[Illustration: FIG. 16.--A "SPIRIT" PHOTOGRAPH.]
Many years ago, in the old wet-collodion days, a well-known
photographer was one day surprised by the visitation of a spirit. The
apparition did not make its appearance during the nocturnal hours, as
is, we have been given to understand, the custom of these ladies and
gentlemen from the other world, but, strangely enough, in broad
daylight; and not by his bedside to disturb his peaceful slumber, but
upon the photograph he was in the act of producing. Had this gentleman
been of that soft-brained kind, so easily gulled by the professional
spiritualist, it is possible that he would not have done what he did,
which was to make a thorough and scientific examination as to the
probable cause of the phenomenon. The case was this: A gentleman
sitter had been taken in the usual manner upon a collodion plate. Upon
taking a positive print from the negative, he was surprised to find a
dim white figure of a lady apparently hovering over the unconscious
sitter. Upon examination of the negative, the image of the figure was
also visible, but not so plainly as in the positive. The explanation
of the whole matter was soon discovered. In those days glass was not
so cheap as at present, and all old or spoilt negatives were cleaned
off and freshly prepared with collodion for further use. In this case
the glass had previously supported the negative image of a lady
dressed in white. Some chemical action had evidently taken place
between the image and the glass itself, turning the latter slightly
yellow in some parts. This faint yellow image, although hardly visible
in the negative, had, being of a non-actinic color, given quite a
distinct image in the positive. The case was not an isolated one, as
these spirit photographs, as they were called, often made their
appearance when old negatives were cleaned and the glass used again.
The precise action producing the image has never, we think, been
satisfactorily explained. It could often be made more distinct by
breathing on the glass. We do not know if any enterprising humbug ever
took advantage of this method of producing spirit photographs to
extort money from the unwary, but about ten years ago a work was
published, entitled "Chronicles of the Photographs of Spiritual Beings
and Phenomena Invisible to the Material Eye," by a Miss Houghton. In
this a number of reproductions of photographs of "spirits" were given
with a detailed explanation of how they were obtained and the
difficulties attending their production, the "spirits" being
apparently of very independent natures, only making their appearance
when they felt so inclined. It is quite possible that a person
entirely ignorant of photographic methods might be led into the belief
that they were actually photographic images of the dead, but we fear
that the book is hardly well enough written to deceive the experienced
photographer. At certain and most unfortunate periods in the process
employed, some of the plates had a convenient habit of slipping into
the washing tank and there, according to the author, becoming utterly
ruined; also we learn that many were ruined by being accidentally
smudged by the photographer's finger. We should not, we fear, have a
very high opinion of an operator who was in the constant habit of
"smudging" negatives with his fingers so as to entirely spoil them,
nor can we quite understand what brand of plates was used that "got
spoiled by falling into the water."
[Illustration: From La Nature. FIG. 17.--SPIRIT PICTURE.]
[Illustration: From La Nature. FIG. 18.--SPIRIT PICTURE.]
It is not difficult to explain how these pictures were produced. There
are quite a number of methods. With a weak-minded sitter, over whom
the operator had complete control, the matter would be in no wise a
difficult one. It would then only be necessary for the spirit,
suitably attired for the occasion, to appear for a few seconds behind
the sitter during the exposure and be taken slightly out of focus, so
as not to appear too corporeal.
If, however, the sitter be of another kind, anxious to discover how it
was done and on the alert for any deceptive practices, the method
described would be rather a risky one, as he might turn round suddenly
at an inconvenient moment and detect the _modus operandi_. In such a
case it becomes necessary to find some other method where it would not
be requisite for the "spirit" to make its appearance during the
presence of the sitter.
[Illustration: FIG. 19.--SPIRIT PICTURE DISTURBED SLUMBER]
The ghostly image can be prepared upon the plate, either before or
after the exposure of the sitter. The method is this: In a darkened
room the draped figure to represent the spirit is posed in a
spirit-like attitude (whatever that may be) in front of a dark
background with a suitable magnesium or other artificial light thrown
upon the figure, which is then focused in the "fuzzy-type" style; or,
better still, a fine piece of muslin gauze is placed close to the lens
which gives a hazy, indistinct appearance to the image. The exposure
is made and the latent image remains upon the sensitive plate, which
is again used to photograph the sitter. Upon developing we get the two
images, the "spirit" mixed up with the figure. The spirit should be as
indistinct as possible, as it will then be less easy for the subject
to dispute the statement that it is the spirit-form of his dead and
gone relative. Some amount of discretion in this part of the
performance must be used, we fancy, otherwise the same disaster might
happen as did to a spiritualist some little time ago. An elderly
gentleman had come for a _seance_, and, after some mysterious
maneuvers, the gentleman was informed that the spirit of his mother
was there. "Indeed!" replied the old gentleman, somewhat astonished.
"What does she say?" "She says she will see you soon," informed the
medium. "You are getting old now and must soon join her." "Quite
right," replied the old gentleman; "I am going round to her house to
tea to-night."--Total collapse of spiritualist.
[Illustration: FIG. 20.--PHOTOGRAPH OF "SPIRITS."]
Fluorescent substances, such as bisulphate of quinine, can also be
employed. This compound, although almost invisible to the eye,
photographs nearly black. If a white piece of paper be painted with
the substance, except on certain parts, the latter only will appear
white in the picture.
[Illustration: FIG. 21.-PAINTING BY N. SICHEL. From which the "Spirit"
Photograph opposite was made.]
We hope that it will not be inferred that we desire to explain how to
deceive persons with regard to photographs of spirits, for this is not
so; we only hope that they will be made merely for amusement, and if
possible to expose persons who practice on the gullibility of
inexperienced persons.
Fig. 20 is a reproduction of a "spirit" photograph made by a
photographer, claiming to be a "spirit photographer," and to have the
power to call these ladies and gentlemen from the "vasty deep" and
make them impress their image upon the sensitive plate by the side of
the portraits of their living relatives.
Fortunately, however, we were in this case able to expose this fraud.
Mr. W. M. Murray, a prominent member of the Society of Amateur
Photographers of New York, called our attention to the similarity
between one of the "spirit" images and a portrait painting by Sichel,
the artist.
A reproduction of the picture is given herewith, Fig. 21, and it will
be seen at once that the spirit image is copied from it.
In a recent number of _The Australian Photographic Journal_ we read of
the following novel method of making so-called spirit photographs:
"Take a negative of any supposed spirit that is to be represented, put
it in the printing frame with the film side out; lay on the glass side
a piece of platinotype paper with the sensitive side up; clamp in
place the back of the printing frame and expose to the sun for half a
minute. Now place in the printing frame the negative of another person
to whom the spirit is to appear, and over it put the previously
exposed sheet film side down; expose to the sun for two minutes until
the image is faintly seen, then develop in the usual way and the
blurred spirit photograph will appear faintly to one side or directly
behind the distinct image. Sheets of paper with different ghost
exposures can be prepared beforehand."
Spirit photographs might easily be made by means of Prof. Roentgen's
well-known X-ray process of impressing an image upon a photographic
dry-plate without uncovering the shutter. The process would however
entail considerable expense and would necessitate the use of so much
costly apparatus that we will content ourselves with the simple
mention of the possibility.