[rollei_list] Re: Flash Bulbs
- From: "Richard Knoppow" <dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:50:41 -0700
----- Original Message -----
From: "Elias Roustom" <eroustom@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 5:32 AM
Subject: [rollei_list] Flash Bulbs
I remember some months ago we discussed flash bulbs -
here's a photo that amazes me in terms of the capacity of
bulbs:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nationallibrarynz_commons/3326203787/
Most likely shot with a press camera of some sort, another
occasional topic of discussion.
Enjoy,
Elias
Given the date and the area covered I think this is more
likely flash powder than a flash bulb. Flash bulbs became
available in the early 1930s so its not impossible that this
was photographed with one but flash powder was in wide use
before that, and continued to be used for press work for a
time afterward, and was capable of lighting very large
areas. In fact, powder continued to be used for lighting
large area architectural and similar photography long after
flashbulbs supplanted them for press work. Flash powder was
generally used in a holder consisting of a V shaped long
trough with a large reflector above it. This resulted in a
rather soft quality of light compared to bulbs or to strobe.
For a long time these flashguns used an arrangement similar
to a cigarette lighter for igniting the powder but
electrically triggered flashpowder guns were available
later.
Flash powder has an enormous light output and has been
used in the past for cave photography and similar subjects.
Powder can be used for color photography.
--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA
dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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