VERMONT BIRD CLUB 11 



BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY. 



BY FRANK S. HOAG. 



In regard to photographing birds, I will try to tell some- 

 thing about the kind of camera to use and some of the ways and 

 means of approaching birds in order to make good exposures. 



Mr. Chapman states that if we are limited to the use of a 

 single camera, it should be of the reflecting type. If limited to 

 one lens, he recommends one with an eight inch focal length, its 

 two components having each a focal length of fourtt^en inches. 

 He uses bellows fifteen inches long, and 4x3 plates. 



Mr. Lottridge recommends, in addition, a reversible back, 

 falling front, swing back, and particularly a strong and steady 

 platform. He recommends a long-focus lens, large because the 

 center of the lens is then used, thus securing better work m less 

 time. The long focus gives a large image with comparatively 

 less distortion. Very light plate holders should not be used, be- 

 cause they will not stand sunlight. The tripod, if one is used, 

 must be strong and stable. A tilting tripod top is of great value. 

 An outfit sufficiently stable in every way is rather heavy, but it is 

 the only one suitable for all around work. The use of the tele- 

 photo lens is very limited. It gives from 2 to 6 diameters magni- 

 fication, but more time is required for exposure. 



A camera with the best appliances is of no use unless one 

 can get within photographing range of the birds under fairly good 

 conditions for making exposures. To accomplish this end, blinds 

 which can be set up in favorable locations and occupied com- 

 fortably for hours at a time, seem to be an absolute necessity. 

 If one wishes a blind that can be ready for use at any time, it 

 should be of a kind easil} transportable, inconspicuous as possi- 

 ble, and simple enough to be erected quickly. It need not nec- 

 essarily be like some object in nature, but it is well to have it 

 disguised with bushes or vmes. Immovability when erected is 

 the chief virtue of a good blind for any movement of it will make 

 birds suspicious. The blind that Mr. Chapman uses is made of 

 a leaf-green umbrella having a metal tube handle with a ventilat- 

 ing hole in the top; two oth(?r metal tubes of the same length as 

 the umbrella handle; a piece of denim, 6x10 feet, sand or earth 

 colored, dyed leaf-green at the top for about one third of its 

 width and fading gradually to its original color at about the mid- 

 dle. The ends are joined and sewed together for a short dis- 

 tance at the top around which a strong cord is run for the pur- 

 pose of drawing the top together sufficiently for it to hang on the 



