A CABINET WORLD:different Cabinets

[Pythonfactory]

If you look at the vast majority of the items posted, the player isn't looking directly at the camera. Why is this?

[RUKen]

Originally Posted by Pythonfactory

If you look at the vast majority of the items posted, the player isn't looking directly at the camera. Why is this?

Given that the necessary exposure times then were much longer than today's (no "point and click") and the likelihood that the photographer was using a strong light, it would have been difficult to keep looking directly at the camera. The long exposure time is also why the early photographic portraits do not feature people smiling.

[Pythonfactory]

Originally Posted by RUKen

Given that the necessary exposure times then were much longer than today's (no "point and click") and the likelihood that the photographer was using a strong light, it would have been difficult to keep looking directly at the camera. The long exposure time is also why the early photographic portraits do not feature people smiling.

Thanks for the insight!

How long were the exposures for cabinets and 19th century cards such as Old Judge?

[Joe_G.]

Originally Posted by RUKen

Given that the necessary exposure times then were much longer than today's (no "point and click") and the likelihood that the photographer was using a strong light, it would have been difficult to keep looking directly at the camera. The long exposure time is also why the early photographic portraits do not feature people smiling.

By the late 1880s, "instantaneous" photography was commonplace. Exposure times were often a fraction of a second. This made it possible to capture galloping horses in great detail etc. Some Old Judge cards show the player peering directly into the camera, others do not. The rare smile has more to do with what was deemed acceptable and appropriate vs a concern of holding a steady face during the exposure timeframe.

[Joe_G.]

As a follow-up to my previous post, here is a game-in-progress photo dating to 1888 (I have negative and created this photo). Game is in Philadelphia with Detroit at bat. There are several players and an umpire on the move and while the clarity of the moving objects isn't perfect, it is pretty good. I believe the scene is near the tail end of a double that scores the runner who was on first. The lone umpire has moved from behind home plate to second base to be closer to a potential close call. This was undoubtedly a form of instantaneous photography.

[Al C.risafulli]

Whoa.

Joe, that is an INCREDIBLE photo. I would LOVE a print of that.

Thanks for sharing that!

-Al

[RUKen]

Originally Posted by Joe_G.

By the late 1880s, "instantaneous" photography was commonplace. Exposure times were often a fraction of a second. This made it possible to capture galloping horses in great detail etc. Some Old Judge cards show the player peering directly into the camera, others do not. The rare smile has more to do with what was deemed acceptable and appropriate vs a concern of holding a steady face during the exposure timeframe.

Thanks, Joe; I stand corrected.

It's interesting to see the on-field photos from the deadball era; the outfielders were usually positioned very close to the infield. Today, the outfielders are this close only when a long fly ball will bring in the winning run and they want to cut off singles.

[JeremyW]

Really happy to pick this one up. Connie Mack as a player/manager. I've seen the larger 14X19 composite photos, but this is the first cabinet size photo I've seen. If anyone has seen another, I'd love to hear about it. I really love these cabinet/19th century threads, always amazing eye candy.

[joeadcock]

Jeremy

That is a beutiful cabinet with Mack.
Interestingly, the Taylor photo appears to be the same shot in the E107 set.

[TheBig6]

[JeremyW]

Joe- The Taylor photo is certainly the same. Great eye.

[DixieBaseball]

Originally Posted by JeremyW

Really happy to pick this one up. Connie Mack as a player/manager. I've seen the larger 14X19 composite photos, but this is the first cabinet size photo I've seen. If anyone has seen another, I'd love to hear about it. I really love these cabinet/19th century threads, always amazing eye candy.

Jeremy - Very nice ! I really like the look of this one... it's busy and I like it.