108 PHOTOGRAPHY FOE BIRD-LOVERS, 

 the ground-glass we see a bird coming towards us. 

 At first, though we know the actual pace is great, 

 the image moves slowly, and we are easily able 

 to keep it sharply focussed. But all at once it 

 looms suddenly larger, and almost before we realize 

 it, it has passed from our field of view. 



Focussing the Bird. 



The more closely a bird approaches the more 

 pronounced is this effect. Time after time the 

 same thing may be repeated, and as often leaves us 

 fumbling with the screws as the bird sweeps off 

 the ground-glass in the form of a great hazy outline. 

 There simply is not time to rack the camera out 

 when once the image has begun to loom up large, 

 and much practice has taught me that it is better 

 not to attempt to do so, but instead to jack the 

 camera out beforehand, allowing the distantly 

 advancing bird to be quite out of focus. Gradually 

 as it comes nearer the definition will improve until 

 all at once, for a brief moment, it is sharply focussed 

 and we press the lever. At times a little racking 

 in and out is convenient so as to locate the presence 

 of an approaching bird, but the essence of the thing 

 is neither to do nor have thought of racking at the 

 moment of taking the photograph. Of course, 

 this suggestion not to try to follow the bird with 

 the focus, only applies when attempting near 



