BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY 007 



could bo substituted, it is doubtful if one better for the purpose could be chosen. This camem 

 would be, of course, more costly than the 5x4 outfit described above, but, if this is no objec- 

 tion, it is the ideal camera for the worker who wishes to confine himself to one camera, as with 

 it he would be prepared for any eventuality in bird-photography. It was made originally 

 by Sanders & Crowhurst, 71 Shaftesbury Avenue, and can now be supplied by H. A. Sanders, 

 24D-26 Charing Cross Road, London, W. 



II. SHUTTER-SPEEDS FOR MOVING BIRDS 



So much depends on the conditions of each case, that no hard-and-fast rule is possible for 

 the exposure when photographing moving birds. 



It may, however, be taken as a definite rule that the nearer the bird or other moving object 

 photographed, the shorter must be the exposure to avoid blurring. The exposure must be 

 shorter for birds moving across the field of the lens than when moving towards or away. 



It is generally possible to choose a time for making an exposure when there is less obvious 

 movement, and it should be remembered that more natural results are obtained by so doing. 

 Of course, such choice is out of the question if the object is to secure photographs showing, for 

 instance, the full range of wing action in flight ; but if a natural artistic representation is 

 required, then attitudes clearly perceived by the eye give the best results. Photographs taken 

 during rapid movements are useful for showing phases that the eye does not ordinarily take in, 

 but are not the best for purely pictorial purposes. 



In the following table the exposures must be taken as approximate : 



For ground-birds walking to their nests, and for birds feeding young or moving quietly 

 among branches, ^ r to -^ of a second. 



For the same, if the birds are nervous, and apt to start at the sound of the shutter, ^fa 

 to ?far of a second. 



For birds alighting on nest, such as terns, which elevate the wings for a brief period as they 

 touch the ground, -^ to TT^ of a second. 



For birds flying slowly, or at a distance, or approaching or leaving the camera, j^ v to -j-foc 

 of a second. 



For birds at a short distance, or flying quickly across the field of the lens, -5^ to -gfa or 

 TuW of a second. 



III. PHOTOGRAPHING NESTS 



Apart from the frequently awkward positions of birds' nests, there is no special difficulty in 

 photographing them. It is, however, quite possible for a photograph, good in other respects, to 

 give an entirely unnatural impression of a nest. 



The most frequent fault is to give too large an image of the nest itself and too little of its 

 surroundings. Bereft of colour, and the nature not only of the environment but of the situa- 

 tion, there is often little or nothing to distinguish the nest of one species from that of another. 

 In fact, with many birds identification depends more on the character of the nest and its situa- 

 tion than on the eggs. Every endeavour should therefore be made to include in the picture as 

 much as possible of the surrounding herbage, without unduly dwarfing the nest, and to give 

 some indication of the nature of the situation. 



In order to show to advantage the form of the nest and something of its contents, the 

 camera must be placed somewhat higher than the nest, and some device for tilting the camera 

 preferably a tilting-table on the tripod head must be adopted. In nowise, however, must 

 the camera be so high and at so acute an angle as to give an unnatural perspective. The eggs 



