huntington[ NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY 169 



even say whether they noticed any wild flowers or not ; as to their 

 giving the name of any of them — that would be quite beyond their 

 ability. . Generally they are poor observers of much else in the 

 world, and their further consideration here would avail us nothing. 

 Others, of a better sort, love and admire wild flowers ardently; 

 but they never get beyond that. When away from them, the 

 objects of their admiration are soon out of mind. We see, on the 

 other hand, still another class quite different from any of these — 

 the ''closet-botanists," who study wild flowers much as a medical 

 student studies his material ; the beauty of the flowers is lost in the 

 haze of technique and nomenclature. But I must close here for 

 I have filed my protest, and expended the full quota of my space 

 allowance in telling my story, which I hope may have the effect of 

 inducing many a one to go botanizing with a camera. 



Nature Photography 



E. D. Huntington 



Nature photography affords a most interesting and instructive 

 avocation for the lover of nature. To tramp the fields, woods and 

 swamps in search of suitable subjects to photograph is as fascinat- 

 ing as it is enjoyable. But the task is difficult-much physical 

 exertion is necessary to carry camera, tripod and plates over 

 rough country ; the plant always seems to grow in a place where it 

 is next to impossible to manipulate a camera ; and the wind keeps 

 the plant constantly nodding. Often the light is unfavorable for 

 an exposure and one commonly stumbles upon the rarest of flowers 

 just after he has exposed his last plate. And then at home, that 

 night, development too commonly reveals a failure with ones 

 choicest subjects of the day. 



But the uncertainties and difficulties add to the joys of nature 

 photography. And when one holds a plate, dripping wet, to the 

 ruby light and watches a perfect image of some delicate orchid or 

 other rare flower (Fig. i) gradually develop, he feels well paid for 

 his labors and forgets his disappointments over a dozen failures. 



It is really surprising how quickly an observant person can 

 acquire skill in the photography of nature's beauties. And since 

 any success is primarily dependent upon the use of a suitable 

 camera, plates and chemicals, the prospective photographer must 

 select his apparatus with great care. 



