96 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY 



THE INS AND OUTS OF BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY, 



It is only within the past few years that huntino- birds with the came- 

 ra has been attempted, and wonderful results are now being obtained. 

 Nearly all that can be learned from the dead bird is now known, and 

 many of those who were formerly devotees of the gun have now dis- 

 carded it and adopted the camera in order to study the habits of the liv- 

 ing bird. Nature photography in as much as it pertains to birds, may 

 be separated into three classes based on the difficulty of securing good 

 results and the value of the pictures obtained. Class I. relates to the 



LOOKING AT THE FIVE BLUE EGGS. 



photographing of nests and eggs. After having found a nest the rest 

 is simple photography. However one must be careful not to frighten the 

 bird and cause it to leave the nest. If proper care is taken to see that 

 the nest is well lighted, and a small stop used to secure good defini- 

 tion, satisfactory results may be obtained in all cases. In class 2 may 

 be placed young birds and captives. As a general thing young birds, 

 especially when they think they are about capable of flying, seem to 

 think it is their duty to cause as much trouble to the photographer as 

 possible. 



The professional photographer, in his'studio with all facilities at hand, 



