A Manual Of Photography

272 PRACTICE OF PHOTOGRAPHY. is himw so as to form a temporary table, and the film is loosened from the edge of the glass with a flat strip of glass ; a sheet of damp paper is then placed flat on the drawing, and rather within its upper edge ; the film is turned over the edge of the paper, and a glass rod is placed just within the edge. The sheet of paper with the collodion in contact with it is now raised from the glass, and rolled up on the glass rod. "When the drawing is entirely enclosed in the paper, the rod is removed, and the delicate film thus encased is put away into its proper receptacle, to be finally fixed and mounted at leisure. "The drawing thus rolled up can be preserved for months without injury, provided it is kept slightly damp ; and if each drawing is enclosed in another sheet of paper, its preservation is still further secured. . ., “The advantages of a camera of this kind may be thus enumerated. .,. "It allows the preparation on the spot of the most sensitive surfaces; their immediate use whilst the sensibility is at its maximum ; the ready development of the image, and after fixing. 1 " All these operations being carried on consecutively, the operator can, after the first trial, see what results the progress of his labours is likely to produce. " It gives him the power of shading off any portions of the view during the action of the light, by holding in front of the prepared plate and near the lens a moveable screen, or any flat piece of wood, as the case may require ; thereby preventing the too rapid action and consequent solarisation of the distant por- tions of the scene. The spire of a church, for instance, pointing upwards into a bright sky, often requires this precaution to prevent its being entirely lost. Other instances of this effect will readily suggest themselves to those at all acquainted with the art." “ The camera can be made, with slight modifications, applicable to any other process on paper or glass, and of course obviates the necessity of any kind of portable tent." Archer, Manual of the Collodion Photographie Process. The following figures represent Mr. Archer s Camera, as constructed bv Mr. Griffin:—. The figure 69 is a section of the camera, and / 0 its external form, which, with a view to portability, is constructed so as to serve as a packing case for the entire apparatus repre- sented by figs. 69 to 76. a is the sliding door that supports the lens b. c c are the side openings fitted with cloth sleeves to admit the operator’s arms, d is a hinged door at the bac o