j ILLUSTRATE YOUR BREED 



T. HERE is no question about the value of showing your birds by pict- 

 ■ ure, as well as by word description. People can so much easier, quicker, 

 better, and. altogether more satisfactorily appreciate what your birds are 

 if they can see them as the camera presents them. 



"As the camera presents them" would be an excellent way for breeders 

 to show their birds to intending purchasers of stock or eggs for breeding 

 or exhibition. But of course this process is too slow, laborious and ex- 

 pensive, and therefore engravings are made from the photographs; and 

 these engravings are printed from in circulars, booklets, catalogs, etc., 

 the same as type, and the picture is thus multiplied many times at small 

 cost. 



And right here is where a great deal of mischief is done, either in the 

 hands of the artist or engraver. Breeders have so universally shown a 

 weakness for having their birds show up as good as the other fellows' that 

 they have the photograph retouched to such an extent that the represent- 

 ation is distorted beyond recognition. 



I would not unqualifiedly condemn the retouching of photographs, 

 because there are little things in photographing fowls that are hard to get 

 right, and do the subject justice. A broken or ruffled feather, a side light 

 that makes things appear unnatural, a cramped position that is not life- 

 like, — such minor defects may be corrected, as they are a fault of the 

 process of securing the picture rather than in the bird. 



But when points are removed from the comb, the tail is lowered ten 

 to twenty degrees, the mottling or other markings are made to suit the 

 artists eye and not at all to resemble the specimen photographed, these 

 things are wrong. It is not justified simply because "Everybody's doing it." 



I believe the time has arrived when the business of idealizing the 

 photographs of fowls should be discontinued, and the true fancier should 

 be willing to picture his birds as they really are. 



Much is said and written against "faking" in the show room, but that 

 is of less consequence I believe than is the custom of faking in picturing 

 birds. The custom is so generally practiced that it is rare to see an actual 

 true-to-life engraving, even in these times of such a profusion of poultry 

 pictures in all magazines. 



By idealizing the photographs of your birds you are certain to dis- 

 appoint your customers, because of course the product from your flock 

 that they bought from you will not come up to the pictures put out to 

 represent your birds. 



I believe it is better business ethics to show your birds in pictures 

 true-to-Ufe and as they really are, rather than true to fancy, and as you 

 wish they were. 



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