22 WILD LIFE AND THE CAMERA 



lutely safe, and allow the plates to be easily put in 

 and securely held in place, but they should be fitted 

 with a device which precludes aU possibility of 

 double exposures, that bete noir, so common when 

 one works under conditions of keen excitement 

 and haste. In saying that plate holders should be 

 loaded without difficulty, it must be borne in mind 

 that when in camp you have no dark room, but 

 usually a simple dark changing bag, which means 

 manipulation by sense of touch alone, so it wiU be 

 seen that any complications add greatly to one's 

 troubles. Many prefer to use films instead of plates. 

 There is no question at all of the advantage the 

 former possess in point of weight and simphcity, 

 but the results are not as satisfactory as when plates 

 are used, especially so with the larger sizes. A five 

 by seven or half plate film is very apt not to he 

 flat ; in dry chmates this is not so noticeable, but 

 in damp, muggy weather they are more than hkely 

 to wrinkle, which means that with a very rapid 

 lens {i.e., one that has little depth of focus) parts of 

 the picture will be sharp while other parts on the 

 same plane will be entirely out of focus. Then 

 again, films are more inchned to have scratches. 

 They do not keep so weU, and, finally, they are not 

 so easy of manipulation. Let me suggest that a 

 soft, portable case be carried for the camera, made 

 of some good strong but hght waterproof material, 

 so that in case of showers the camera will not 

 suiFer. The strong, stiff travelling case may be 

 made of compressed paper, kept thoroughly 

 varnished. It is better than leather, being fighter, 

 stronger and more rigid, besides which it wUl not 



