ii'A f 



CHAPTER XI 



PHOTOGRAPHING INSECTS 



The first thought that is apt to come into 

 one's mind when the photography of insects is 

 mentioned is the smallness of the subjects as a 

 general rule. To be sure, there are a number of 

 moths and butterflies that are as large as good- 

 sized birds, but the great majority of the insect 

 life is small, even minute. 



This is, of course, one of the main obstacles in 

 the path of the insect photographer, as it necessi- 

 tates close work ; and yet this branch, when com- 

 pared to the photographing of birds or animals, is 

 easy. It needs but a little patience and at least a 

 working knowledge of your subjects. 



Insect life, no matter how small, can be photo- 

 graphed successfully. Even the very minute 

 forms, that are invisible to the naked eye, can, 

 by the aid of the micro-photographic camera, be 

 enlarged to any desired size on the plate. I do 

 not consider it necessary, however, to describe 

 this camera or enter into the details of the man- 

 ner in which it is worked, as this does not 

 properly come under tlie head of nature photog- 



190 



