NEW QUARTERS 43 



Although it was rather late in the day for such work, 

 I decided to try and take advantage of what seemed to 

 be a good chance of photographing the bird sitting, and 

 it was as well I did so, for it was the only opportunity 

 I had. Arranging the camera to photograph a bird is 

 always a long and tedious business, the least thing left 

 undone and one's chance is spoilt. In photographing 

 where there is cover it is generally not so difficult, the 

 camera may then be placed on its stand and the whole 

 concealed with branches ; on the open ground, however, 

 where there is absolutely no cover, the case is different. 

 Here the camera must be placed on the ground, or in 

 some instances almost below the ground, and after 

 focussing very carefully the exact spot to which the bird 

 is expected to come, the lens must be "stopped down," 

 to use a photographer's term, so as to make sure that 

 the whole of the bird is in focus, for it may sit broadside 

 to the camera, or it may choose to sit facing it. The 

 direction of the wind, however, will often be a guide in 

 this respect, as a bird generally sits facing the wind. 

 After focussing, the shutter has to be pulled down and 

 the dark-slide inserted, great care being taken not to 

 shift the camera at all, which would throw the object 

 out of focus. The camera should then be covered over 

 with a piece of cloth of some kind matching the ground 

 in colour, and stones, sand, or earth placed upon this, so 

 as to present an even appearance with the surroundings. 

 The shutter, always the most difficult part to disguise 

 successfully, should then be chalked over so as to match 

 the surrounding ground in colour, and a short piece of 

 cotton attached to the spring which works the release 

 of the shutter. Five or six skewers may then be stuck 



