Golly / Pve left the: os at ime / 69 
CHAPTER VII. 
PHOTOGRAPHIC DETAILS. 
S it is my hope that bird-photography may become still more 
popular than it is now, both because of its ornithological 
value and because of its excellence as a sport for the man 
or woman of limited means, I should like to give enough information 
to enable others to go and do likewise. The patience required 
has been much exaggerated, as well as the hardships. Patience, 
commendable patience, wonderful patience and comfortable laziness 
are closely related, and any discomfort is entirely due to the 
photographer’s want of foresight, and is, I am sure, no necessary 
part of the sport. The hiding contrivance, whether it be a tent 
or shed, is the most important part of the apparatus, and no time 
is wasted in making it as perfect as possible. A good maxim is 
to try all apparatus well before using it in the field, and it is well 
to place all orders with the makers during the winter to save 
vexatious delays. Another is to keep a list of the apparatus to be 
used and check it every morning before starting out, or to keep 
everything likely to be wanted in the riicksack, as it is most 
annoying to find the absence of a small thing, such as a tripod 
screw, ruining a whole day’s work. I use a Lancaster half-plate 
camera with Mackenzie Wishart envelopes. My favourite lens is 
one of fifteen-inch focus, because it gives a good-sized image, as 
I see no sense in going to the trouble of getting the camera within 
six feet of a shy bird and then being content with an image the 
size of a postage stamp. Telephoto lenses do not appeal to me. 
With Kearton, I believe in developing some, at any rate, of one’s 
exposures at the end of the day, and my first day anywhere is spent 
in fitting up a comfortable dark room. I have never been to a 
place yet where I could not get a cellar, attic or shed which could 
not in a few hours be converted to use. As in the majority of cases 
fast plates have to be used, and as the less light falls on them the 
