CHAPTER XII
RADIO-CINEMATOGRAPHY: HOW THE X-RAYS ARE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MOVING-PICTURE CAMERA
With the perfection of radio-photography it was not surprising that the cinematograph investigator pressed this new development into service. It opened up a wide and fascinating field for moving pictures. When the Röntgen rays were first introduced there was one serious handicap to photography by their means—the length of the exposure. But the chemist and the scientist speedily removed this adverse factor, and now X-ray photographs can be taken instantaneously—60 per minute.
Long before this achievement Radio-photography had been yoked with the moving pictures. It was a difficult problem, but it was solved. One scientific inventor stands out prominently in this connection. This is Monsieur M. J. Carvallo who, during his position as sub-director and secretary of the Marey Institute, spared no effort to harness the X-rays to cinematography. Another illustrious worker is Dr. J. Comandon, who may be said to be the pioneer of the popularisation of cinematographic science. It was he who first appealed to the public with films of this character under the auspices of the well-known firm of Pathé Frères. He has been responsible for the preparation of many most interesting films. Both of these workers have shown what can be achieved in this direction, while the fact that they proceed upon totally different lines adds value to their work. It enables their followers to decide for themselves which principle is likely to produce the most satisfactory result in each case.
Strictly speaking, Monsieur Carvallo's methods would appeal more strongly to the scientific mind, bent upon the discovery of some abstruse phenomena, and indifferent to the complicated process involved. The methods of Dr. Comandon, on the other hand, from their enhanced simplicity, will attract the average worker. This investigator makes a special point of accomplishing his end in as simple a manner as possible.
From this it will be judged that radio-cinematography may be expensive or inexpensive. This is a correct assumption, but the amateur investigator need not fear that the deeper researches are beyond his reach. In justice to Monsieur Carvallo, it must be mentioned that his experiments were undertaken at a time when radio-photography had not reached its present stage, and therefore he had to contend with certain difficulties which no longer exist.
By courtesy of the Marey Institute.