

J FOR PRACTICAL 

 WORKERS 



Birds Take Their Own Picture with 

 an Electric Shutter 



TO take animal pictures in the open, 

 the camera is placed where from 

 previous observation the animal was 

 frequently seen. If the animal in ques- 

 tion is a bird, 

 the camera is 

 focused upon 

 a nest, or a 

 specially 

 made b i r d - 

 house or bird 

 bath, which 

 the bird has 

 regularly visi- 

 ted for at 

 least a few 

 days. It some- 

 times b e - 

 comes neces- 

 sary to hide 

 and cover up 

 the photog- 

 rapher and 

 the camera. This may easily be effected 

 by making a frame of slats and barrel 

 hoops, covering it with muslin or sack- 

 cloth and painting the structure to re- 

 semble either a boulder or a tree-stump. 

 This hollow structure should be large 

 enough to accommodate the photog- 

 rapher with his camera. A few days 

 prior to its being used it is placed 

 where the animals to be photographed 

 are accustomed to come for food so 

 that they may become accustomed to 

 its presence. 



In general it may be stated that no 

 rules can be given governing the tak- 

 ing of animal pictures in their natural 

 habitat. Much must be left to chance, 

 while the imagination and ingenuity 

 of the photographer must be called 

 into play to secure each picture in 



A wood thrush, Tardus 

 MusteJinus, on a Hmb 



a different manner, otherwise the pic- 

 tures, having the same background, 

 might become monotonous. But the 

 fact remains that the animal must al- 

 ways be outwitted in some manner, that 

 its inherent shyness must be overcome 

 by some trick, in order that a satisfactory 

 picture of it may be secured upon the 

 film or plate. 



Photographs of animals taken in captiv- 

 ity never give us a complete idea as to 

 their habits. The person desiring to take 

 pictures of animals in their natural en- 

 vironment must thoroughly understand 

 the life and habits of the animal. 



The simplest way to secure good pic- 

 tures of wild animals, is to use some kind 

 of a device with which they may take 

 their own photographs. Pictures taken 

 in this way are almost invariably of the 

 first order because they give clear, sharp 

 and distinct negatives. Secured in other 

 ways the pictures are often blurred and 

 indistinct in detail as well as in outline. 



A simple device used to take pictures of 

 birds is shown in the illustration. With 

 this device the birds take their own pic- 

 tures. Birds, when flying to the ground 



Picture of a catbird on a post where he 

 tripped the release operating electric shutter 



either for food or for a bath, first hop 

 upon a low branch or projection over- 

 looking the place for which they are 



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