PHOTOGRAPHING TREES, ETC. 121 



and chalky. When the leaves are very highly pol- 

 ished, so that they reflect white light, it is best either 

 to choose a gray day, or else intercept the sunlight 

 by means of a cloth of some kind. Most ferns are 

 easy subjects for the camera ; they are usually fairly 

 steady, and their strong outlines and beautiful forms 

 are most satisfactory as photographs. Some of the 

 grasses also make beautiful pictures, whether shown 

 singly or in masses. In fact, there are few things in 

 the vegetable world that do not lend themselves more 

 or less to camera work. The commonest things 

 that we pass by every day, such as the lacelike wild 

 carrot, the much-despised yarrow, the timothy or the 

 redtop in flower, are fitter subjects for pictures than 

 many of the less common and therefore more appre- 

 ciated flowers. 



PART II 

 PHOTOGRAPHING CUT FLOWERS, LEAVES AND FRUITS 



Outfit same as Part I, with the exception of a short tripod and the addition 

 of several different-coloured backgrounds. 



WITH cut flowers the greatest difficulty is in keeping 

 the flower from wilting. How delicate flowers are 

 can only be realised by those who undertake to pho- 

 tograph them. This is especially true of the wild 

 flowers. After they are picked, with some few ex- 

 ceptions, they are not fit to be used for many hours. 



