when the film-holder is in the upper position.It is to be noted that the region 15 incorporates an opaque area 16 which has the shape of the silhouette of the image of the "celebrity" as present on the transparency 7.

A spring clip 17 is provided to retain the mask in position.

Mounted on either side of the guide 12 are viewfinders 18,19.

The main body of the camera is provided with a counter 20, which counts the number of apparatus of the camera.

The camera is prepared for operation by inserting a transparency 7 through the slot 6 into the flash housing 4 and by inserting a corresponding mask 13 in position along the guide 12. The opaque area 16 present in the upper region 15 of the mask 13 corresponds to the silhouette of the image of the "celebrity" carried on the transparency 7.

With the transparency 7 and the mask 13 in position, the camera will have the initial appearance as shown in Figure 1. Retaining springs, such as the spring 17 are provided to retain the transparency and the mask in position.

It is known that the celebrity is shown towards one side, for example the right-hand side, of the transparency and the mask. The camera is thus directed towards a "customer", using the appropriate view-finder 16 or 17, so that the customer is located towards the left-hand side of the image area. The shutter of the lens and shutter mechanism assembly 2 is then opened for an appropriate period of time with, of course, the lens appropriately focused. An image of the "customer" is thus recorded by the film 3. The upper part 15 of the mask 13 is located between the lens shutter mechanism assembly 2, and the film carried by the film-holder 3. Thus, only that part of the film corresponding to the transparent portion of the upper part 15 of the mask is exposed. The area of film corresponding with the opaque region 16 of the mask is left unexposed.The film-holder is then moved downwardly with a sliding action to the position illustrated in Figure 4.

When the film-holder is in the lower position the microswitch 10 is activated. A timer measures a two-second period of time and then activates the flash unit 5, and the associated shutter. Light from the flash unit 5 is diffused within the flash housing 4 and then passes through the transparency 7, thus projecting an image, with the assistance of the lens in the region of the connecting ring 9 on to the film carried on the film-holder 3. The image of the "celebrity" is focused precisely into that area of the film which was not exposed previously because it was masked by the opaque region 16 of the upper part 15 of the mask 12.

The film may then be removed from the film-holder in the conventional manner, and since the film is selfdeveloping, over a brief following period of time the film will develop. The image present on the film will be the image of the "customer" together with the image of the "celebrity".

The camera is operated so that the lighting applied to the "celebrity" and to the "customer" is compatible, and the resultant photograph thus provides a very realistic representation of the "customer" together with the "celebrity".

It is to be appreciated that the camera as described may be provided with various adjustments. Of course, each lens is provided with an appropriate focusing arrangement and each shutter is provided with adjustable timing. Means may also be provided to control the duration of the flash from the flash unit 5.

Various adjustment screws may be provided to adjust the position of the flash housing 4, and consequently to adjust the position of the transparency relative to the film and adjustment screws may be provided to adjust the position of the mask 13 when the mask is in position in the camera, to ensure that the image projected on to the film through the transparency is precisely aligned with the image area which is masked by the opaque portion 16 of the mask 13.

It is to be appreciated that the transparency 7 may be produced using any conventional camera and appropriate "transparency" film. The "celebrity" is photographed to one side of the available image area against a matt black back-drop, preferably of black velvet or the like. When the transparency has been developed, the mask may be produced by obtaining an appropriate exposable film which is to form the mask, which may be a substrate carrying a photographic emulsion, locating the film in a holder adapted to be received within the guide 12, inserting the film into the camera, inserting the transparency into the camera and firing the flash a plurality of times to fully expose the film in the region where the image of the personality is focused on to the film. The film, when developed, thus goes opaque in the region where it has been exposed, consequently forming the mask as illustrated. The mask is then mounted on an appropriate mask-holder after any necessary "touching up". An alternative approach is to make a contact print from the transparency to an appropriate film that is to be developed to form the mask.

Whilst the invention has been described by way of example it is to be appreciated that many modifications may be effected without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in the described method the image of the "customer" is recorded on the film before the image of the "celebrity". In a modified method the image of the "celebrity" is applied to the film first.

Claims (15)

CLAIMS:

1. A camera apparatus, adapted to create a composite photograph of a "customer" together with an image of a "celebrity" initially present upon a transparency, the image of the "celebrity" on the transparency comprising a positive image of the celebrity, the area of the transparency not carrying the image of the celebrity or an accessory to the celebrity being totally opaque, the apparatus comprising means to project the image present on the transparency on to film stock adapted to record the image, and means to direct on to the film stock through a mask the image of the customer, the mask having an opaque area corresponding to the area of the film stock exposed when the image present on the transparency is directed on to the film stock.

2. An apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the camera includes a lens and an associated shutter assembly to be used when directing the image of the customer on to the film stock, there being separate projector means adapted to project the image present on the transparency on to the film stock.

3. An apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein the camera apparatus comprises a film-holder adapted to hold the film, the holder being movable between a first position in which the film stock is aligned with the lens and the shutter assembly, and a second position in which the filmholder is aligned with the projector means.

4. An apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein means are provided to detect when the film-holder is in the second position and to activate the projector means.

5. An apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein the means adapted to detect when the film-holder is in the second position comprise a micro-switch, the micro-switch being adapted to activate a timer arrangement which, after a predetermined period of time, activates the projector means.

6. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the projector means comprises means to hold the transparency, a flash housing provided on one side of the transparency having a flash unit, the flash housing being connected to the main body of the camera.

7. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein a guide is provided along which the mask may be slid into the operative position, the opaque area of the mask then lying between the film stock and the said lens and associated shutter assembly.

8. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims provided with a counter adapted to count the number of operations of the apparatus.

9. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims in which the film-holder is adapted to hold selfdeveloping film stock.

10. A photographic apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of making a composite photograph of a customer and a celebrity, the method comprising the steps of initially taking a transparency of the celebrity so that all areas of the transparency not showing the image of the celebrity is totally opaque, creating a mask by shining light through the transparency on to an appropriate film, developing the film to form a mask, and then (in any order) locating the mask in front of film stock and exposing the film stock to an image of the customer, and exposing the film stock to an image from the transparency with the image from the transparency being precisely co-aligned with the image of the film stock masked by the mask; and subsequently developing the film stock.

12. A method according to Claim 11 wherein the film stock is self-developing film stock.

13. A method of making a composite photograph substantially as herein described.

14. A photograph whenever made by a method according to Claim 11, 12 or 13.

15. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.