Chapter VII.
Photographic Details.
As it is my hope that bird-photography may become still more popular than it is now, both because of its ornithological value and because of its excellence as a sport for the man or woman of limited means, I should like to give enough information to enable others to go and do likewise. The patience required has been much exaggerated, as well as the hardships. Patience, commendable patience, wonderful patience and comfortable laziness are closely related, and any discomfort is entirely due to the photographer's want of foresight, and is, I am sure, no necessary part of the sport. The hiding contrivance, whether it be a tent or shed, is the most important part of the apparatus, and no time is wasted in making it as perfect as possible. A good maxim is to try all apparatus well before using it in the field, and it is well to place all orders with the makers during the winter to save vexatious delays. Another is to keep a list of the apparatus to be used and check it every morning before starting out, or to keep everything likely to be wanted in the rucksack, as it is most annoying to find the absence of a small thing, such as a tripod screw, ruining a whole day's work. I use a Lancaster half-plate camera with Mackenzie Wishart envelopes. My favourite lens is one of fifteen-inch focus, because it gives a good-sized image, as I see no sense in going to the trouble of getting the camera within six feet of a shy bird and then being content with an image the size of a postage stamp. Telephoto lenses do not appeal to me. With Kearton, I believe in developing some, at any rate, of one's exposures at the end of the day, and my first day anywhere is spent in fitting up a comfortable dark room. I have never been to a place yet where I could not get a cellar, attic or shed which could not in a few hours be converted to use. As in the majority of cases fast plates have to be used, and as the less light falls on them the
