A combination of the principles of the phenakistiscope (fig. 4) and
stereoscope, has resulted in the invention of an instrument called the
stereotrope. A number of binocular photographs of some object in
motion—a steam-engine, for instance—are taken when the moving parts are
in different positions, and mounted on two revolving discs, the images
being combined by means of a pair of semi-lenses, as in the ordinary
refracting stereoscope.
We cannot leave this subject without describing the pseudoscope, also
the invention of Professor Wheatstone. If a stereoscopic pair of
photographs of some solid body—a ball, for instance—are mounted the
reverse way, that is to say, if the picture intended to be looked at by
the right eye is placed on the left, the relief of the object will be
reversed, and the ball will appear as a hollow hemisphere. If,
therefore, we can by means of lenses or prisms cause the image of any
natural object, as seen by the right eye, to be conveyed to the left,
and _vice versâ_, we shall see the relief reversed. A conical cap will
appear in relief as a cone, a globe will look like a hollow sphere, and
the human face will take the semblance of the inside of a mask. The same
deception may be effected by looking at a seal through a short-focused
lens, so that the image shall seem reversed. In this case, the light
coming apparently from the wrong side, and shining on the parts in
relief, gives them the appearance of being hollow. An intaglio will, of
course, appear in relief when so looked at. Photographs of gems and
bas-reliefs will also present a pseudoscopic appearance, if looked at in
a light coming from the opposite side to that in which they were taken.
The same appearance may be seen sometimes in wall papers having patterns
painted in strong relief.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER VIII.
THE CAMERA OBSCURA AND CAMERA LUCIDA.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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