HO\\' BIRDvS CAN TAKE THEIR OWX PORTRAITS 



103 



bait the flash will illuminate the sur- 

 roundings while the sensitive plate re- 

 cords the scene. 



Then, when the blazing camp-fire ac- 

 centuates the darkness of the night, the 

 sportsman, lying within the narrow circle 

 of its warmth, may suddenly see a daz- 

 zling column of light ascend on a distant 

 hillside, or illuminating with a momen- 

 tary flutter the gloomy valley of some 

 water-course ; and in a few seconds the 

 deep, dull boom of the exploding powder 

 suggests an animal fleeing in needless 

 terror from a spot where the weapon 

 contained no bullet and where its re- 

 corded visit will prove a source of pleas- 

 ure to one who meant it no bodily harm. 

 As I usually explode a compound of 

 magnesium powder in a hermetically 

 sealed box — to insure higher speed and 

 the exclusion of moisture — I have some- 

 times heard the report at a distance of 

 three miles and noticed the flash at a 

 much further distance. 



Therefore one can imagine the sur- 

 prise and terror of some timid animal 

 when experiencing the first dazzling ex- 

 plosion. Yet, as will be shown later, the 

 pangs of hunger or the cravings for some 

 ])articularly choice food will lead many 

 of these animals to return to the inter- 

 ru])ted feast, and in the course of time 

 the blinding light and roar seem to be 

 regarded as a harmless manifestation of 

 nature, like thunder or lightning. And 

 then one may. if he desires, get a series 

 of interesting night pictures, in every at- 

 titude and action. An example of this 

 was shown by an article in this magazine 

 several years ago, illustrating the nightly 

 visits of the same coon to bait i)lace(l at 

 the edge of a little lake.''' 



In taking a picture from a canoe by 

 flashlight one must be able to judge short 

 distances accurately in order to have the 

 animal in proper focus. In a different 

 way, but for the same reason, it is equally 

 important that automatically taken pic- 

 tures should come within the focus for 

 which the camera was set in advance. 

 With the bail placed at a given distance, 



* Sec ".\ Flaslilight Story of an .\ll)ino 

 Porcupine and of a Cunning l)Ut Unfortunate 

 Coon." Xationai. Ckocraph ir M ac. azink, June, 

 1911. 



little trouble arises, but when the animal 

 sought is a deer or a moose coming to 

 the water or feeding grounds, the prob- 

 lem becomes more difficult, because the 

 intercepting string must be touched at 

 the point where the animal will be in 

 sharp focus. 



Whenever animals are traveling on a 

 well-defined runway, a string running to 

 a stake on the opposite side will insure a 

 good picture, because the camera can be 

 previously focused on the runway ; but 

 if such animals are to be photographed 

 when wandering along the shores of a 

 pond or traveling in a creek bottom, it 

 is important that natural conditions be 

 taken advantage of, so that the animal 

 will be forced to pass at a fixed distance 

 from the camera, as will be the case 

 where the shore is narrowed by drift- 

 wood, rocks, or mud-holes. 



Quite often temporarily erected ob- 

 structions will accomplish the same pur- 

 pose, provided no scent is left and the 

 material used is in harmony with the 

 surroundings.. Otherwise, in order to 

 avoid having the camera sprung at a 

 point where it is not in focus, the string 

 can be run along the ground and then 

 raised a foot or two high by forked sticks 

 at the spot where the animal is most 

 likely to pass. 



Usually I have encamped near enough 

 to hear the report of the flashlight em- 

 ployed, but sometimes the camera may 

 be set many miles away, or perhaps I am 

 in town or on a side trip, in which case 

 it has not been unusual for the camera to 

 remain unvisited for a week or ten days. 

 But this is of little consequence; for, 

 with the shutter opening and closing 

 automatically, the exposed plate is safe 

 until called for. 



The alphabet for the beginner in wild- 

 life photography usually comprises nest- 

 ing birds of the neighborhood, chip- 

 munks, the lazy and sun-loving wood- 

 chuck, or the stolid porcupine, and even 

 then many difficulties confront the novice, 

 the overcoming of which oi^ens the door 

 for picturing rarer or more active sub- 

 ject >. 



Some who take up camera hunting l)e- 

 ct)me discouraged by early failures aiul 

 are unable to see how >uch an instrument 



