NATURE PICTURES. 513 



PHOTO(4RAPHING NESTS AND NESTLINGS. 



To photog-raph the nest containing eggs is usually a coniparativel3' 

 easy matter, as a long exposure may be given. The best results are 

 obtained when a gray day is chosen, as the light is softer and more 

 diffused, so that all the details, both of nest and eggs, are clearly shown, 

 A very different task is the photographing of the young- in the nest, 

 and the resulting pictures are seldom what one hopes for. The rea- 

 sons for this are obvious. The young are never quiet even when 

 asleep, owing- to their rapid respiration. This precludes a time expo- 

 sure, and this in turn prevents the use of anything but a large dia- 

 phragiu; therefore, as the distance from the near edge of the nest to 

 the bird farthest away is several inches, only a small part can l)e in 

 focus, while the rest is a blurred mass. If the light is sufficiently 

 l)right, the ))est results may ])e obtained when the nestlings raise their 

 heads for food, as each bird is then more clearly defined, instead of 

 being part of a shapeless, heaving mass. This applies more particu- 

 larly to the photographing of small birds, as the camera, with a lens 

 of ordinary focal length, has to be placed very near the nest, with the 

 consequent lack of depth of focus that is unfortunately inseparuhle 

 from such conditions. 



To photograph the parent bird sitting is difficult or easy, according 

 to the disposition of the bird, which varies not onh* with the different 

 species, but with individuals of the same species. Usually the brown 

 thrasher, the wood thrush, or the catbird, will sit close, and allow the 

 camera to be placed within a few feet of them while they an* on the 

 nest; l)ut I have seen exceptions, which go to prove that success 

 depends largely upon the peculiar disposition of the ))ird itself. Peo- 

 ple think as a rule that, because a bird builds its nest in the immediate 

 vicinity of a house, it is necessarilv tamer than one that chooses the 

 quiet seclusion of the woods. This has not been my experience, for 

 the tamest birds I have ever known were those that nested in i)laces 

 comparatively remote fi"om human hal)itation. 



When the ffedglings leave their nest, the l)ird photographer should 

 be on hand, for then it is that he can obtain the best pictures, as the 

 youngsters may he put on any perch that best suits his fancy, and a 

 place where there is sufficient light may be chosen. For the lienefit 

 of those who might wish to try their hand at this fascinating branch of 

 photography 1 give the following suggestions: 



SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS. 



Select a branch or briar of suital)le shape and size— and young birds 

 prefer a fairly thick perch. This should be arranged so that it will 

 not be swayed by the wind, lest the branch move and the birds he out 



