236 Photography for the Sportsman Naturalist 



In work afield in this branch the reflex camera 

 is often necessary, but much can be done with 

 the ordinary tripod box. I have often taken 

 photographs of snakes by confining them in my 

 carrying case or holding them in my hand while 

 setting up and focussing my camera upon some 

 suitable spot, then after having quieted my subject 

 somewhat, I have placed him on the spot chosen 

 and have found that often he would remain there 

 long enough for me to even stop down my lens 

 and make a time exposure ; for when a snake is 

 still he is absolutely motionless. 



The best method, however, is to photograph 

 them in an indoor studio, for then they can be 

 brought home, studied and photographed at one's 

 leisure; and any one who will try this will find that 

 they make not only good subjects, but interesting 

 pets as well. The studio should be arranged in 

 some place with a good, strong diffused light, as 

 the direct sunlight is apt to give bad reflections 

 on the scales of your subject. 



It is well to have a posing stand on which to 

 photograph your " sitter," as it is more convenient 

 than to do so on the ground or floor and the re- 

 sults are likely to be much better. This should 

 be about two feet high, so as to allow the camera 

 to point downward toward it, at an angle, from a 

 slight elevation. It should be at least two feet 

 square, so that the edges may not show on the 



