42 PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BIRD-LOVERS. 

 firrna, but it is the nature of their surroundings 

 that calls for special treatment. 



To face the source of light is ever to be avoided 

 in photography, and doubly so when water is 

 included in the subject, for its shining surface 

 throws the light up into the lens, producing ugly 

 white patches in the print and often a general 

 effect of fog or diffused halation from the lighter 

 portions. When the depth of the water surround- 

 ing the nest is not too great to permit of wading, 

 all is straightforward, but if a boat has to be used 

 the matter is not quite so simple. Since we may 

 take it for granted that there will be some vegeta- 

 tion near the nest, the depth of water will rarely 

 exceed a few feet, but the soft, almost fluid, mud 

 may be of great depth. Often there is a stratum 

 of submerged and matted vegetation, and this 

 may prove strong enough to carry the camera if 

 it is gently lowered, but while adjusting it and 

 inserting the dark-slide one has to be careful not 

 to press downwards, or the stratum of vegetation 

 may be suddenly broken through and the camera 

 may disappear beneath the surface, as below the 

 matted weeds there is again liquid mud. It is 

 almost useless to throw down bundles of reeds 

 as support for the camera, since the sharp points 

 of the tripod gradually find their way through ; 

 but it is quite surprising how much support 



