Alfred Schultz Album , photographer Reinhold Hofmann
Lieutenant Albrecht von Egidy ( left ) was listed as a government clerk in the German Administration in Samoa and served for some time as a court official . However , it seems likely that he was also involved with naval matters . Apia had been a magnet for naval visits from powers active in the Pacific for many decades . Observation of visiting naval vessels and assistance with German ship visits was probably part of his brief . Lt von Egidy appears to have arrived in Samoa in 1904-05 .
This magnificent photo by Reinhold Hofmann shows Von Egidy in uniform on Motuihe Island with other German Navy prisoners Felix von Luckner ( middle ) and Carl Kircheiss . Being good military men they are walking in step as they walk along the wharf road . Von Egidy returned to Germany in 1919 on the “ Willochra .” The image shows Hofmann ’ s skill . The picture was probably taken with his glass plate camera on a tripod . The shutter speed was preset at quite a fast setting because the men were walking . This reduced the depth of field , with the trees and vista beyond the three going blurry , which enhances the image . The focus has been set to the point at which the men are captured . Hofmann waited until they hit their mark then ‘ snap .’ There was only one chance to get this shot , as the process of changing glass plate negatives for another go took time .
| To Walk Under Palm Trees - The Germans in Samoa : Snapshots from Albums | Tony Brunt
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