structure, alive or dead, is too minute or too active to be posed for a 

 picture. Tested by both artistic and scientific standards, some of the 

 results now appearing in our entomological literature have never been 

 surpassed in insect illustration. But there is a lot of good printer's 

 ink being wasted on very poor insect photographs. Sometimes a good 

 photograph is not well brought out in making the half-tone plate, and 

 often it is so poorly printed as to resemble a blotch of printer's ink 

 rather than an insect. While we can not always remedy defects in 

 making and printing half-tones from photographs, we can make better 

 negatives oftentimes. Only a year or two ago a bulletin appeared 

 with over -40 photographic illustrations, covering 20 full-page plates, 

 and fully three-fourths of the "cuts" had little excuse for existence, 

 so poor were they. The climax was reached in the final picture, just 

 recognizable as a squash, which the author labeled "Eaten by milli- 

 pedes, centipedes, and slugs, all of which were alive upon this at the 

 time it was photographed, but as most of them were moving they are 

 not plainty shown." 



The best of photographers quite often get poor and worthless nega- 

 tives, and anyone who attempts "hunting insects with a camera" 

 will find this especially true. But my point is that such failures should 

 go into the rubbish heap of experience rather than encumber our lit- 

 erature and degrade the standard of insect illustration. American 

 economic entomologists lead the world in all that pertains to their 

 subject; in our equipments and methods for investigation and experi- 

 mentation; in our practical results; and let us maintain this standard 

 in the illustrating of our literature. 



A little more than ten years ago I was forced into insect photogra- 

 phy by my inabilit} 7 to otherwise properly illustrate my graduating 

 thesis. I have learned to appreciate a good insect photograph, but 

 have yet to learn many of the "tricks" by which they are made. I 

 find it is much easier to learn what not to do in photography than to 

 discover just what to do. I have come to believe that "the man behind 

 the camera" is largely responsible for many of the poor photographic 

 illustrations of insects that get into print. 



Some of the qualities of a good insect photograph are much detail ; 

 good backgrounds; evenly lighted and not too "contrast}^;" taken 

 from life is usually preferable, but not always possible; symmetrical 

 or lifelike arrangement, if from dead specimens; and, lastly, artistic 

 surroundings if practicable. Let me discuss the attainment of some 

 of these qualities from my experience. 



NECESSARY EQUIPMENT. 



It is especially true in insect photography that first-class tools are 

 necessary. My workshop, the Cornell insectary, is equipped with 

 several cameras. For outdoor or field work the latest model of a 

 5 by 7 camera has recently been purchased. The photo-micro camera, 



