AT t rVict. Nat. 



S4 iVo/^5. [ August 



Botanical Photography.— Mr. P. F. Visick, of the Catford 

 and Forest Hill Photographic Society, in the Selborne Maga- 

 zine for March, 191 1, contributes an article on the photography 

 of Botanical Objects, a branch of photographic work in which 

 we are somewhat deficient in workers in this State. He says 

 that almost any camera will do. if one purchases certain extra 

 appliances which aie necessary, but as an all-round instru- 

 ment well suited for the purpose he recommends the " Klimax," 

 by W. Butcher and Sons. London. Unless otherwise ordered, 

 the cameras are fitted with an " Aldis " anastigmat working 

 at F yy. The shutter is a Lukos Sector, for time, bulb, and 

 automatic exposures from i second to a hundredth part. The 

 cameras are made in the usual various sizes, with single or 

 double extension, the latter being preferable. An excellent 

 handbook explaining the working of the cameras can be ob- 

 tained from the makers. A brass telescopic tripod, which can 

 be used at any distance, say from one to four feet, from the 

 ground, is indispensable. He then goes on to give hints as 

 to securing the pictures. Choose a day with little or no wind, 

 and get your object focussed to the requisite size with the lens 

 at full aperture. It is then stopped down until the rear pro- 

 portions are in focus. Unless your plant is totally diff'erent 

 to its neighbours, it is well to remove some of these, if possible, 

 so as to prevent confusion on the finished photograph. In all 

 cases use the backed ortho-chromatic plates by standard 

 makers. These give approximately proportional colour values 

 to visual observation. Whether the whole or a portion of a 

 plant is photographed use a paper or cardboard measure, either 

 in inches or centimetres for purpose of conveying an idea of 

 the size of the plant or flower. Further details are given as 

 to methods for good results, such as cardboard backgrounds, 

 also printing and developing. There is an opportunity for some 

 member of the Field Naturalists' Club to do good work in this 

 direction, as illustrations of our Victorian flora are badly 

 wanted, and a handy botany of the State cannot be long post- 

 poned. The success of the method of illustrating Mr. Leach's 

 bird book should be of help with regard to the plants. The 

 " Plants of New Zealand," issued some time ago, was a good 

 instance of the value of illustrations of fiowers from photographs, 

 but the latest development may be seen in the recently published 

 " Wild Flowers as they Grow " (Cassell and Co.), in which twenty- 

 five plates are given of English wild flowers, photographed in 

 colour direct from nature, by Mr. H. E. Corke, F.R.P.S., and 

 charming pictures they make, the dog-rose, foxglove, hare- 

 bell, and musk-mallow being particularly good. The descriptive 

 text by Mr. G. C. Nutall, B.Sc, is very pleasantly written, and 

 greatly adds to the interest of the work. 



