26 PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BIRD-LOVERS. 



reproduce the subject as faithfully as possible, 

 only artificially increasing or reducing the grades 

 of contrast when this is absolutely necessary for a 

 special purpose. 



Not only do nests as a whole present an almost 

 endless variety of subjects, but each individual 

 one may be photographed from many different 

 standpoints. It can be represented in plan from 

 above, to show the full contents and its inside 

 structure ; or the view may be taken from on level, 

 giving the idea of its depth and shape, and of the 

 outside materials and workmanship. It can be 

 taken from a little distance to show its position 

 and method of support, or, again, the object of 

 the picture may be to convey an idea of the 

 habitat of the bird, and, lastly, it may be taken 

 simply as a thing of beauty from the most pleasing 

 point of view. All of these have their objects 

 and uses ; each serves the purpose for which it is 

 intended, and between them are endless degrees 

 and combinations, the choice of which is simply a 

 matter of individual taste or requirement. 



If our previous photographic experience has 

 been chiefly confined to landscape and more or 

 less distant subjects, then it is pretty certain that 

 when we first turn our attention to nests the 

 negatives will be under exposed. There is a 

 principle, the theory of which we need not enter 



