THE YOUNG 
arranged under a low veranda they 
should be sitting, or, if standing, brought 
well forward, so that the shadow cast 
from the roof or foliage does not fall 
upon any of the faces. This arrangement, 
if the central figures be under the 
veranda, will suit the requirements of the 
lenses admirably. When very fair and 
very dark persons have to be included in 
the same picture, the blondes may with 
advantage be posed somewhat under 
cover, whilst the brunettes are brought 
more into the open. 
In composing the group, the figures 
should be arranged as much as possible 
in the middle of the plate, the principal 
figures occupying the most central posi- 
tion, as the centre should always be the 
most important part of the picture. A 
few plants or shrubs in pots, judiciously 
distributed, will form charming accces- 
sories when the group is posed in the 
vicinity of a veranda. Some of the most 
successful outdoor groups we have ever 
seen were taken under or about a veranda 
that was charmingly covered with creep- 
ing plants. 
A portico or porch affords a very admir- 
able situation for posing a group, particu- 
larly when only a few figures have to be 
included, as some one or two may be 
arranged within and the others outside, 
taking care, as in the case of the veranda, 
that those which are posed within are in 
no way placed in direct shadow. This is 
best avoided by having those within 
seated and fairly well forward, so that 
they will be clear of the cast shadows 
from the roof and sides. Porticos are 
usually covered with foliage of one de- 
scription or other, which is a great advan- 
tage for our present purpose. When the 
foliage happens to be ivy (which it fre- 
quently is) a very full exposure must 
always be given to the negative, other- 
wise the background will be exceedingly 
dark in the resulting picture, the folia<ye 
of ivy being of such a very non-actinic 
character ; and, unless the sun be shining 
directly upon it so as to produce bright 
reflections from the leaves, it will always 
look unpleasantly heavy unless very fully 
exposed. 
Very admirable groups may be secured 
SCIENTIST. 273 
with an open window as a background. 
Some of the figures may then be arranged 
within the room, while others are without 
on either side. If the window be a 
French window, opening to the ground, 
so much the better, as then the whole of 
the figures of those inside the room, 
whether standing or sitting, can be in- 
cluded in the composition. It is neces- 
sary, in arranging a group thus, to be 
careful that none of those figures which 
are outside shall be in such a position as 
to cast a shadow, at least, on the faces of 
those within. This arrangement, it will 
be seen, favors the lens, as the centre fig- 
ures are situated at a greater distance 
from it than those at the sides. 
When some of the sitters happen to be 
in very light dresses, it is always advis- 
able to pose them in such a manner that 
the dress, or the major portion of it, is 
hidden or subdued. This is easily accom- 
plished with the window background, by 
placing such sitters inside the room, or, in 
the case of either of the other situations, 
by arranging those in the liglit dresses 
somewhat behind the others, so that the 
dress is, for the most part, hidden by 
those in front, or a strong shadow from 
them is cast upon it. 
In taking a photograph where a win- 
dow forms part of the background, care 
must be observed that no reflections from 
the glass is shown in it, otherwise it will 
cause the picture to look patchy. These 
reflections should be carefully looked for 
when focussing, and, if any be noticed, 
they can generally be avoided by slightly 
altering the position of the- camera- 
placing it at a slightly different angle 
with regard to the reflecting surface. 
In concluding this article, we cannot 
too strongly impress upon the student the 
necessity of observing, when the group is 
finally arranged, that all the faces are 
equally illumined, otherwise it will be 
impossible to secure equal density in the 
negative, which, if successful portraits be 
the chief consideration, is most essen- 
tial. 
— Out of all the myriad lights in the 
heavens, the Earth is visible only to. the 
Moon, Mercury, Mars, and Venus, 
