The amusing examples of illusive photography which we show herewith are due to Mr. Frank A. Gilmore, of Auburn, R. I. The camera is so arranged that the pictures which are reproduced suggest the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The porter with the sack and the gentleman who is about to give him some money are one and the same person. The pedestrian is walking with himself, and the fighter is prepared to annihilate himself.
The method of producing the illusion is very simple. A black-lined box is fitted to the back of a “kodak” or any other camera; the front of the box is closed by two doors. On opening one door a picture may be taken on one side of the plate; on closing this door and opening the other, the other half of the plate is ready for exposure. The subject poses in one position and his photograph is taken with one door open, care being taken to bring the figure within half of the area of the sensitized plate. A good finder enables this detail to be attended to. Then one door is closed and the other is opened, and the exposure of the other half of the plate is accomplished. The plate holder is not removed during the dual exposure. If possible, instantaneous pictures should be taken, as time exposures are rather risky, involving danger of shaking the camera, and the length of exposure may not be the same for both sides of the plate. Our engravings were taken with an ordinary four by five “kodak,” and the box was an ordinary cigar box cut down to fit, and blackened inside.
ATTACHMENT TO KODAK FOR DUPLEX PHOTOGRAPHY.
SHOWING TWO PHOTOGRAPHS OF SAME PERSON ON A SINGLE NEGATIVE.