Photographing Insects 199 



than from any other. The subject should be 

 placed well to one side of the window, so that the 

 light may fall upon it as full as possible. The 

 light can also be equalized by the use of white 

 paper or cardboard reflectors and by the white 

 screen which should be used as a background and 

 placed about a foot back of the subject. 



The camera should be placed close enough to 

 the subject to give at least a three-quarter-size 

 picture and, where possible, a life-size one is 

 preferable. In focussing, that portion of the sub- 

 ject nearest the lens should be made sharp on the 

 ground glass and then the rest brought into clear 

 detail by stopping down the lens. This will 

 necessarily lengthen the time of exposure, but the 

 subject, at this time of its life, is perfectly willing 

 to remain absolutely still and allow plenty of 

 time for focussing and exposing. By this method 

 one can obtain better and clearer pictures than 

 by any other, for there is no confusion of sur- 

 roundings to detract from the main object and 

 the resulting picture is clear and sharp cut in its 

 details. 



Much can and, necessarily, must be done out 

 of doors, however, and it is impossible to obtain 

 pictures of the quick changes of a butterfly, moth, 

 or other insect from its pupal stage in anything 

 but the bright sunlight, as instantaneous exposures 

 are then necessary. 



