24 PHOTOGRAPHING FLOWERS 



the depth of focus which would be required to get the 

 flower sharp, and the leaves free from excessive "fuzzi- 

 ness. ' ' It will be seen that a lens which would give from 

 6 to lo inches of acceptably sharp focus at full size is 

 required ; and this is optically, as well as practically, 

 impossible, even with the smallest diaphragm and a 

 consequently long exposure. Promptly the idea comes, 

 to get the rose flat against something, and thus reduce 

 the depth required. We proceed to put it up against 

 a background, only to discover that the flower resents 

 such treatment strongly, losing much of its grace. We 

 also find, if we make an exposure, that the background is 

 -much in evidence, and that unpleasantly heavy shadows 

 ■obtrude themselves. It is also noted in following the 

 'suggestiqns'given in previous pages as to lighting, that it 

 is hard to manage so as to avoid flatness. 



If we could lay the rose down and look at it with the 

 camera in a vertical or nearly vertical position, several 

 of the first-named difficulties would disappear ; and if 

 we could secure the flower practically floating in the air, 

 so that the hard background shadows were eliminated, 

 the balance of the troubles would be at an end. Just 

 this can be accomplished with a form of vertical camera 

 stand, to which is attached a plate-glass exposing sur- 

 face or platform ; and the vertical apparatus, if made 

 easily portable, will also help greatly in giving perfect 

 control of the lighting. Several such forms of apparatus 

 are hereafter described and illustrated. 



For consistency's sake, we may well begin to consider 

 our apparatus by taking up the lens question. For nat- 

 ural-size work a wide-angle lens is a necessity, not a mere 

 convenience. \ study of lenses, in connection with No. 79 

 of The Photo-Miniature, will explain why, wherefore 

 we do not discuss the optics of it. ■ A larger-sized camera 

 than 5x7 will be found very desirable also, because of 

 the obvious limitations when one takes up large flowers. 

 The whole-plate size, 6%.-x.?>%, is my favorite for this 

 work, and a lens of good quality which does not exceed 

 •j% inches focal length is about right to use with it. With 

 such a lens, and a bellows which will extend to 18 or 20 

 inches, at least, we are well equipped. 



The camera box should have a rising and shifting front, 

 and a single swing. It will be found to be a great advan- 

 tage if the rising front is operated by a tension screw so 

 that it may be held exactly where it is wanted, rather than 

 controlled by a stud working in a ratchet, whereby the 

 movement is in certain arbitrary distances. When flowers 

 are once arranged before the lens, we want every facility 



