66 NATURE AND THE CAMERA 



same colour is hung; this, reaching the ground, com- 

 pletely conceals the photographer and allows him 

 to approach the bird unobserved. 



It is unfortunate that the telephoto lens has not the 

 speed necessary for all kinds of bird photography ; if 

 it had, our difficulties would be greatly lessened, but 

 except under unusually favourable conditions it can- 

 not be used with any great success. While a bird is 

 on the move or is flying, with the sky for a back- 

 ground, good results may be obtained, provided the 

 magnification is not too great. From my experience 

 4 diameters is about the limit for instantaneous expo- 

 sures when the positive element is a very rapid lens. 

 Where birds are among trees or bushes the telephoto 

 is not so satisfactory. The increased exposure made 

 necessary by the scarcity and greenness of the light 

 practically prevents the photographing of such a 

 quick-moving object as a bird. There are excep- 

 tions, of course, as, for example, the whippoorwill, 

 or even the ruffed grouse, which will occasionally 

 sit motionless for the required time; but the smaller 

 birds are ever on the move, so that even out in the 

 open it requires a rapid lens and good light to insure 

 a sharply defined photograph that shows any amount 

 of detail. In places where water-fowl abound, as, for 

 instance, in Florida, the possibilities are almost unlim- 

 ited ; owing to the brilliancy of the light, even dur- 

 ing the winter months, the telephoto lens may be 



