13 



CONCLUSION. 



Filially, if I li.-ivo ^ivon anyone a few liiiits thai will liclj) in the 

 interest inu and nsi'fnl work of photoi^i'apliinj; inst'ds, my aim is 

 accomplislu'd in prcparinjif these raiiihling notes from my experience. 

 Aii.N one who attempts this work iiuist expect many failures, for tliero 

 is no mor»' elusive irame tlian the insect world affords, but one ^ood 

 nei,^ative out of a dozen used in photograph iny a living insect is worth 

 all the trouble. Excej)t when the cap is off in exposing, one should 

 have unlimited time in such work. I fully realize that it is now 

 diniculi for the economic entomologist to find time to investigate, 

 experiment, teach, attend institutes, take care of insect collections, 

 and answer a multitude of letters, to say nothing about eating and 

 sleeping. Insect photography can not be done with a rush or in 

 pusli-the-l)utton style, but the camera must be ready at opportune 

 times, and if one can not find the necessary time to make a good 

 negative, it is better to illustrate in some other way. One can not do 

 two or three other things and make good insect photographs at the 

 same time. 



The field before us is unlimited; manufacturers have placed at our 

 disjjosal excellent instruments and plates; good prints are easily 

 made; the engravers are becoming more expert in making the half- 

 tone I>locks; the printers can print good iiictures if given suitable 

 paper and no other alternative; therefore let the entomologists of 

 America introiluce the personal element necessary to eliminate the 

 poor work and not only maintain the present high standard of our 

 insect illustrations, but strive for still better things in the way of 

 insect photography. 



A general discussion of the address followed. ]\Ir, Fletcher stated 

 that far t oo many photographs were made of poorly set and imperfect 

 .'•pecimens, and felt that greater care should be exercised by all ento- 

 mologists in selecting material before it was photographed for the 

 [)urpo.se of illustration. He called attention to the fact that many 

 insects could be induced to remain <[uiet for a few seconds by simply 

 blowing on them. In his opinion it was a mistake to omit the hair line, 

 as many people unac<[uainted with insects would more readily know 

 their e.xact size. A hair-line outline of the insect was very satisfactory. 



jNIr. Felt expressed his appreciation of the many valiialile sugges- 

 tions contained in the address, and stated that it was his custom as 

 soon as lie obtained a paper for printing photographs that gave good 

 results to stick to it, as he did not have the neeessary time to experi- 

 ment with difTerent kinds. (4ood e<iuipnient was also neeessary in 

 order to save time. 



Mr. Sanderson stated that In' had u.sed isoeliromalie plates. For 

 negatives of printed matter and objects without much color from 



