272 
THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
remove them with a bit of blotting paper 
and i)lace them on a board (covered with 
a towel), and let them dry gradually by 
not exposing them to the full rays of the 
sun. 
Spatter work is exceedingly interesting, 
and when" neatly executed the result is 
particularly pleasing. Almost every kind 
of leaf can be used. Some prefer ferns 
to all others, and every kind of small 
flower may be used to advantage. Press 
the leaves for an hour or so before using. 
The process of spattering is simple, and 
may be executed by quite small girls. 
Place a piece of thick paper on a smooth 
board, tacking the same at the corners ; 
lay on the leaves as required that is suit- 
ing special taste, and tack them down ; 
then go over the paper with a brush satur- 
ated with India ink, or take a very fine 
comb and use this instead of the brush ; 
when the paper is dark enough remove 
jthe leaves. 

Portraiture for Amateurs. 
I^g^^HE taking of portraits in groups 
—even in a well-appointed 
j studio, where the light is under 
ii : ^1 j^jj control and the most per- 
fect of apparatus at command— is one of 
the most difficult phases of portrait 
photography, and one that taxes the 
skill of the operator to its fullest extent 
in order to obtain satisfactory likenesses, 
at the same time combined with an 
artistic picture. 
After calling attention to this fact it 
will be manifest that one of the principal 
considerations in connection with out- 
door portraiture— and one upon which 
much necessarily depends in obtaining 
satisfactory pictures— is the judicious 
selection of a situation for our operations. 
On this part of the question no definite 
instructions can, of course, be given, as 
all must of necessity be dependent upon 
the space available. However, we shall 
endeavor to give the student a few prac- 
tical hints which may materially assist 
him in his selection, and, at the same 
time, help him to make the best of what 
circumstances have placed at his com- 
mand. 
Eirst, let us consider our present re- 
quirements apart from the apparatus, as 
that portion of the question has been 
fully disposed of by abler authorities. A 
space is required where the sitters can be 
posed so that the sun does not shine 
directly upon them, and where the sur- 
roundings will form a good natural back- 
ground. This is an important matter 
from a pictorial point of view; for what 
looks worse than to see a picture, other- 
wise good, spoiled by an unsightly back- 
ground ? Yet one often sees a group of 
figures posed before a plain, flat brick 
wall ; and nothing uglier than this, in the 
eyes of an artist, can well be imagined as 
a background. 
One thing to be specially guarded 
against, when it can possibly be avoided, 
is to include any portion of the sky in 
the picture, except, perhaps, when taking 
sunlit pictures. We also require sufiicient 
space to allow of the camera being placed 
at such a distance from the group that 
the whole of the figures are included on 
the size of plate with which we are work- 
ing. Eurthermore, it is very desirable 
that the situation chosen be one in which 
the sun does not shine upon the lens ; for, 
although the direct rays may be shielded 
from it during exposure, it will not be 
possible to obtain anything like so bril- 
liant a negative as if it were shining in 
any other direction. If a veranda be 
available, it will, as a rule, form a very 
desirable spot for operations, as the main 
building with which it is connected will 
block out the sky, as well as tend to 
shield the lens from extraneous light. It 
will also afford us facilities for obtaining 
good chiaroscuro, as, generally, the sup- 
porting columns are covered with trailing 
plants of some kind, whose foliage casts 
shadows which may be utilized with ad- 
vantage in the composition. 
In posing a group under or about a 
veranda, care must be exercised that none 
of the figures are placed in deep shadow 
while others are in strong light, other- 
wise in the picture some of the faces will 
be dark— sometimes nearly black, while 
others are ail that can be desired. This 
is very likely to occur if the roof be a low 
one and some of the figures are standing 
beneath it. When any of the figures are 
