36 NATURE AND THE CAMERA 



In photographing small birds' nests containing 

 very young birds, arrange the camera so that the 

 nest shows in the desired position, and focus on the 

 inside of the near rim. When all is ready and the 

 shutter set to about one fifth or one twenty-fifth of a 

 second, make a noise or tap the branch near the nest, 

 and instantly all the youngsters will raise their heads 

 and open their mouths, ready for food. Usually the 

 slightest vibration near the nest will cause them to 

 do this. While the heads are up is perhaps the 

 most satisfactory time for making the exposure, as it 

 shows the birds in detail. When they lower their 

 heads and before they settle themselves in a mass is 

 also a good time, particularly so if they rest their 

 heads on the edge of the nest. Sunlight is almost 

 essential for these young-bird photographs, but great 

 care must be taken not to have the shadows too 

 dense. Reflecting-cloths should be used as far as 

 possible. Extreme high lights may be avoided by 

 placing a very thin screen of cheese-cloth (wet cheese- 

 cloth is more transparent) or some such material 

 over the nest, but not too close to it. 



It will be noticed in instantaneous photographs of 

 birds' nests, especially if they are in surroundings of 

 foliage, that the backgrounds are simply black-and- 

 white blotches. This is difficult to overcome. Per- 

 haps the best way is to hang a light-gray cloth or 

 even white cheese-cloth at a distance of from about 



