Columbia Basket-Ball: 1908

This image was taken looking east in the then-new gym in University Hall (started, 1895), at about 119th Street in the middle of campus. It's the rounded building on this map.

There is a running track around the upper level, where a man is standing. The track is still in use today. It's 1/10th of a mile, IIRC.

The windows face north and there was probably quite a lot of light in the space when the shot was taken. There as little or nothing built to the north, and the building planned for the top of the gym was never constructed.

Judging by the movement of the players, this looks like perhaps an exposure of 1/2 second to 1 second. The lens aperture had to be wide open considering the depth of focus. Film speed was still quite slow in 1908.

[Again I will point out that these photographs were not made on film. - Dave]

Is the actual negative 8 inches by 10 inches? Is that because of the lighting conditions? I noticed many other negatives on your site are smaller. Not too knowledgeable on older cameras, just curious.

[The negative is a windowpane-size sheet of glass, 8 by 10 inches. You could be right. A lot of GGB's indoor photography around this time was done on 8x10 plates. - Dave]

Strange effect, that fellow with the transparent head.

Notice the ceiling lights are off even though it appears rather dark. This was also noticed in the surgery thread, but the rooms were much brighter.

Perhaps the overhead lights weren't very strong.

[The overhead lights here are off. In the surgery photos the subjects are lit from behind the camera. - Dave]

That floor looks like it was very unforgiving if you fell or slid on it. Ouch!

Dave I know it is early in California or at best very late at night when you posted this. Can't sleep?

[Well you know, I am not necessarily awake when a picture shows up. Image posting time is pre-settable. - Dave]