Patent US 5,589,902

A photo installation having an acquisition element intended to receive the optical image of a subject desired to be photographed. The acquisition element is connected to a central processing unit for storing the optical information thus received. The installation is provided with a screen connected to the acquisition element that allows simultaneous viewing by the subject of the image received by the acquisition element. A printing device is provided to take a photograph or a sequence of photographs upon command of the subject. A half-silvered mirror is mounted on the optical axis of the acquisition element and directed along the bisector of the angle defined by the respective optical axes of the acquisition element and the screen so as to generate a virtual image of the screen on the optical path of the acquisition element. The installation is also provided with an interaction element intended to be actuated by the subject to freeze the image viewed on the screen at the instant of its actuation and to cause the photograph to be taken.