THE STUDY OF INSECT LIFE 29 



take photographs, for there are hand-books galore 

 dealing with the subject, but will give such hints 

 concerning the selection of apparatus, as, from a 

 long experience of nature photography, seem 

 to me most likely to be helpful to the beginner. 

 Choice of apparatus must necessarily be largely 

 governed by the amount the would-be photo- 

 grapher of insect life is prepared to pay. At the 

 same time the equipment need not be a very 

 expensive matter, provided one is content to 

 start with simple apparatus, exchanging it for 

 the more costly and perfect instruments as one's 

 ability, experience, and requirements advance. 

 The lens, the shutter, and the camera are the 

 three first items to consider, and represent the 

 essential and most costly part of the outfit. 

 Personally, I am a great believer in the reflex 

 camera for all Natural History work, as it 

 permits one to watch and critically focus the 

 object up to the instant of making the exposure, 

 which is very important when photographing 

 such restless creatures as insects. I may say that 

 practically all the illustrations of living insects in 

 this book are from photographs which I took with 

 my Newman and Guardia Reflex Camera. 



Although a good reflex camera is costly in 

 the first instance, one quickly makes up for it 

 by the great saving in wasted plates, and the 

 added certainty of one's results. 



If an ordinary field stand camera is selected 

 in place of the reflex type, there are one or two 

 points that should be looked for when purchasing. 

 The camera, preferably of quarter-plate size, 

 should be thoroughly rigid when set up, and 



