Microphotography
By Paul L. Anderson
PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN IN A SNOWSTORM
New York
The human eye and mind are, from a mechanical point of view, but imperfect instruments. Admirably as they serve the purpose for which they are designed, it is nevertheless impossible for them to observe with absolute accuracy. The camera, however, has no such limitations; its observations are accurate and its records unquestionable, so long as no definite effort is made to impair their exactness. For this reason photography is used not only in astronomy but in many other branches of science, among its most important uses being the making of records of microscopic objects.
A device carrying a photographic plate is attached to the eye-piece of a microscope; the plate being exposed affords, on development, a precise record of the subject under observation. It may be noted that in this case, as in astronomical photography, no camera lens is required; the microscope, like the telescope, projects an aërial image which is impressed on the plate. It thus becomes possible for the microscopist to study at leisure a photograph of the object that was in the field of the microscope, and thereby eliminate eye-strain and minimize the likelihood of overlooking any feature of interest. It is further possible to make lantern-slides from the negative so obtained. A lecturer by this means is enabled to show the photograph to a large group of individuals simultaneously.
Photograph by Struss
By courtesy of Cleveland Metal Products Co.