CAT PHOTOGRAPHY FOR AMATEURS. 



335 



on the ground-glass a little smaller than the 

 plate will allow, as, if one tries to get it to its 

 utmost size, one may find in developing that 

 one of the models has moved back on the 

 table an inch more, perhaps, than calculated 

 upon, and as a result have half a cat on one 



The rough sketch of the cat in the basket 

 was first prepared, and the brush attached to 

 it in such a manner that it would move freely 

 up and down for about an inch or so ; then 

 it and the rest of the accessories were firmly 

 arranged upon the table. The cat. in the 



PLAYING AT \V O K K . 

 (Photo : Mrs. S. F. Clarke.) 



side instead of a whole one. The background, 

 however, should be large enough to fully cover 

 the ground-glass. Focus the foreground and 

 nearer accessories, stop down to F. 8, set the 

 shutter to about ? V to vo second (accord- 

 ing to light and nature of subject), insert the 

 slide containing the rapid plate, draw the 

 flap under the dark cloth, and if at all windy 

 tie this last to the camera. Now you are ready 

 for the cats and a suitable moment of light. 

 As I have already remarked, I do my photo- 

 graphing out of doors. I therefore choose a 

 bright warm day, when there are plenty of 

 fleecy clouds about ; so that by taking advan- 

 tage of their position in front of the sun, and 

 by the help afforded by my muslin curtains, 

 I am able to modify the harsh contrasts 

 incidental to working in broad daylight. 



' The Artist " (page 128) was, perhaps, one 

 of the most difficult subjects I have attempted. 

 Without apparent life and go such a subject 

 would be worthless. 



basket was then made to take her place, but 

 keep in she would not ; as soon as the brush 

 moved to attract the artist paw, out she would 

 jump ; so for the time she was allowed to run, 

 until the artist was posed and an endeavour 

 made to infuse life into him by moving the 

 brush. But it was "no go " ; sit down he would, 

 until the introduction of a feather woke him 

 up. His companion was then slipped into 

 the basket ; but, alas ! success was not yet. 

 For about two hours we had to begin over and 

 over again, when at last the pose of both 

 kittens was obtained simultaneously and the 

 picture taken in ^V of a second. Such a sub- 

 ject with the kitten tamely sitting at the 

 handle of the brush would not in any way 

 have realised my intention. 



I must again point out the great convenience, 

 especially in this class of work, of the extra 

 length of tubing, which allows you, while hold- 

 ing the release in one hand, to pose your models 

 with the other, and then expose without the 



