US2176967A - Photographic lighting system - Google Patents

Photographic lighting system Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US2176967A
US2176967A US744888A US74488834A US2176967A US 2176967 A US2176967 A US 2176967A US 744888 A US744888 A US 744888A US 74488834 A US74488834 A US 74488834A US 2176967 A US2176967 A US 2176967A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
subject
switch
shaft
sources
housing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US744888A
Inventor
Hershberg Samuel
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US744225A external-priority patent/US2176573A/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US744888A priority Critical patent/US2176967A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2176967A publication Critical patent/US2176967A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G03PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03BAPPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B7/00Control of exposure by setting shutters, diaphragms or filters, separately or conjointly
    • G03B7/16Control of exposure by setting shutters, diaphragms or filters, separately or conjointly in accordance with both the intensity of the flash source and the distance of the flash source from the object, e.g. in accordance with the "guide number" of the flash bulb and the focusing of the camera
    • GPHYSICS
    • G03PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03BAPPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B15/00Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor
    • G03B15/02Illuminating scene
    • G03B15/03Combinations of cameras with lighting apparatus; Flash units
    • G03B15/05Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to a system operator as he faces the subject from his position of photographic lighting and more particularly at the controls of the lighting system, while when to such a system in which the operation of the the subjects face is described left and right side 10 various lighting sources and their positioning m n the u j t's ri ht and left hand.
  • Figure 2 is a plan view of the lighting system. manner.
  • Figure 3 is an elevational View of Figure 1
  • the main object of this invention is the proong the line 3-3 thereof.
  • vision of a system of photographic illumination Figure 4 is an enlarged and partial medial 15 whereby an unskilled operator is enabled to protransverse section along the line 44 of Figure 2.
  • Rule a photograph of a quality comparable to Figure 5 is a plan view of the illuminating th t produced by a, finished and experienced sources of Figure 3 along the line 55, thereof.
  • tion in manual manipulation of the illuminating Figure 7 is an elevational view of Figure 6 along sources, I the line T-T thereof.
  • Another object of this invention is the reduc- Figure 8 is an enlarged view in plan showing a 25 tion in operating costs of the various sources of portion of the control means for changing the illumination owing to: a saving in space by direction of the lighting relative to the subject virtue of the compact and cooperative arrangeas indicated along line 88 of Figure 1.
  • ment of the various illuminating sources; saving Figure 9 is a wiring diagram showing scheof power costs since bright illumination is used matically the electrical circuits used in the praconly during actual exposure time; saving of tice of this system of photographic lighting.
  • the said connecting bar serving 4Q graphic illumination resides in the elimination as a support for a depending upright member 0 of guess-work in the positioning of the sources 800', a cross section of the said four upright of illumination and the substitution therefor of a members forming the corners of a substantial predetermined scientific technique. square.
  • Panels 828 attached to the upright is the members 800 and 800' from the connecting bar provision of a process whereby a change in the 81H to point above the base or camera stand form lighting of the subject to conform with a change an enclosure for the control-mechanism of the 45 in position of the subject is readily accomplished. lighting system.
  • This process involves the mere aiming of one Extending from the connecting bar Bill are mirror directed to the sitter which act of aiming two parallel and horizontal frame members 802 ⁇ ,q automatically shifts the light so that it falls adapted to support the main lighting dome and upon the subject in the proper direction and inrelated mechanism as will be more fully detensity. scribed below.
  • the frame members 892 are re- The aforementioned objects and features of inforced by two braces 803 extending from the thesystem. of lighting together with other inciframe members 802 to the forward upright memdental techniques and processes will hereinafter bers 800.
  • Horizontal frame members 802 are fixed in position by transverse spacers 888 at the forward ends thereof and 888 at the rear ends.
  • Behind spacer B88 is another transverse spacer 884 having mounted thereon by studs 885' a parallel reinforcing member 885 while a short distance forward of spacer 888 is another similar and parallel spacer 888.
  • Parallel and below spacer 884 is another cross member 887 depending therefrom by means of studs 88?.
  • Rotatably suspended below cross member 88? by means of a bolt and nut 888 is a plate 889 through aligned central orifices in member 881 and plate 888.
  • Handle 828 is mounted upon the outer end of a short shaft 825 which is journalled between panels 829 and 828. Shaft 825 does not extend inwardly beyond panel 828 and has mounted intermediate the length thereof a sprocket 823 shown on Figure 1. A chain 822 engaging sprocket 828 travels upwardly over an idler sprocket 82!
  • Numeral 8214 represents a spacer which supports one end of panel 828 off of panel 828, said spacer being disposed below the supporting stud for sprocket 82!.
  • Chain 822 continues upwardly to engage a sprocket 82! mounted on the outer terminal of a shaft 828 while the other end of said shaft carries a Worm 8E9.
  • Shaft 828 is journalled just inwardly of sprocket em in panel 828 while the supporting means for said shaft adjacent worm 8E8 is not shown.
  • Worm 8H3 engages a gear 868 mounted on a short stud depending from spacer 888'.
  • Gear 858 has a radial arm 8!? affixed thereto adapted to swing in a horizontal plane and thereby cause the rod 8E6 which is pivotally connected to the outer end of said arm, to longitudinally reciprocate.
  • Handle 828 is provided with a known position indicator 821.
  • Lighting dome SM is provided with a circular upper surface 814, a depending cylindrical surface 8l8 from the perimeter thereof, a frustum of a cone surface 85? extending outwardly from the lower edge of 853 and a depending cylindrical surface 8! i from the lower perimeter of BIZ.
  • Lowermost cylindrical surface 8H is provided with diameterically opposed openings 85 I" and a circular base plate 8!?) aflixed to and extending beyond the lower edge of the cylindrical surface 8
  • Afiixed to the under surface of 8M- are a series of sockets concentrically arranged to carry bulbs 855.
  • bars 8H8 Afiixed to the ends of bars 8H8 are two spaced and parallel bars 882 and 888 being at right angles to bars 8I0. At each juncture of these bars, there being four altogether, vertically depending rods 838, 835, 835 and 83? fix the interand 835.
  • Rods 884 and 835 are connected immediately above the lower extremities thereof by a horizontal spacer 838 (seen in Figure 3 in dotted lines) through which the said rods penetrate, while 848 represents a horizontal frame member contacting spacer 888 at the lower surface thereof and is penetrated and supported by said rods 838 Rods 838 and 887 similarly carry corresponding spacer 838 and frame member 8M.
  • Numerals 848 and 8M represent guy wires connecting the extremities of frame members 848 and 8:1 to the bars 8"] and serve to support the Frame members 888 and 8M are provided at the extremities thereof with depending vertical guide-Ways 842, 843, 844 and 885.
  • Guide-ways 842 and 843 together and guideways 88 and 885 form race-ways for plates 858 and 848 respectively.
  • Plates 848, 886 carry illuminator housings 85!. and 852 respectively, adjacent the upper edges thereof, the said housings corresponding in structure and being oppositely disposed.
  • Figure 5 of the drawings shows housing 85! in detail and thus also brings out the details of housing 852.
  • Housing 85! is supported 7 of, is a bar 868 carrying at its outer extremities a housing 882 having therein an incandescent bulb 862 and having an inner wall comprising an outer sheet of clear glass 88 and an inner sheet of transparent material 885 having an image thereon.
  • Sheet of glass 88 1 has the inner surface thereof lightly silvered so that when bulb 852 is not illuminated, sheet of glass 88% acts as a mirror while when bulb 882 is illuminated, the image on transparent material 865 is made visible through sheet of glass 884.
  • housing 848 Projecting forwardly and downwardly from and affixed to the inner surface of plate 858 is a bar 88'! carrying at the outer end thereof a housing 888 having a bulb 8 38 therein. Housing 848 is positioned below the level of housing 882as best seen in Figure 3 of the drawings.
  • Plates 848 and 846 are vertically and slidably displaceable and thereby serve to vertically position the housings 85!, 852, 862, 883, 888 and 858.
  • Plate 888 has affixed to the upper edge thereof two cables 886 and 859, the said cables being substantially parallel and flexible. Cables 886 and 888 rise vertically turning inwardly about a pair of idler pulleys being positioned at the junctions of frame member 888 and guide-way 8&2 and frame member 84! and guide-way 843. The said cables continue from the idler pulleys to drums 888 and 889 respectively where they are aflixed. Drums 888 and 889 are keyed to a horizontal shaft 878, the said shaft being journalled at the ends thereof in brackets 833' 832.
  • plate 846' is provided with cables 861' and 868 turning about a pair of idler pulleys positioned at the junctions of frame member 848 and guideway 844 and frame member 84! and guideway 845.
  • the said cables continue from the idler pulleys to drums 861 and 868 respectively where they are aflixed.
  • Drums 861 and 868 are keyed to a horizontal shaft 81! journalled at the ends thereof in brackets 833" and 832".
  • Brackets 833 and 833" depend from the forward edge and ends of bar 833 while brackets 832' and 832" depend from the rear edge and ends of bar 832.
  • Shafts 810 and 81! carry sprockets 812 and 813 respectively immediately forward of drums 869 and 868, said sprockets being interconnected by a chain 814.
  • Shaft 81! at the forward end thereof which projects forwardly of bracket 833". carries sprocket 815.
  • the said sprocket 815 is connected by means of a chain 816 to a sprocket 811 which latter is afiixed to the forward end of a short shaft 819.
  • Shaft 818 is journalled at its forward end by penetrating a plurality of plates 819, 889 and 88!
  • Bracket 885 is supported by a short cross bar 886, the latter being supported by the parallel spacers 899 and 896'.
  • Shaft 888 carries thereon a sprocket 889 which is connected by a chain 899 to a sprocket 89!, the latter being carried on shaft 892.
  • Shaft 892 is journalled by means of orifices in upright members 888, the said upright members being the two forward ones. It is seen from the foregoing mechanism that motion from shaft 892 is communicated to shafts 819 and 81! resulting in the raising and lowering of plates 846 and 846'.
  • Shaft 892 is provided with a concentric drum 893 which has coiled thereabout a flexible cable 894.
  • One end of cable 894 is affixed tothe housing 933 while the other end of said cable is coiled about another drum 895 from which drum the said cable continues and terminates in afilxation to any suitable mechanical means for controlling the length of said cable 894 such asa drum and handle positioned on the control panel.
  • the disposition of cable 894 is best seen in Figure 1 wherein said cable rises from housing 933, frictionally engages drum 893, proceeds downwardly to frictionally engage drum 895 and then offsets therefrom to run toward the control panel.
  • Drum 895 is concentric with shaft 896, the said shaft 896 being journalled by means of orifices in the two forward upright members 808 but at a point below the mounting of shaft
  • the housing 933 aforementioned is divided into two illuminating chambers by a vertical intermediate wall 934, the said housing having mounted therein incandescent bulbs 935, 936, 931 and 938, two in each chamber as seen in Figure 8.
  • Motion of the cable 994 is directly communicatcd to the said housing 933, the motion of said cable also serving to raise and lower housings 85! and 852.
  • spot lights 891, 898 Situated within the lighting dome 8! are two known spot lights 891, 898, being provided with lenses 899 and 999, condensing mirrors 9! and 992, incandescent bulbs 983 and 994 and sockets for said bulbs 905 and 996, respectively.
  • the size of the diverging beam emitted by said spot lights is controlled by the shifting of the sockets within said spot lights by any known means such as linear slots 9! and 9!2 wherein sockets 995 and 996 are adjustably mounted by means of depending bolts 981 and 998 from the said sockets and nuts therefor 909 and 9l9.
  • Spot light 891 is trunnioned between the lower ends of vertical rods 835 and 831 by means of trunnions 891' while spot light 898 is trunnioned between the lower ends of vertical rods 834 and 836 by means of trunnions 898.
  • the spot lights being thus pivotally mounted, are capable of being tilted in a vertical plane thereby casting the beams of light emitted from the said spot lights 891 and 398 upon two screens 943 and 944 respectively, said screens being more fully described below.
  • Projecting forwardly in the plane of the horizontal from the side walls adjacent the rear edge of each of the spot lights 891 and 898 are fingers 9!3 and 9!4 respectively. Fingers 9!3 and 9M.
  • Link 9!1 is caused to move either up or down by reason of communication of motion from shaft 818 thereto through pinion 932 carried by shaft 818, gear 939 carried by shaft 93!, the latter shaft also carrying pinion 929, gear 928 carried by shaft 921 which latter carries plate cam 922, follower 93! mounted on the outer end of lever 929, the latter being connected by means of shaft 9!9 to lever 919 in bell crank fashion, the said lever 9!8 being pivotally connected to the upper end of link 9!1.
  • the above described assembly is best shown in Figures 6 and '1 in which plates 819, 880 and 88!
  • Shaft 93! is'suitably journalled between plates 839 and 98!.
  • Shaft 921 is suitably journalled in plates 819, 889 and 88! while shaft 9!9 rotates within a sleeve 819', the said sleeve being affixed and extending through plate 819.
  • Screens 943 and 944 heretofore mentioned are composed of any suitable flexible material such as cotton or linen and have provided on the inner surfaces thereof a coating of suitable light reflecting and diffusing material such as aluminum paint or dull white paint. Screens 943 and 944 are supported at the upper ends thereof by affixation to and winding about spring rollers 94d and 942, the said screens extending downwardly over direction controlling idlers 945 and 948, 949 and 958 and finally terminating in weighted edges 953 and 954 respectively, all as best seen in Figure 3.
  • Spring rollers 9M and 942 are provided with the usual ratcheting means of ordinary window-shade rollers. In order to raise or lower screens 943 and 944, edges 953 and 954 thereof are manipulated like ordinary window shade rollers.
  • Rollers 94! and 942 are disposed parallel to bars 8! and are mounted upon brackets 939 and 949 respectively, said brackets projecting upwardly from the outer ends of bars 832 and 933.
  • Idlers 945 and 946 are mounted between the upper ends of upright arms 941', 94'! and 948, 948, said arms projecting upwardly from frame members 848 and 84! while idlers 949 and 959 are mounted between the outer ends of lateral arms 95!, 95! and 952, 952 respectively, said arms projecting laterally and outwardly from guide-ways 842, 843, 844 and 845, respectively.
  • a known segmental rotary switch 839 is provided.
  • the said switch ducting material and is supported by plate 982 by means of connecting spacers 993.
  • Shaft 958 is provided with another radial arm 959 which is similar and parallel to operating lever 95! but which is aflixed to shaft 958 at a point between panel 839 and panel 98L
  • Arm 959 carries on the inner surface thereof a series of contact brushes 999 which are adapted to successively make and break contact with radially disposed and concentric conducting segments a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, 9', 7c and m, the disposition of said segments being best shown in Fig. 9.
  • Numeral 959 represents an insulating post projecting outwardly from the upper end of operating lever 95'! and serves to carry the operating handle for switch 8311.
  • Switch 839 in its upper vertical position closes no circuits while by virtue of the staggered arrangement of the segments thereabout, the said switch is capable of seven distinct positions when rotated either left or right of the aforesaid upper vertical position.
  • auxiliary panel 830' Situated directly below and on the same plane with auxiliary panel 830' is another auxiliary panel 83l carrying thereon three known toggle type switches 984, 965 and 969. Switches 994 and 996 each either make or break a single circuit while switch 985 either makes or breaks two circuits simultaneously.
  • the subject In the operation of the lighting unit, the subject is seated or allowed to stand along the vertical axis of lighting dome 8
  • Handle 826 and the control for cable 894 are. rotated until the sitter is able to see his reflection in the mirrored surface in the housing 863,
  • Rotary switch 839 is moved in a clock-wise direction to its first consecutive on position, that is, when one of the brushes 969 contacts the conducting segment a, said movement resulting in completion of a circuit to outlet p through conductor 99'], resistor 959, conductors 919, 9' and 988, and also switch 995.
  • Current travels from outlet p by means of conductors not shown in the drawings to bulb 848'.
  • dome 8i i and the rotatable ele ments therewith results in positioning housing so that the head of the sitter is situated between said housing and the lens of the camera.
  • the effect therefore of the illumination of bulb 999 is to outline the head of the subject in so called back-lighting or in Rembrandt style. If these last mentioned effects are not desired, toggle switch 995 is shifted to its off position thereby opening the circuit to bulb 898.
  • Switch 839 is now advanced in a clock-wise direction to its second position thereby contacting conducting segment 0 completing a circuit therethrough to outlet a.
  • Current travels from outlet it through conductors not shown in the drawings to bulb 863 which upon illumination makes the mirrored surface in housing 893 transparent so that the sitter is able to see the image therebehind in said housing.
  • the purpose of illuminating housing 863 at this time is to further attract the attention of the sitter to this point so that his head and eyes may appear properly directed in a finished photograph; furthermore, the subject matter of the image is conveniently alterable by merely substituting different transparencies therein.
  • This device utilizing known principles of psychological sugge tion aids in the inducement of pleasant expression on the sitters countenance.
  • Switch 830 is now advanced in clock-wise direction to its third position thereby contacting conducting segment 6 completing a circuit therethrough to outlet 12.
  • Current travels from outlet '0 through conductors not shown in the drawings to bulbs 855.
  • Illumination from bulbs 955 is refiected from the upper surface of plate 8H5 through the openings 8H and is in turn reflected from screens 943 and 944 upon the sitter. Because of the multiplicity of bulbs 955 and the indirectnessl with which the light therefrom reaches the sitter, said light is highly diffused and of suificiently low intensity so that it constitutes general. or so called atmosphere illumination.
  • Switch 838 is now advanced in clock-wise direction to its fourth position thereby contacting conducting segment completing a circuit therethrough to outlet w.
  • Current travels from outlet 10 through conductors not shown in the drawings to bulb 935 serving thereby to increase or augment the quantity of illumination being cast by bulb 936 from one of the chambers of the housing 933.
  • Switch 838 is now advanced in clock-wise direction to its fifth position thereby contacting conducting segment h and completing a circuit therethrough to outlet at whence current travels through conductors not shown in the drawings to bulbs 858 and 859, serving thereby to augment the illumination already being cast by housing 852.
  • switch 830 Since all of the illuminating sources have been energized as has above been set forth, the exposure may be caused to take place by advancing switch 830 in a clock-wise direction to its final and seventh position thereby contacting conducting segment m which closes the circuit to solenoid 415 which may be arranged to actuate the shutter of the camera. If the operator desires to leave his position adjacent the switch 839 to take a position from which ,he' may better view the facial expression of the sitter, he may leave switch 839 in its sixth position and release the camera shutter by closing switch 9ll indicated schematically on Figure 9 of the drawings.
  • Switch 9 is a conventional switch of a type adapted to remain normally in an open circuited position, but which closes while under manual pressure. Said switch '91! is connected to one end of a twoconductor cable of substantial length, and is not shown in the drawings other than as above indicated.
  • toggle switch 954 is shifted to its off position, which extinguishes bulbs 904, 936 and 851.
  • toggle switch 966 is moved to its on position thereby completing a circuit to outlet 0, whence current travels via conductors not shown, to bulbs 903, 931, and 854.
  • the camera is properly positioned along its track, and focussed, in a manner identical with that when the right profile was photographed.
  • Rotary switch 830 is now moved anti-clockwise to its first consecutive on position, thereby contactingsegmentb and completing a circuit therethrough to outlet q, whence current travels via conductors not shown, to bulb 858'. If back lighting is not desired, switch 965 is shifted toits off position. Handle 826 is now rotated until the sitter is able to see his full head-on image in the mirrored surface of housing 862.
  • Switch 839 is now rotated anti-clockwise to its second position thereby contacting segment d completing a circuit to outlet t and therethrough via conductors not shown to bulb 862.
  • switch 838 is moved to its third anticlockwise position thereby contacting segment e, thus illuminating bulbs 955 as set forth above, since segment e is continuous in both clockwise and anti-clockwise revolutions of an arm 959.
  • Switch 830 is thenshifted anti-clockwise to its fourth position thereby contacting segment g completing a circuit therethrough to outlet .9 and thence via conductors not shown to bulb 538.
  • switch 830 is moved anti-clockwise to its fifth position, thereby contacting segment 7' completing a circuit therethrough to outlet 1 whence current travels via conductors not shown to bulbs 8.55 and .855.
  • switch 830 When switch 830 is further rotated in an anticlockwise direction to its sixth and seventh positions, the circuits completed thereby are identical to those which were completed in the sixth and seventh positions in the clockwise rotation thereof since segments Icand m are continuous in both vertical halves of theplate 95 I.
  • the sitter While as stated hereinabove, the sitter is placed to expose either his right or left profile to the lens of the camera, it is to be understood that any intermediate angle may be made by the sitters head, from full face to absolute profile, and since with the shifting of the sitters head the corresponding housing 853 or 862 will have to be rotated so that the sitter may see his full face reflected therefrom, it follows that all of the related light sources will be correctly positioned in the horizontal plane.
  • housings 85l and 852 The intensity of light emitted by housings 85l and 852 is greater than that emitted by housing 933, so that the former 85
  • the sitter sees his reflection in housing 863 and switch 830 is rotated clock-wise or sees his face reflected in housing 862 and switch 839 is rotated anti-clockwise, an approved style of lighting results in which the greater portion of the face seen in the photograph is less brilliantly illuminated than the lesser portion of the face.
  • this lighting system may be operated so that very little judgment is required.
  • vertical and horizontal positioning of the light sources is semi-automatic.
  • the proper housing 862 or 883 is aimed by merely turning handle 826 and the control for cable 894 until the sitter can see both of his ears therein.
  • dial 821 being accurately calibrated, he need only manipulate handle 825 until the pointer coincides with a certain calibration marking on the dial.
  • the control for cable 894 may have a similar calibrated dial. In this manner, a good lighting st'yle once conceived may be reexecuted at will.
  • a pivotal and concentric arrangement of illuminating sources movablelas a unit about the fixed subject, aiming means connected therewith, means to rotate saidarrangement actuated by the positioning of the said aiming means relative to the fixed subject.
  • a pivotal and concentric arrangement of illuminating sources movable as a unit about the fixed subject, aim-ing means connected therewith, means to rotate and vertically raise and lower said arrangement actuated by the positioning of the said aiming means relative to the fixed-subject.
  • a pivotal and concentric arrangement of illuminating sources movable as a unit about the fixed subject, aiming means connected therewith, means to vertically raise and lower said arrangement actuated by the positioning of the said aiming means relative to the fixed subject.
  • aconcentric arrangement of illuminating sources movable as a unit about the fixed subject, aiming means connected therewith, means to vertically raise and lower said arrangement actuated by the positioning of the said aiming means relative to the fixed subject.
  • a pivotal and concentric arrangement of illuminating sources movable as a unit about the fixed subject, aiming means connected therewith, means to rotate and vertically raise and lower said arrangement actuated by the positioning of the said aiming means relative to the fixed subject, switching means to successively illuminate difierent sources.
  • a pivotal and concentric arrangement of illuminating sources movable as a unit about tl'ieffixed subject, aiming means connected therewith, means to rotate and vertically raise and lower said arrangement actuated by the positioning of the said aiming means relative to the subject, switching means to successively illuminate different sources, and means to increase the brilliancy of the said sources.
  • a pivotal and concentric arrangement of illuminating sources movable as a unit about the fixed subject, the said illuminating sources being in two groups and diametrically opposed, aiming means connectedjwith each group of illuminating sources, means to rotate and vertically raise and lower said arrangement actuated by the positioning of either of the said aiming means relative to the fixed subject.
  • a pivotal and concentric arrangement of illuminating sources movable as a unit about the fixed subject, the said illuminating sources being in two groups and diametrically opposed, aiming means connected with each group of illuminating sources, means to rotate and vertically raise and lower said arrangement actuated by the positioning of either of the said aiming means relative to the subject, switching means to successively illuminate the different sources of either group.
  • a pivotal and concentric arrangement of illuminating sources about the subject the said illuminating sources being in two groups and diametrically opposed, a mirror connected with each of said groups, means to rotate and vertically raise and lower said arrangement simultaneously with the positioning of either mirrors for reflecting the full face View of the subject, switching means to successively illuminate the sources of either group.
  • a pivotal and concentric arrangement of illuminating sources movable as a unit about a fixed sub ject, and aiming means connected with said arrangement, said aiming means being in predetermined spatial and circumferential relationship with reference to said arrangement of illuminating sources whereby the said illuminating sources cast light upon the subject from a predetermined angle with relation to an imaginary line drawn between the subject and said aiming means.
  • a pivotal and concentric arrangement of illuminating sources composed of two opposed groups, independent aiming means associated with each of said groups, each of said aiming means being in predetermined spatial and circumferential relationship with reference to the particular group associated therewith, whereby each of the groups is adapted to cast light upon the subject at a predetermined angle with reference to an imaginary line drawn from each of the aiming means to the subject.
  • a lighting system for photography a source of illumination adapted for movement with relation to a fixed subject, movable aiming means associated with said source, and means to move said source in accordance with a movement of said aiming means, whereby an imaginary line drawn from said aiming means to said subject will form a substantially constant angle with relation to another imaginary line drawn from said source to said subject.

Description

Oct. 24, 1939. SYHERSHBERG 2,176,967
PHOTOGRAPHIC LIGHTING SYSTEM Original Filed Sept. 15, 1934 S-Sheets-Sheet l 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 \NWL. wmwv s. HERSHBERG PHOTOGRAPHIC LIGHTING SYSTEM ori i al Filed Sept. 15, 1954' Oct. 24, 1939.
jweni'nr Samue Her-5556f a 5 0ci:.24, 1939. SHERSHBERG v 2,176,967
PHOTOGRAPHIC LIGHTING SYSTEM Original Filed Sept. 15, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ,iiweninr 6a e/ Hershbel-g' Oct. 24 1939. s. HERSHBERG 2,176,967
PHOTOGRAPHIC LIGHTING SYSTEM Original Filed Sept. 15, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 601m ue/ l/cnsh 60 S. HERSHBERG PHOTOGRAPHIC LIGHTING SYSTEM Original Filed Sept. 15, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTO R I SAMUEL HEESHB EEG- ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 24, 1939 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PHOTOGRAPHIC LIGHTING SYSTEM Samuel Hershberg, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Original application September 15, 1934, Serial No. 744,225. Divided and this application September 21, 1934, Serial No. 744,888. Renewed March 14, 1939 15 Claims. (Cl. 2240-13) This invention relates to a photographic lightmore fully appear in the progress of this dising system forming a unit in the system of pho- Closure and as pointed out in the appended tography embodied and described in your appliclaims. cant-s application for patent, filed in the United In the drawings: Figure 1 is a left side View ,5. States Patent Office on September 15, 1934, and in elevation of the lighting system, it being unbearing Serial Number 744,225, of which this clerstood that all directions set forth in this specapplication i a division. ification refer to the right and left hand of the This invention relates generally to a system operator as he faces the subject from his position of photographic lighting and more particularly at the controls of the lighting system, while when to such a system in which the operation of the the subjects face is described left and right side 10 various lighting sources and their positioning m n the u j t's ri ht and left hand.
is accomplished in a substantially automatic Figure 2 is a plan view of the lighting system. manner. Figure 3 is an elevational View of Figure 1 The main object of this invention is the proong the line 3-3 thereof. vision of a system of photographic illumination Figure 4 is an enlarged and partial medial 15 whereby an unskilled operator is enabled to protransverse section along the line 44 of Figure 2. duce a photograph of a quality comparable to Figure 5 is a plan view of the illuminating th t produced by a, finished and experienced sources of Figure 3 along the line 55, thereof. artisan, and whereby a skilled and experienced Figure 6 is a front View in elevation of the artisan is enabled to produce more photographs mec an sm for t t g t Ove d p s, 2 in a given amount of time and of a better quality the outer casing of said mechanism being partly than heretofore, owing to a substantial reducbroken away.
tion in manual manipulation of the illuminating Figure 7 is an elevational view of Figure 6 along sources, I the line T-T thereof. Another object of this invention is the reduc- Figure 8 is an enlarged view in plan showing a 25 tion in operating costs of the various sources of portion of the control means for changing the illumination owing to: a saving in space by direction of the lighting relative to the subject virtue of the compact and cooperative arrangeas indicated along line 88 of Figure 1. ment of the various illuminating sources; saving Figure 9 is a wiring diagram showing scheof power costs since bright illumination is used matically the electrical circuits used in the praconly during actual exposure time; saving of tice of this system of photographic lighting. sensitized material costs because high speed pa- The lighting system is supported by a vertical pers may be used instead of film since this lightframework comprising three upright members ing system possesses high actinic efficiency; sav 800 projecting upwardly from any suitable base ing of labor in the substitution of automatic opor the forward end of a camera stand 22 as inerations for previously existing manual ones; and dicated on Figure 1 of the accompanying drawfinally a saving in general costs owing to the proings. These upright members 80 are joined at duction of a higher average of perfect prints. the upper terminals thereof, by a horizontal con- A further feature of this system of photonecting bar 80!, the said connecting bar serving 4Q graphic illumination resides in the elimination as a support for a depending upright member 0 of guess-work in the positioning of the sources 800', a cross section of the said four upright of illumination and the substitution therefor of a members forming the corners of a substantial predetermined scientific technique. square. Panels 828 attached to the upright A still further feature of this invention is the members 800 and 800' from the connecting bar provision of a process whereby a change in the 81H to point above the base or camera stand form lighting of the subject to conform with a change an enclosure for the control-mechanism of the 45 in position of the subject is readily accomplished. lighting system. This process involves the mere aiming of one Extending from the connecting bar Bill are mirror directed to the sitter which act of aiming two parallel and horizontal frame members 802 {,q automatically shifts the light so that it falls adapted to support the main lighting dome and upon the subject in the proper direction and inrelated mechanism as will be more fully detensity. scribed below. The frame members 892 are re- The aforementioned objects and features of inforced by two braces 803 extending from the thesystem. of lighting together with other inciframe members 802 to the forward upright memdental techniques and processes will hereinafter bers 800. Horizontal frame members 802 are fixed in position by transverse spacers 888 at the forward ends thereof and 888 at the rear ends. Behind spacer B88 is another transverse spacer 884 having mounted thereon by studs 885' a parallel reinforcing member 885 while a short distance forward of spacer 888 is another similar and parallel spacer 888. Parallel and below spacer 884 is another cross member 887 depending therefrom by means of studs 88?. Rotatably suspended below cross member 88? by means of a bolt and nut 888 is a plate 889 through aligned central orifices in member 881 and plate 888. At the outer ends of plate 889 are affixed the upper circular surface 8M of the lighting dome 8H, and two spaced parallel bars 8H8, the said bars 8I8 being disposed at a ninety degree angle with The rotary motion of handle 828 is communicated to the rod 8E8 in the form of longitudinal reciprocal motion, through the following structure: Handle 828 is mounted upon the outer end of a short shaft 825 which is journalled between panels 829 and 828. Shaft 825 does not extend inwardly beyond panel 828 and has mounted intermediate the length thereof a sprocket 823 shown on Figure 1. A chain 822 engaging sprocket 828 travels upwardly over an idler sprocket 82! rotatably mounted on the end of a short stud projecting outwardly and perpendicularly of panel 828, see Figure 8. Numeral 8214 represents a spacer which supports one end of panel 828 off of panel 828, said spacer being disposed below the supporting stud for sprocket 82!. Chain 822 continues upwardly to engage a sprocket 82! mounted on the outer terminal of a shaft 828 while the other end of said shaft carries a Worm 8E9. Shaft 828 is journalled just inwardly of sprocket em in panel 828 while the supporting means for said shaft adjacent worm 8E8 is not shown. Worm 8H3 engages a gear 868 mounted on a short stud depending from spacer 888'. Gear 858 has a radial arm 8!? affixed thereto adapted to swing in a horizontal plane and thereby cause the rod 8E6 which is pivotally connected to the outer end of said arm, to longitudinally reciprocate. Handle 828 is provided with a known position indicator 821.
Lighting dome SM is provided with a circular upper surface 814, a depending cylindrical surface 8l8 from the perimeter thereof, a frustum of a cone surface 85? extending outwardly from the lower edge of 853 and a depending cylindrical surface 8! i from the lower perimeter of BIZ. Lowermost cylindrical surface 8H is provided with diameterically opposed openings 85 I" and a circular base plate 8!?) aflixed to and extending beyond the lower edge of the cylindrical surface 8| I.
Afiixed to the under surface of 8M- are a series of sockets concentrically arranged to carry bulbs 855.
Afiixed to the ends of bars 8H8 are two spaced and parallel bars 882 and 888 being at right angles to bars 8I0. At each juncture of these bars, there being four altogether, vertically depending rods 838, 835, 835 and 83? fix the interand 835.
said frame members.
section of the cross bars thereat, and at the lower end of each rod there is provided an orifice.
Rods 884 and 835 are connected immediately above the lower extremities thereof by a horizontal spacer 838 (seen in Figure 3 in dotted lines) through which the said rods penetrate, while 848 represents a horizontal frame member contacting spacer 888 at the lower surface thereof and is penetrated and supported by said rods 838 Rods 838 and 887 similarly carry corresponding spacer 838 and frame member 8M. Numerals 848 and 8M represent guy wires connecting the extremities of frame members 848 and 8:1 to the bars 8"] and serve to support the Frame members 888 and 8M are provided at the extremities thereof with depending vertical guide- Ways 842, 843, 844 and 885. Guide- ways 842 and 843 together and guideways 88 and 885 form race-ways for plates 858 and 848 respectively. Plates 848, 886 carry illuminator housings 85!. and 852 respectively, adjacent the upper edges thereof, the said housings corresponding in structure and being oppositely disposed. Figure 5 of the drawings shows housing 85! in detail and thus also brings out the details of housing 852. Housing 85! is supported 7 of, is a bar 868 carrying at its outer extremities a housing 882 having therein an incandescent bulb 862 and having an inner wall comprising an outer sheet of clear glass 88 and an inner sheet of transparent material 885 having an image thereon. Sheet of glass 88 1 has the inner surface thereof lightly silvered so that when bulb 852 is not illuminated, sheet of glass 88% acts as a mirror while when bulb 882 is illuminated, the image on transparent material 865 is made visible through sheet of glass 884.
Projecting forwardly and downwardly from and affixed to the inner surface of plate 858 is a bar 88'! carrying at the outer end thereof a housing 888 having a bulb 8 38 therein. Housing 848 is positioned below the level of housing 882as best seen in Figure 3 of the drawings.
Housing 852 together with the appurtenant structure, being the counterpart of housing 85l and its appurtenant structure as above described, is incompletely shown in Figure 2 whereon 888 represents a movable plate, 857, 858 and 859 represent incandescent bulbs, 889 represents a bar carrying a housing 858, 88E represents a bar carrying a housing 888. Plates 848 and 846 are vertically and slidably displaceable and thereby serve to vertically position the housings 85!, 852, 862, 883, 888 and 858.
Plate 888 has affixed to the upper edge thereof two cables 886 and 859, the said cables being substantially parallel and flexible. Cables 886 and 888 rise vertically turning inwardly about a pair of idler pulleys being positioned at the junctions of frame member 888 and guide-way 8&2 and frame member 84! and guide-way 843. The said cables continue from the idler pulleys to drums 888 and 889 respectively where they are aflixed. Drums 888 and 889 are keyed to a horizontal shaft 878, the said shaft being journalled at the ends thereof in brackets 833' 832.
Similarly, plate 846' is provided with cables 861' and 868 turning about a pair of idler pulleys positioned at the junctions of frame member 848 and guideway 844 and frame member 84! and guideway 845. The said cables continue from the idler pulleys to drums 861 and 868 respectively where they are aflixed. Drums 861 and 868 are keyed to a horizontal shaft 81! journalled at the ends thereof in brackets 833" and 832". Brackets 833 and 833" depend from the forward edge and ends of bar 833 while brackets 832' and 832" depend from the rear edge and ends of bar 832.
Shafts 810 and 81! carry sprockets 812 and 813 respectively immediately forward of drums 869 and 868, said sprockets being interconnected by a chain 814. Shaft 81! at the forward end thereof which projects forwardly of bracket 833". carries sprocket 815. The said sprocket 815 is connected by means of a chain 816 to a sprocket 811 which latter is afiixed to the forward end of a short shaft 819. Shaft 818 is journalled at its forward end by penetrating a plurality of plates 819, 889 and 88! as best seen in Figure 7, and at its rear end in a bracket 884, the latter depending from the rear edge of reinforcing member 884. The rear end of shaft 818 projects beyond its journal and connects with a universal joint 882, the latter being affixed to the forward end of a shaft 883. Shaft 883 is in turn journalled at its rear end in a bracket 885 and conand nects with a shaft 888 by means of a pair of' bevel gears 884 and 881 as best seen on Figure 8. Bracket 885 is supported by a short cross bar 886, the latter being supported by the parallel spacers 899 and 896'. Shaft 888 carries thereon a sprocket 889 which is connected by a chain 899 to a sprocket 89!, the latter being carried on shaft 892. Shaft 892 is journalled by means of orifices in upright members 888, the said upright members being the two forward ones. It is seen from the foregoing mechanism that motion from shaft 892 is communicated to shafts 819 and 81! resulting in the raising and lowering of plates 846 and 846'.
Shaft 892 is provided with a concentric drum 893 which has coiled thereabout a flexible cable 894. One end of cable 894 is affixed tothe housing 933 while the other end of said cable is coiled about another drum 895 from which drum the said cable continues and terminates in afilxation to any suitable mechanical means for controlling the length of said cable 894 such asa drum and handle positioned on the control panel. The disposition of cable 894 is best seen in Figure 1 wherein said cable rises from housing 933, frictionally engages drum 893, proceeds downwardly to frictionally engage drum 895 and then offsets therefrom to run toward the control panel. Drum 895 is concentric with shaft 896, the said shaft 896 being journalled by means of orifices in the two forward upright members 808 but at a point below the mounting of shaft The housing 933 aforementioned is divided into two illuminating chambers by a vertical intermediate wall 934, the said housing having mounted therein incandescent bulbs 935, 936, 931 and 938, two in each chamber as seen in Figure 8. Motion of the cable 994 is directly communicatcd to the said housing 933, the motion of said cable also serving to raise and lower housings 85! and 852. Housings 933, 85! and 852, 862 and 863, and 848 and 850move in unison while the vertical positioning of the said housings is a function of the relative length of cable 894.
Situated within the lighting dome 8!! are two known spot lights 891, 898, being provided with lenses 899 and 999, condensing mirrors 9! and 992, incandescent bulbs 983 and 994 and sockets for said bulbs 905 and 996, respectively. The size of the diverging beam emitted by said spot lights is controlled by the shifting of the sockets within said spot lights by any known means such as linear slots 9!! and 9!2 wherein sockets 995 and 996 are adjustably mounted by means of depending bolts 981 and 998 from the said sockets and nuts therefor 909 and 9l9. Spot light 891 is trunnioned between the lower ends of vertical rods 835 and 831 by means of trunnions 891' while spot light 898 is trunnioned between the lower ends of vertical rods 834 and 836 by means of trunnions 898. The spot lights, being thus pivotally mounted, are capable of being tilted in a vertical plane thereby casting the beams of light emitted from the said spot lights 891 and 398 upon two screens 943 and 944 respectively, said screens being more fully described below. Projecting forwardly in the plane of the horizontal from the side walls adjacent the rear edge of each of the spot lights 891 and 898 are fingers 9!3 and 9!4 respectively. Fingers 9!3 and 9M. are pivotally connected by means of links 9! 5 and 959, the latter being joined at the upper ends thereof, to a link 9! 1. Link 9!1 is caused to move either up or down by reason of communication of motion from shaft 818 thereto through pinion 932 carried by shaft 818, gear 939 carried by shaft 93!, the latter shaft also carrying pinion 929, gear 928 carried by shaft 921 which latter carries plate cam 922, follower 93! mounted on the outer end of lever 929, the latter being connected by means of shaft 9!9 to lever 919 in bell crank fashion, the said lever 9!8 being pivotally connected to the upper end of link 9!1. The above described assembly is best shown in Figures 6 and '1 in which plates 819, 880 and 88! constitute the mounting for the assembly and are maintained in parallelism by virtue of connecting spacers 923, 924, 925 and 926. Shaft 93! is'suitably journalled between plates 839 and 98!. Shaft 921 is suitably journalled in plates 819, 889 and 88! while shaft 9!9 rotates within a sleeve 819', the said sleeve being affixed and extending through plate 819.
By reason of the fact that the spot lights 891 and 898 derive their motion from shaft 918 which latter in turn derives its motion from shaft 892 which said shaft 892 derives its motion from the movement of cable 894 and by reason of the fact that housings 85!, 852, 862, 863, 848, 858 and 933 derive their motion also from the movement of cable 894, it is therefore seen that movement of all the sources of illumination, except bulbs 955, vertically, with relation to the sitter, is synchronized and coordinated.
Screens 943 and 944 heretofore mentioned are composed of any suitable flexible material such as cotton or linen and have provided on the inner surfaces thereof a coating of suitable light reflecting and diffusing material such as aluminum paint or dull white paint. Screens 943 and 944 are supported at the upper ends thereof by affixation to and winding about spring rollers 94d and 942, the said screens extending downwardly over direction controlling idlers 945 and 948, 949 and 958 and finally terminating in weighted edges 953 and 954 respectively, all as best seen in Figure 3. Spring rollers 9M and 942 are provided with the usual ratcheting means of ordinary window-shade rollers. In order to raise or lower screens 943 and 944, edges 953 and 954 thereof are manipulated like ordinary window shade rollers. Rollers 94! and 942 are disposed parallel to bars 8! and are mounted upon brackets 939 and 949 respectively, said brackets projecting upwardly from the outer ends of bars 832 and 933. Idlers 945 and 946 are mounted between the upper ends of upright arms 941', 94'! and 948, 948, said arms projecting upwardly from frame members 848 and 84! while idlers 949 and 959 are mounted between the outer ends of lateral arms 95!, 95! and 952, 952 respectively, said arms projecting laterally and outwardly from guide- ways 842, 843, 844 and 845, respectively.
For the connecting and disconnecting of electrical current to the various sources of illumination described hereinabove, a known segmental rotary switch 839 is provided. The said switch ducting material and is supported by plate 982 by means of connecting spacers 993. Shaft 958 is provided with another radial arm 959 which is similar and parallel to operating lever 95! but which is aflixed to shaft 958 at a point between panel 839 and panel 98L Arm 959 carries on the inner surface thereof a series of contact brushes 999 which are adapted to successively make and break contact with radially disposed and concentric conducting segments a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, 9', 7c and m, the disposition of said segments being best shown in Fig. 9. Numeral 959 represents an insulating post projecting outwardly from the upper end of operating lever 95'! and serves to carry the operating handle for switch 8311.
Switch 839 in its upper vertical position closes no circuits while by virtue of the staggered arrangement of the segments thereabout, the said switch is capable of seven distinct positions when rotated either left or right of the aforesaid upper vertical position. Situated directly below and on the same plane with auxiliary panel 830' is another auxiliary panel 83l carrying thereon three known toggle type switches 984, 965 and 969. Switches 994 and 996 each either make or break a single circuit while switch 985 either makes or breaks two circuits simultaneously.
In the operation of the lighting unit, the subject is seated or allowed to stand along the vertical axis of lighting dome 8| I. At this point in time the operator decides whether a left or right pro file of the sitter is desired, or as in the case of the average sitting where a series of different views will be made, either the right or the left profile may be taken first. Assuming that the right profile is to be photographed first, switch 994 is shifted to its on position thereby completing a circuit from the electrical line through conductors 9M and 958 to the outlet n. Current travels from outlet 11. by means of conductors not shown in the drawings to bulbs 994, 938 and 85?. The illumination of bulbs 994, 938 and 851 lights up focussing of the sitter, the said rotation being accomplished by 'manipulating handle 828.
Handle 826 and the control for cable 894 are. rotated until the sitter is able to see his reflection in the mirrored surface in the housing 863,
it being understood that all of the above steps are taken for the photographing of the right profile and all the steps hereinbelow until the contrary is stated are for the photographing of the right profile of the sitter. The extent of rotation of dome 8H and the control for cable 894 are controlled by the sitters seeing his full view in the mirrored surface of housing 883 when looking forward, and in order that the sitter see such full view, the latter gives the operator instructions as to the extent to which the said dome 9H must be moved by means of handle 828 and the extent of rotation of the control for cable 999. The rotation and final position of dome 8| I and the final position of the control for cable 894, by reason of the fact that the relative spatial interrelation of the various illuminating sources rotatable therewith has been predetermined relative to housing 893, results in proper illumination of the subject in all planes. The relative spatial interrelation of the various illuminating sources follow the pattern of the approved style for a particular position of the sitter and it is from this pattern that your applicant makes automatic such illumination for different'positions of the sitter in the several upright positions and in the several face positions.
Rotary switch 839 is moved in a clock-wise direction to its first consecutive on position, that is, when one of the brushes 969 contacts the conducting segment a, said movement resulting in completion of a circuit to outlet p through conductor 99'], resistor 959, conductors 919, 9' and 988, and also switch 995. Current travels from outlet p by means of conductors not shown in the drawings to bulb 848'.
The rotation of dome 8i i and the rotatable ele ments therewith results in positioning housing so that the head of the sitter is situated between said housing and the lens of the camera. The effect therefore of the illumination of bulb 999 is to outline the head of the subject in so called back-lighting or in Rembrandt style. If these last mentioned effects are not desired, toggle switch 995 is shifted to its off position thereby opening the circuit to bulb 898.
Switch 839 is now advanced in a clock-wise direction to its second position thereby contacting conducting segment 0 completing a circuit therethrough to outlet a. Current travels from outlet it through conductors not shown in the drawings to bulb 863 which upon illumination makes the mirrored surface in housing 893 transparent so that the sitter is able to see the image therebehind in said housing. The purpose of illuminating housing 863 at this time is to further attract the attention of the sitter to this point so that his head and eyes may appear properly directed in a finished photograph; furthermore, the subject matter of the image is conveniently alterable by merely substituting different transparencies therein. This device, utilizing known principles of psychological sugge tion aids in the inducement of pleasant expression on the sitters countenance.
Switch 830 is now advanced in clock-wise direction to its third position thereby contacting conducting segment 6 completing a circuit therethrough to outlet 12. Current travels from outlet '0 through conductors not shown in the drawings to bulbs 855. Illumination from bulbs 955 is refiected from the upper surface of plate 8H5 through the openings 8H and is in turn reflected from screens 943 and 944 upon the sitter. Because of the multiplicity of bulbs 955 and the indirectnessl with which the light therefrom reaches the sitter, said light is highly diffused and of suificiently low intensity so that it constitutes general. or so called atmosphere illumination.
, Switch 838 is now advanced in clock-wise direction to its fourth position thereby contacting conducting segment completing a circuit therethrough to outlet w. Current travels from outlet 10 through conductors not shown in the drawings to bulb 935 serving thereby to increase or augment the quantity of illumination being cast by bulb 936 from one of the chambers of the housing 933.
Switch 838 is now advanced in clock-wise direction to its fifth position thereby contacting conducting segment h and completing a circuit therethrough to outlet at whence current travels through conductors not shown in the drawings to bulbs 858 and 859, serving thereby to augment the illumination already being cast by housing 852.
Further clock-wise advancement of switch 830 to its sixth position results in contacting conducting segment K thereby completing a circuit through conductors 96'! and 969 which short circuits the circuit comprised of resistor 959' and conductor 919. The shortcircuiting of resistor 969 causes all of the light sources which have been receiving current therethrough to increase totheir maximum brilliancy so that the combinedactinic power of said sources of illumination is of the proper degree with relation to the shutter timing of the camera in the camera unit. It isto be noted at this point that the reason for illuminating the various light sources in successive steps of greater brilliance rather thanto bring them on simultaneously isto avoid excitement, fright, starting and squinting of the sitter. Since all of the illuminating sources have been energized as has above been set forth, the exposure may be caused to take place by advancing switch 830 in a clock-wise direction to its final and seventh position thereby contacting conducting segment m which closes the circuit to solenoid 415 which may be arranged to actuate the shutter of the camera. If the operator desires to leave his position adjacent the switch 839 to take a position from which ,he' may better view the facial expression of the sitter, he may leave switch 839 in its sixth position and release the camera shutter by closing switch 9ll indicated schematically on Figure 9 of the drawings. Switch 9?! is a conventional switch of a type adapted to remain normally in an open circuited position, but which closes while under manual pressure. Said switch '91! is connected to one end of a twoconductor cable of substantial length, and is not shown in the drawings other than as above indicated.
,-.After exposure has been completed, switch 839 is=cranked anti-clockwise to its upper vertical position, which extinguishes all of the lights exgc zt thosereceiving current through toggle switch Where it is desired to photograph the left profile of the sitter, all of the above mentioned operations are repeated, except that they are performed in the opposite direction. Thus toggle switch 954 is shifted to its off position, which extinguishes bulbs 904, 936 and 851. Next, toggle switch 966 is moved to its on position thereby completing a circuit to outlet 0, whence current travels via conductors not shown, to bulbs 903, 931, and 854. Next, the camera is properly positioned along its track, and focussed, in a manner identical with that when the right profile was photographed.
Rotary switch 830 is now moved anti-clockwise to its first consecutive on position, thereby contactingsegmentb and completing a circuit therethrough to outlet q, whence current travels via conductors not shown, to bulb 858'. If back lighting is not desired, switch 965 is shifted toits off position. Handle 826 is now rotated until the sitter is able to see his full head-on image in the mirrored surface of housing 862.
Switch 839 is now rotated anti-clockwise to its second position thereby contacting segment d completing a circuit to outlet t and therethrough via conductors not shown to bulb 862.
Next, switch 838 is moved to its third anticlockwise position thereby contacting segment e, thus illuminating bulbs 955 as set forth above, since segment e is continuous in both clockwise and anti-clockwise revolutions of an arm 959. Switch 830 is thenshifted anti-clockwise to its fourth position thereby contacting segment g completing a circuit therethrough to outlet .9 and thence via conductors not shown to bulb 538. Next, switch 830 is moved anti-clockwise to its fifth position, thereby contacting segment 7' completing a circuit therethrough to outlet 1 whence current travels via conductors not shown to bulbs 8.55 and .855. When switch 830 is further rotated in an anticlockwise direction to its sixth and seventh positions, the circuits completed thereby are identical to those which were completed in the sixth and seventh positions in the clockwise rotation thereof since segments Icand m are continuous in both vertical halves of theplate 95 I.
While as stated hereinabove, the sitter is placed to expose either his right or left profile to the lens of the camera, it is to be understood that any intermediate angle may be made by the sitters head, from full face to absolute profile, and since with the shifting of the sitters head the corresponding housing 853 or 862 will have to be rotated so that the sitter may see his full face reflected therefrom, it follows that all of the related light sources will be correctly positioned in the horizontal plane.
' The intensity of light emitted by housings 85l and 852 is greater than that emitted by housing 933, so that the former 85| and 852 constitute the drawing or accentuating light sources while the latter 933' constitutes the light source which'serves to heighten the tones of the shadow portions of the photograph. Where the sitter sees his reflection in housing 863 and switch 830 is rotated clock-wise or sees his face reflected in housing 862 and switch 839 is rotated anti-clockwise, an approved style of lighting results in which the greater portion of the face seen in the photograph is less brilliantly illuminated than the lesser portion of the face. Where the sitter sees his reflection in housing 862, yet the sitter shows his right side or the right side of his face to the lens and switch 838 is rotated anticlockwise, or conversely, where the sitter turns his head to his right thus showing the left side of his face to the lens, and sees his image reflected from housing 863, and switch 830 is rotated in a clockwise direction, another approved style of lighting results, which is so called open lighting. In open lighting the greater portion of the face is more intensely illuminated and the lesser portion of the face is less brilliantly illuminated.-
Since most of the light which falls on the face of the sitter falls at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees, because of the automatically proper coordination between the position of housings 863 and 862, and the vertical positioning of the movable light sources, as has been set forth above, this system is capable of many other approved styles of lighting which will always be basically correct. In the hands of a skilled operator, the versatility of the lighting system is readily seen. By studying the image of the sitter in the groundglass handle 826 may be turned at random until a pleasing efieot is produced, and since the rotation of switch 838, for the most part, serves toincrease the intensity of the light sources, rather than inaugurate new ones, composition decided upon at low intensity will retain its quality when the illumination is sufficiently intense for exposure.
In the hands of an unskilled operator, this lighting system may be operated so that very little judgment is required. For normal lighting effects, vertical and horizontal positioning of the light sources is semi-automatic. The proper housing 862 or 883 is aimed by merely turning handle 826 and the control for cable 894 until the sitter can see both of his ears therein. Where it is desired to have an unskilled operator duplicate unusual effects, these may be originally deter-I mined by a skilled operator, and all the unskilled operator need do is follow explicit instructions involving very little judgment. Dial 821 being accurately calibrated, he need only manipulate handle 825 until the pointer coincides with a certain calibration marking on the dial. The control for cable 894 may have a similar calibrated dial. In this manner, a good lighting st'yle once conceived may be reexecuted at will.
Where the subject is possessed of unusually fair complexion or light hair, proper lighting may be simply obtained by shifting switches 964 or 966 to their ofi position. In that case, composition and focussing is performed before this is done or focussing is, performed with switch 388 advanced in either direction the requisite number of steps.
I wish it distinctly understood at this time that the mechanisms described in the above specification to accomplish certain movements are conventional and that such mechanisms are'not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention; minor changes and variations in the integration of several parts of each unit and in the parts themselves may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention; minor changes and variations in the means oftra'nsfe'rring motion and in the synchronization of the several parts of each unit and in the units themselves may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention; and lastly, minor changes and variations in the means to accomplish the defined results hereinbefore developed may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention and without departing from the scope of the appended claims.
I claim:
1. In a lighting system for photography, a pivotal and concentric arrangement of illuminating sources movablelas a unit about the fixed subject, aiming means connected therewith, means to rotate saidarrangement actuated by the positioning of the said aiming means relative to the fixed subject.
2. In a lighting system for photography, a pivotal and concentric arrangement of illuminating sources movable as a unit about the fixed subject, aim-ing means connected therewith, means to rotate and vertically raise and lower said arrangement actuated by the positioning of the said aiming means relative to the fixed-subject.
3. In a lighting system for photography, a pivotal and concentric arrangement of illuminating sources movable as a unit about the fixed subject, aiming means connected therewith, means to vertically raise and lower said arrangement actuated by the positioning of the said aiming means relative to the fixed subject.
4. In a lighting system for photography, aconcentric arrangement of illuminating sources movable as a unit about the fixed subject, aiming means connected therewith, means to vertically raise and lower said arrangement actuated by the positioning of the said aiming means relative to the fixed subject.
5. In a lighting system for photography, a pivotal and concentric arrangement of illuminating sources movable as a unit about the fixed subject, aiming means connected therewith, means to rotate and vertically raise and lower said arrangement actuated by the positioning of the said aiming means relative to the fixed subject, switching means to successively illuminate difierent sources.
6. In a lighting system for photography, a pivotal and concentric arrangement of illuminating sources movable as a unit about tl'ieffixed subject, aiming means connected therewith, means to rotate and vertically raise and lower said arrangement actuated by the positioning of the said aiming means relative to the subject, switching means to successively illuminate different sources, and means to increase the brilliancy of the said sources. 7
7. In a lighting system for photography, a pivotal and concentric arrangement of illuminating sources movable as a unit about the fixed subject, the said illuminating sources being in two groups and diametrically opposed, aiming means connectedjwith each group of illuminating sources, means to rotate and vertically raise and lower said arrangement actuated by the positioning of either of the said aiming means relative to the fixed subject.
8. In a lighting system for photography, a pivotal and concentric arrangement of illuminating sources movable as a unit about the fixed subject, the said illuminating sources being in two groups and diametrically opposed, aiming means connected with each group of illuminating sources, means to rotate and vertically raise and lower said arrangement actuated by the positioning of either of the said aiming means relative to the subject, switching means to successively illuminate the different sources of either group. 7
9. In a lighting system for photography, a pivotal and concentric arrangement of illuminating sources about the subject,*t-he saidilluminating sources being in two groups-and diametrically opposed, a mirror connected with each of said groups, means to rotate and vertically raise and lower said arrangement simultaneously with the positioning of either mirror for reflecting the full face view of the subject.
10. In a lighting system for photography, a pivotal and concentric arrangement of illuminating sources about the subject, the said illuminating sources being in two groups and diametrically opposed, a mirror connected with each of said groups, means to rotate and vertically raise and lower said arrangement simultaneously with the positioning of either mirrors for reflecting the full face View of the subject, switching means to successively illuminate the sources of either group.
11. In a lighting system for photography and in conjunction with a camera shutter actuating means, a pivotal and concentric arrangement of illuminating sources about the subject, the said illuminating sources being in two groups and diametrically opposed, a mirror connected with each of said groups, means to rotate and vertically raise and lower said arrangement simultaneously with the positioning of either mirror for reflecting the full face view of the subject, switching means to successively illuminate the sources of either group and to actuate the camera shutter actuating means.
12. In a lighting system for photography, a pivotal and concentric arrangement of illuminating sources movable as a unit about a fixed sub ject, and aiming means connected with said arrangement, said aiming means being in predetermined spatial and circumferential relationship with reference to said arrangement of illuminating sources whereby the said illuminating sources cast light upon the subject from a predetermined angle with relation to an imaginary line drawn between the subject and said aiming means.
13. In a lighting system for photographic purposes, a pivotal and concentric arrangement of illuminating sources composed of two opposed groups, independent aiming means associated with each of said groups, each of said aiming means being in predetermined spatial and circumferential relationship with reference to the particular group associated therewith, whereby each of the groups is adapted to cast light upon the subject at a predetermined angle with reference to an imaginary line drawn from each of the aiming means to the subject.
14. In a lighting system for photography, a pivotal and concentric arrangement of illuminating sources movable as a unit about a fixed subject, aiming means connected therewith comprising a mirror for the subject including a reflecting surface transparent to a light source, an image behind said surface, and a light source behind said image whereby the image may be viewed through said surface.
15.111 a lighting system for photography, a source of illumination adapted for movement with relation to a fixed subject, movable aiming means associated with said source, and means to move said source in accordance with a movement of said aiming means, whereby an imaginary line drawn from said aiming means to said subject will form a substantially constant angle with relation to another imaginary line drawn from said source to said subject.
SAMUEL HERSHBERG.
US744888A 1934-09-15 1934-09-21 Photographic lighting system Expired - Lifetime US2176967A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US744888A US2176967A (en) 1934-09-15 1934-09-21 Photographic lighting system

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US744225A US2176573A (en) 1934-09-15 1934-09-15 System of photography
US744888A US2176967A (en) 1934-09-15 1934-09-21 Photographic lighting system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2176967A true US2176967A (en) 1939-10-24

Family

ID=27114283

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US744888A Expired - Lifetime US2176967A (en) 1934-09-15 1934-09-21 Photographic lighting system

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US2176967A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2975050A (en) * 1957-06-04 1961-03-14 Superior Tube Co Zirconium-aluminum-nickel cathodes

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2975050A (en) * 1957-06-04 1961-03-14 Superior Tube Co Zirconium-aluminum-nickel cathodes

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US2176573A (en) System of photography
US1950374A (en) Production of stereoscopic pictures
US2176967A (en) Photographic lighting system
US2307202A (en) Projecting kaleidoscope device
US3482915A (en) Colour film reproducing system
US2772600A (en) Image superimposition apparatus
US2145917A (en) Combined camera and flash lamp
US1198600A (en) Process of and means for photographing films.
US1964591A (en) Light projecting device
US1895239A (en) Camera-silhouette machine
US2018891A (en) Photographic device and method
US2439987A (en) Picture projector and viewer
US3181416A (en) Auto-focus viewing and reproducing apparatus
US3632204A (en) Photoprinting and processing device
US3271097A (en) Methods and apparatus for making animated cartoons
US2729141A (en) Image superimposition projection devices
US3237516A (en) Optical apparatus for use in the reproduction of images
US1946323A (en) Device for taking photographs in series
US3350158A (en) Animation technique
US2005366A (en) Machine gun camera
US3409360A (en) Filmstrip producing device
US2938425A (en) Projection of stereoscopic pictures to give a three dimensional effect
US2414338A (en) Contrast control for photographic enlargers and printers
US1156896A (en) Method of and apparatus for producing and exhibiting composite pictures.
US2694336A (en) Motion-picture combination