PHOTOGRAPHY 



PHOTOGRAPHY 



2597 



PHOTOGRAPHY, HORTICULTURAL. As a means 

 of description and of record, photography is of great 

 importance to horticulture in all its branches. A refer- 

 ence to newspapers, magazines, and to trade catalogues 

 of the day shows an almost universal use of the "half- 

 tone" engraving process; and these engravings are 

 merely photographs transferred to a copper plate, and 

 by means of minute chemically-etched dots given a 

 printing surface for the typographic press. Many 

 other illustrations notably many in this Cyclopedia 

 are adapted from or drawn directly from photo- 

 graphs, being then engraved by another photographic 

 etching process on hard zinc. Other processes are now 

 employed, as yet principally for newspaper use, which 

 transfer much of the beauty of the photograph through 

 the photogravure method. As will be noted farther on 

 in this article, there is also actual photography in colors 

 now available. To a limited and decreasing extent, 

 photographs are also printed on the prepared surface 

 of boxwood blocks, and used in lieu of a drawing as a 

 sketch for the wood-engraver. 



Every experiment station and agricultural college 

 finds in photography an indispensable adjunct both to 

 its records and to its descriptive work. For the botanist, 

 photography provides both an uniquely accurate means 

 of recording plant details, and of portraying the appear- 

 ance of the growing plant in its habitat. A photographic 

 herbarium is an excellent supplement to the usual dried 

 specimens of the botanist. Some of the larger nursery 

 and seed establishments are also coming to maintain 

 photographic equipments, in order that they may 

 readily preserve views of the varieties which it is 

 desired to advertise. 



In horticultural journalism, photography is of prime 

 importance. In advanced collegiate institutions and 

 at the meetings of various progressive horticultural 

 societies and institutes, the presentation of photographs 

 by means of the stereopticon is found to be of enor- 

 mous advantage, and the teaching or entertainment is 

 made more efficient through this means. Recently, the 

 motion-picture camera, through the use of which in 

 connection with suitable projecting apparatus, opera- 

 tions in the field are presented a close simulation of 

 actual life, has been availed of to advantage. For 

 example, a "film" of considerable length records all 

 the operations attendant upon the planting, cultiva- 

 tion and marketing or preserving of asparagus in the 

 large areas devoted in California to the culture of that 

 vegetable. A drama has been "staged" at a great 

 gladiolus farm, and one rather grotesque film inge- 

 niously recorded the seemingly accelerated growth of an 

 unfolding lily and of a rose in the process of opening. 

 Therefore, all branches of horticultural activity are 

 concerned with photography, and the progressive 

 instructor dealing with horticultural problems in an 

 educational institution, or handling the government's 

 money in the experiment-station work, must be able to 



Eractise at least some one photographic method with a 

 lir degree of proficiency, if he is to accomplish the 

 best results. 



As horticultural photography differs essentially 

 from the line of work in which the ordinary portrait 

 photographer is engaged, some special skill and certain 

 items of equipment are desirable for the tradesman, or 

 experimenter, or teacher who wants to make his illus- 

 tration effective. Those who deal with many photo- 

 graphs from many "artists," come to know the thor- 

 oughly inadequate work of the ordinary professional, 

 who is fitted both as to equipment and skill only for the 

 picturing of the human face and form. Not once in 

 twenty times does satisfactory and efficient horticul- 

 tural photographic work come from the professional; 

 and, therefore, the horticultural instructor or trades- 

 man is best served by taking up photography in an 

 independent manner, if he gives the subject adequate 

 attention. 



Apparatus. 



For views outdoors of trees, plants, and the like, any 

 view camera of the regulation or of the "folding" type 

 will answer, although, as it is often desirable to obtain 

 relatively large details of fruits or flowers or plants in 

 situ, a bellows of more than the usual focal capacity or 

 length is preferred. The modern "long-focus" cameras 

 are suitable, and the size most used by horticulturists 

 is that taking a plate 5 by 7 inches in dimensions. For 

 such size a rectilinear lens with a focal length of 7 or 8 

 inches is advisable; and if one of the two lenses form- 

 ing the combination is available as an objective of 

 about double the focal length of the combination, and 

 the camera is provided with a bellows which draws out 

 several inches beyond the focal length of this single 

 lens, much facility in operation is provided. Any of 

 the modern high-class view lenses are suitable, and 

 those of the anastigmatic type, which are not only 

 rectilinear but also render views in a flat and correct 

 perspective, are preferable. It need not be assumed, 

 however, that the very highest-grade lens is essential, 

 for in the hands of a thoughtful and reasonably skilful 

 operator, an ordinary rectilinear lens, costing, for the 

 size mentioned, but $15 or $20, will often do satis- 

 factory work. Whatever lens is used, it should be 

 fitted into a quick-working shutter, as outdoor expo- 

 sures, with modern rapid plates, must be made in 

 small fractions of a second. The shutter, it may be 

 explained to the unacquainted reader, is merely a con- 

 venient device for opening and closing the lens to the 

 light for the interval of time desired by the photog- 

 rapher. 



As there is frequent misconception of the work done 

 by a lens, it may not be amiss to suggest to the inquir- 

 ing horticultural photographer an investigation on his 

 own account. The Photo-Miniature No. 140, "Lens 

 Facts You Should Know," is a brief, clear, and concise 

 statement of the principles, properties, and construc- 

 tion of lenses, which may be consulted to advantage. 

 The focal length of any lens, in connection with the 

 size of the plate upon which it is to be used, determines 

 the angle and amount of view included. The human 

 eye is a lens of about 16 inches focal length, and to have 

 a photograph render perspective as seen by the average 

 eye, an objective of the same focal length is required. 

 Thus, on a 5 by 7 plate, a lens of 8 inches focal length 

 will include twice as much in the view, and show It in 

 half the size as seen by the eye. This forced perspec- 

 tive is sometimes desirable and sometimes unpleasant. 

 If the 8-inch lens is composed of two elements on what is 

 known as the symmetrical plan, the rear element may 

 usually be used alone (by screwing out the front lens), 

 and it will have approximately double the focus of 

 the combination. This will give about the perspective 

 seen by the human eye, and will need to be used in con- 

 nection with a bellows of at least the same length or 

 "draw" as the focal length of the lens. Some of the 

 high-grade lenses are now made on what is termed the 

 "convertible" plan, each of the two elements being of 

 a different focal length. Thus a certain lens which as 

 a whole is of 7 J^ inches focus, includes one element 

 of 12 inches focus and one element of 18 inches focus. 

 Either of these single lenses, or the combination, may 

 be used separately, so that from a given position three 

 views, including proportions differing as 5, 8, and 12, 

 may be made. 



To photograph an object in natural size, the double 

 lens is preferable. If the lens is of 8 inches focus, it 

 will give natural size when placed equidistant between 

 the object and the ground-glass focusing-screen of the 

 camera, at double its focal length. Thus the bellows 

 would need to be drawn out so as to have 16 inches 

 between the ground-glass and the lens, while the object 

 to be photographed should be maintained in position 

 16 inches from the lens. 



A tripod, capable of adjustment as to height, and of 



