33o 



RECREATION 



of the continent. It is no disgrace to be beat- 

 en by such men. Recreation competitions are 

 already famous and are keenly watched by the 

 brightest photographers we have. 



SQUIRREL PHOTOGRAPHY. 



Some of the most beautiful photographs 

 that I have ever seen have been made by us- 

 ing squirrels for subjects. They appear so 

 life-like and so thoroughly unconscious of be- 

 ing photographed that they give to the fin- 

 ished picture an effect that is rarely seen in 

 ordinary photography. 



On first thought, it might seem rather diffi- 

 cult to photograph these sprightly little ani- 

 mals, but with a little care and patience sur- 

 prising results are often produced. In this 

 special branch there is one great advantage. 

 It can be carried on successfully in both the 

 country and the city, for most cities contain 

 large parks in which are kept a number of 

 squirrels running wild among the lawns and 

 trees. 



In parks, picnic-grounds, etc., the squirrels 

 are often quite tame and will fearlessly feed 

 from one's hands ; in other localities they will 

 probably need to be encouraged and made to 

 feel that there is nothing to fear before much 

 can be done with them. 



The most important thing to have, when 

 you go out to photograph Mr. Squirrel, is a 

 pocket or bag full of nuts, without which 

 you will be politely ignored; with these edi- 

 bles you win his confidence, and one mustn't 

 get discouraged if this is not accomplished 

 the first day. It is best to select a very quiet 

 nook, out of the way of other people, near 

 where a family of squirrels have made their 

 quarters. You will find such a place in your 

 rambles, and when you do try to keep it as se- 

 cret as possible, for a few children with their 

 play and laughter might put an end to any 

 more friendliness between you and the squir- 

 rels. Visit this spot every day or so and toss 

 the nuts, one at a time, to the squirrels, tak- 

 ing great care not to frighten them by throw- 

 ing too hard or by making quick movements. 

 After a few days the little animals will grow 

 quite confident and will take the nuts directly 

 from your hands ; at this stage they are be- 

 ginning to get well trained, and it will soon 

 be time to introduce the camera. 



The cameras best adapted for this work are 

 those which require focusing ; that is, the 

 ones having a ground glass in the back upon 

 which to focus the object to be photographed. 

 As one often has to be six or se r en feet away 

 from the camera when taking a squirrel's pic- 

 ture, it is very necessary to have a very long 

 tube with bulb for making exposures. 



Next decide on the best spot to take the 

 photograph, of course taking into considera- 

 tion the light. A very pretty effect is pro- 

 duced by having the squirrel on a flat rock 

 with a tree and bushes behind as background. 



To do this set up the camera and bring the 

 center of the rock into good focus on the 

 ground glass. In this way you obtain a fair 

 latitude, for if the squirrel sits almost any- 

 where on the top of this flat rock he is sure 

 to be in focus. Next arrange all in readiness 

 for an exposure, setting the shutter, drawing 

 the plate-holder slide out, etc. Now take your 

 long rubber tube with the bulb for making 

 exposures and sit quietly at the side of the 

 rock just out of range of the camera. Every- 

 thing is now ready to entice the sauirrels over 

 to the rock by throwing them nuts; they will 

 soon venture nearer and nearer until at last 

 they reach your rock, upon which you have 

 sprinkled plenty of nuts; here they will re- 

 main while eating, sitting upon their hind 

 legs and posing in many graceful positions. 

 Now if you are calm enough and have pa- 

 tience you will wait until the squirrel strikes 

 a cute attitude before pressing the bulb. 

 Sometimes when the little animals hear a 

 noise they will look up quickly, while sitting 

 on their hind legs, straight into the face of 

 the camera ; thus you catch Mr. Squirrel with 

 a surprised look on his face. A great variety 

 of poses can be obtained in this manner, and 

 it becomes very fascinating as each minute 

 brings forth some new antic. Thus when you 

 show your finished photographs to friends 

 they will wonder how you were ever able to 

 take them. 



LOADING PLATES IN THE DARK. 



Occasions very frequently arise when the 

 loading of dry plates into holders must be 

 done in the dark or left undone altogether. 

 To learn how to load plates in the dark is a 

 most useful accomplishment, and, once 

 learned, the amateur will find that he will 

 seldom use a ruby lamp to aid him in the 

 work. When out camping, when taking por- 

 traits .or views in a strange house, in fact, 

 anywhere where the ordinary facilities of a 

 dark room are denied, we are frequently 

 called upon to change plates, and if we have 

 not learned the dark method it may entail 

 great annoyance and o r ten considerable loss. 



Dry plates can be loaded or unloaded in 

 any closet or room which will hold the pho- 

 tographer and which keeps out the light. The 

 last part of that sentence is the most impor- 

 tant of all. It is exceedingly necessary that 

 no white light streak into the room, especially 

 if it is a small one or only a closet. In the 

 daytime a small closet will generally be most 

 available. See that no light comes in, espe- 

 cially through the keyhole. That is just about 

 the height at which you hold the plates while 

 changing them, and an unexpected ray of 

 light will often spoil them. Clear a space on 

 the shelf if there is one, if not, put a chair in 

 the closet on which to deposit the plate-box 

 and holders. See that the shelf or chair is 

 perfectly dry. Learn your surroundings be- 



