6o DECORATIVE 



or by laying strips of wood or card on the glass to 

 frame in the proposed dimensions, taking care in so 

 doing that we are working from the lens as a center, so 

 that our composition will come on the ground-glass 

 properly. This done, and tested by looking at the 

 arrangement on the ground-glass to note our exact 

 limitations, we proceed to lay the flowers according to 

 the idea that has been conceived for the design. 

 Focusing should be done at once, so that the progress 

 of the composition may be readily examined. To focus 

 full size, or nearly so, is easier if the precaution is 

 taken to use a sharp line to focus upon. 



A little device for this purpose is 

 Shar I "^ described and illustrated on page 33, 

 but any available scrap of printing 

 may be used, if it has sharp, well-defined hair-lines on 

 it. Place the scrap, not on the highest point — nearest 

 the camera — but a little below that, observing with the 

 lens "wide open." As the focus deepens both ways 

 when a smaller stop is used, the best average definition 

 is thus obtained, and but little focusing will be required 

 later. To hunt for sharp focus without the device or 

 scrap of paper mentioned is to waste much time and 

 risk poor results. 



It will be discovered that much alike as all clover- 

 heads seem to be, there are very considerable differences, 

 and several "sides" to the blossoms. With a little ex- 

 perimenting, an agreeable arrangement may be secured, 

 and then inspected on the ground-glass. Sometimes, or 

 rather frequently, it will be necessary to trim out a leaf 

 here, deftly lay another in place there, and otherwise to 

 simplify or complete the arrangement. A leaf may 

 run off the side to advantage, or it may be cut out en- 

 tirely. Do not lose sight of the fact that you are draw- 

 ing a certain design with objects and camera rather than 

 with pencil and paper, and that correct handling of 

 lines is just as important as if the implement used was 

 the pencil and not the camera. 



J. .. , The arrangement proving satisfactory, 



Ba^ckgrlunds consider next the lighting and the back- 

 grounds, ihe camera-stand should be 

 readily movable, so that it may receive light at various 



