Albert Londe
Encyclopedia
Albert Londe was an influential French photographer, medical researcher and chronophotographer
. He is remembered for his work as a medical photographer at the Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris
, funded by the Parisian authorities, as well as being a pioneer in X-ray
photography.
During his two decades at the Salpêtrière, Albert Londe developed into arguably the most outstanding scientific photographer of his time.
In 1878 neurologist
Jean-Martin Charcot
hired Londe as a medical photographer at the Salpêtrière. In 1882 Londe devised a system to photograph the physical and muscular movements of patients, including epileptic seizures
. He accomplished this by using a camera with nine lenses that were triggered by electromagnetic
energy, and with the use of a metronome
, that enabled him to sequentially time the release of the shutters. This configuration took photos onto glass plates in quick succession. A few years later Londe developed a camera with twelve lenses for photographing movement.
Londe's camera was used for medical studies of muscle movement in subjects performing actions as diverse as those of a tightrope-walking and blacksmithing. The sequence of twelve pictures could be created for durations from 1/10 of a second to several seconds.
Although the apparatus was used primarily for medical research, Londe noted that it was portable, and he used it for other subjects - for example, horses and other animals and ocean waves. General Sobert developed, in conjunction with Londe, a chronophotographic device used to study ballistics
. Londe's pictures were used as illustrations in several books, most notably those by Paul Richer
, that were widely read by the medical and artistic fraternity.
With Étienne-Jules Marey
(1830–1904), Londe performed many photographic experiments concerning movement, and the layout of his laboratory at the Salpêtrière was similar to Marey's renowned Station Physiologique. In 1893 Londe published the first book on medical photography, titled La photographie médicale: Application aux sciences médicales et physiologiques. In 1898 he published Traité pratique de radiographie et de radioscope: technique et applications médicales.
Londe also published six journals. Albert Londe's 12-lens camera of 1891 was illustrated in the journal 'La Nature', 1893.
Chronophotography
Chronophotography is an antique photographic technique from the Victorian era , which captures movement in several frames of print. These prints can be subsequently arranged either like animation cels or layered in a single frame...
. He is remembered for his work as a medical photographer at the Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, funded by the Parisian authorities, as well as being a pioneer in X-ray
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
photography.
During his two decades at the Salpêtrière, Albert Londe developed into arguably the most outstanding scientific photographer of his time.
In 1878 neurologist
Neurologist
A neurologist is a physician who specializes in neurology, and is trained to investigate, or diagnose and treat neurological disorders.Neurology is the medical specialty related to the human nervous system. The nervous system encompasses the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. A specialist...
Jean-Martin Charcot
Jean-Martin Charcot
Jean-Martin Charcot was a French neurologist and professor of anatomical pathology. He is known as "the founder of modern neurology" and is "associated with at least 15 medical eponyms", including Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis...
hired Londe as a medical photographer at the Salpêtrière. In 1882 Londe devised a system to photograph the physical and muscular movements of patients, including epileptic seizures
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by seizures. These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms of abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the brain.About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and nearly two out of every three new cases...
. He accomplished this by using a camera with nine lenses that were triggered by electromagnetic
Electromagnetic radiation
Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy that exhibits wave-like behavior as it travels through space...
energy, and with the use of a metronome
Metronome
A metronome is any device that produces regular, metrical ticks — settable in beats per minute. These ticks represent a fixed, regular aural pulse; some metronomes also include synchronized visual motion...
, that enabled him to sequentially time the release of the shutters. This configuration took photos onto glass plates in quick succession. A few years later Londe developed a camera with twelve lenses for photographing movement.
Londe's camera was used for medical studies of muscle movement in subjects performing actions as diverse as those of a tightrope-walking and blacksmithing. The sequence of twelve pictures could be created for durations from 1/10 of a second to several seconds.
Although the apparatus was used primarily for medical research, Londe noted that it was portable, and he used it for other subjects - for example, horses and other animals and ocean waves. General Sobert developed, in conjunction with Londe, a chronophotographic device used to study ballistics
Ballistics
Ballistics is the science of mechanics that deals with the flight, behavior, and effects of projectiles, especially bullets, gravity bombs, rockets, or the like; the science or art of designing and accelerating projectiles so as to achieve a desired performance.A ballistic body is a body which is...
. Londe's pictures were used as illustrations in several books, most notably those by Paul Richer
Paul Richer
Paul Marie Louis Pierre Richer was a French anatomist, physiologist, sculptor and anatomical artist who was a native of Chartres...
, that were widely read by the medical and artistic fraternity.
With Étienne-Jules Marey
Étienne-Jules Marey
Étienne-Jules Marey was a French scientist and chronophotographer.His work was significant in the development of cardiology, physical instrumentation, aviation, cinematography and the science of labor photography...
(1830–1904), Londe performed many photographic experiments concerning movement, and the layout of his laboratory at the Salpêtrière was similar to Marey's renowned Station Physiologique. In 1893 Londe published the first book on medical photography, titled La photographie médicale: Application aux sciences médicales et physiologiques. In 1898 he published Traité pratique de radiographie et de radioscope: technique et applications médicales.
Londe also published six journals. Albert Londe's 12-lens camera of 1891 was illustrated in the journal 'La Nature', 1893.
Written Works
- Anatomie pathologique de la moelle epiniere (1891) [with Paul Oscar BlocqPaul Oscar BlocqPaul Oscar Blocq was a French pathologist who is remembered for his neuropathological work done with Jean-Martin Charcot and Gheorghe Marinescu at the Salpêtrière in Paris....
] - In 1893 Londe published the first book on medical photography, titled La photographie médicale: Application aux sciences médicales et physiologiques.
- In 1898 he published Traité pratique de radiographie et de radioscope: technique et applications médicales.