6 PHOTOGRAPHING FLOWERS 



shown to the inanimate cloth used for draping a model, 

 and you will never catch the subtleties of beauty that are 

 reserved for those who are moved to the worli by the 

 charms of leaf, bloom and fragrance. 



Not the least of the advantages of flower-photography, 

 pursued with the aforesaid love, is the insight it gives one 

 into the mysteries and the elegancies of Mother Nature, 

 and the acquaintance it fosters with the plants and trees 

 of one's immediate neighborhood. A vast enlargement of 

 one's horizon follows a summer's work in the field and 

 meadow, in the glen and forest, and the portraying of the 

 beauty of the coddled pets of the florist during the winter 

 only whets the enjoyment of the flrst trip into the open 

 flower land of Spring ! 



But, rhapsodizing aside, let us address the details of 

 the subject, which quite naturally divides itself into four 

 main branches : ( i ) the treatment of flowers in various 

 compositions indoors ; (2) their depiction in full size from 

 individual specimens ; (3) their photography outdoors, 

 where they grow ; and (4) the photographing of trees. 



p. Discussing first, because it is easiest 



„ ower ^^j most practiced, the photography of 



(.compositions fjQ^g^g jjj various compositions indoors, 



" oors. ^g inquire at the outset as to the 



apparatus required for the work. 



The photographing of flowers for pleasure does not 

 require special or expensive apparatus. We may use the 

 camera we already possess, whether it be a hand or stand 

 camera, provided that the lens is of reasonable rapidity. 

 The size of the picture-image, compared with the original, 

 will depend on the focal length of the lens, which, in turn, 

 has a definite relation to the length of the bellows exten- 

 sion. The bellows supplied with the average camera 

 does not permit a picture-image more than one-fourth 

 natural size ; by means of supplementary lenses, such as 

 the Ideal, or a Kodak Portrait Attachment a larger 

 image may be obtained. For systematic work, however, 

 the familiar 5x7 camera is suggested as a happy medium 

 for ,all branches of flower and tree photography, and a 

 "long focus" folding box, with bellows extension of 18 

 or 20 inches, will meet all requirements. It should be 

 fitted with a reversible back, single swing (enough for 

 any camera !)•, and rising and horizontally shifting front. 



The lens question is one of much importance. Con- 

 trary to what seemed right, and certainly contrary to the 

 sug;gestions of lens-makers of good intentions and repu- 

 tations, I have found that a medium wide-angle lens 

 is by far the .most generally serviceable for all parts of 



