A good photograph of a lightning flash is reproduced in a recent issue of " Photography ". The photograph was taken in July last at Weston-super Marc by T. G. . Goodman, A. C. P., F. R. G. S., who states that it was taken on an Ilford chromatic plate, and has not been touched up in any way. The camera was focussed in a perfectly dark room on a light in a room some distance off. The plate was then inserted, the cap removed, and within a few seconds a brilliant flash came in that part of the sky to which the camera pointed, immediately after the cap was put on. The stop used was 1/8; date, July 21, 1904; time, eight minutes to ten. " Photography" says that it is not often a single flash single, that is, in point of time - makes so fine a show as it does in Mr. Goodman's print, which is altogether remarkable in this respect. Those who would seek to get similar results would do well to note his procedure. It is a convenience to have a mark on the baseboard of every camera, showing exactly how far to extend the camera with any given lens to secure a sharp image of anything at " infinity ". This is most conveniently done in day time by focussing on some object two or three hundred yards away, since, when a storm does come there is not always a light at a suitable distance on which to focus. Then when a thunderstorm happens at night, all that has to be done is to extend the camera to the mark, put a plate in, point the camera in the direction in which most flashes are to be seen, and uncap the lens. As soon as a flash has been seen, in that direction, the plate should be changed, and as it often happens the flashes that are very visible to the eye do not appear on the plate at all for one reason or another, it is always advisable to make as many exposures, as the storm will admit; some are then sure to be found on the plate.

A French photographer, M. G. A. Liebert, has recently devised an apporatus which will enable him to take instantaneous photographs in his studio. This device is described in La Bevue de VElectricite. The object of using electric lights is to give the photographer entire control of the quality and amount of illumination and to render him independent of daylight. Moreover, to obtain the best portraits it is very desirable that they should be taken instantaneously and at the moment when the subject is in the best pose.

The device consists of a large parabolic reflector of aluminum, having placed on its inner edge a series of incandescent lamps shaded with ground-glass screens. The object of these is merely to light up the subject, permitting the photographer to secure the best pose and to determine when the real exposure should be made. At the center of this reflector is an arc lamp with three carbons. One of these is fixed, and the other two are movable. When a photograph is to be taken, the subject is arranged and the sensitive plate is exposed. The photographer then waits until a desirable pose has been secured, when he presses a rubber bulb, which draws the two movable arc light carbons across the fixed one, thus forming a brilliant arc; but the moment the current passes through the lamp the movable carbons are drawn away from the fixed ones by means of an electromagnet, and the arc is thus extinguished. It lasts about one-fiftieth of a second, but this gives sufficient time for an exposure.