The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-13
BIRDS THROUGHA CAMERA
REV. III. W. KELLOGG ADDRESSES
THE AUDUBON SOCIETY.
An illustrated Lecture mt the Prop
yIaeum trat Proved of Great In
terest-Habfts of Birds.

Dy Kew. III. w. Kellogg, Oh Centrai-aNenue
NJ. z. church. His remarks aroused deep
interest and were as follows:
THE camera is an indicator of better
and gentle age. With the coming of the
use OF the camera goes the gun and trap.
The camera with all its other advantages
Is one Of the most civilizing influences In
the world. 1t has fascination whlcn is
indescribable and Is the means or such an
acquaintance with the animal world that
at once begins a better understanding ana
a deeper respect. II lis for this reason alone
that / consent to spend valuable time IN
attempting to interest others in this work
While IL affords 20 me pleasure that ex-
ceeds in amusement and real fun almost
reation in overburdened people is pleas
ing. yet this alone would hardly JUSTIFY
one in my profession to spend time ana
energy for its accomplishment.
why this Is, and how IL is brought
about. 1 cannot explain, but while l have
been interested In birds all my life and
began to study them in their wild life
when but boy on the old farm, yet there
admiration for these creatures when L be-
gan this work. My early sports were In
locating their nests. watching their tricks
and listening to their sweet songs, but
they never became so companionable as
when L have caught them in the life posi-
tions which they assume in sitting for
their pictures.
ITO do this work we'll one must come
very close to them and cultivate a famil-
iarity which is akin to personal confidence.
This feeling which 1 express l find to be
shared by all who do this work to any ex-
tent. / have an intimate friend who has
been my companion in much OF my work
who. indeed, has been Indispensable to IT..
who has been for years the best authority
on the birds of the North Pacific coast,
whose collection of birds and their nests
is the finest In the country, who is now
a student in the University OF California,
a real bird lover. On day last summer,
when we had gained a signal victory and
were going home with our spells. he said TO
me, 1t seems to me that L never truly
loved birds until i got interested in this
work. 1t has given me such sense of
friendship for them that l think | could
never again be a successful collector of
their nests 1 have talked with others
who feel the same.
BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY.
MIR. Carpenter, under the head Of The
Charm of Bird Photography has con-
firmed all 1 have said. He writes, AS a
one-time sportsman, who yielded to none
in his enjoyment of the chase, 1 affirm
that there is a fascination about the
hunting of wild animals with a camera as
far ahead of the pleasure to be derived
from their pursuit with shotgun or rifle
as the sport in shooting quail is beyond
that of breaking clay pigeons. The killing
of bird with a gun seems little snort OF
murder after one has attempted to cap
ture its image with a lens The demand
on the skill and patience Of the bird
photographer are endless, and his pleasure
is intensified in proportion TO the nature OF
the difficulties to be overcome, and in the
event of success 1t is perpetuated by In
finitely more satisfactory results obtained;
The camera thus opens door 10 a neld
of sport previously closed to those who
love the birds too much to find pleasure In
killing them.
Now as we are all aware there Is fast
growing humanitarian feeling toward all
animal life in this country. Such men as
John Burroughs and Seton Thompson have
done much to create and cultivate ii. Any
contribution that 1 can make to this spirit
1 do most gladly and l am sure when
bring this kind of work before you l am
effectively increasing the true respect We
should have for the birds. This is not new
work Much has already been written on
1t. And yet much more can be said. In
deed, ii is such singular work that every
only ingenuity and original tact can meet
and conquer.
Among the best books written is Car
penters Bird Studies with Camera. In
this he describes the necessary outfit. What
he has said in the second chapter on this
subject covers all the ground and is better
said than l could say IL. When l began
the work nothing had been written and SO
/ had to come to the knowledge by ex-
perience. Josh Billings used to say, 'Ex-
perience is a good school. but sometimes the
tuition is high And one thing Mr.. Car
penter might have said with truth, That
the camera takes more money than birds.
But ii is not so expensive an amusement
as that of the gun If worked with proper
care. Everything worth the attempt costs
something.
1.-The most expensive part is in learning
how. The accomplishment is not acquired
in day or without many failures. You
that you have captured some very inferior
things, but if with many attempts you
secure one that is worthy, you will then
better understand it's value. / have showed
NV
enjoyed them but / had the feeling that
they little realized what labor IL took &c
secure it. 1t Is when L present them to old
photographers that 1 know my entertain
ment has value. But one good picture pays
for many failures. With careful study OF
what others say, the failures may be great
ly lessened from what the pioneers in the
work have suffered.
AZ once thought 1t required high degree
of knowledge of the art of photography
to begin this work / have changed my
the better, but you may secure good pic
lures with ordinary understanding of the
art provided you have opportunity. The
opportunity counts for more than anything
else. For instance, bird comes and builds
near your house and you can tame il and
gradually come near 1t. This is your chance
for goood work. You Will need to know
your camera and have some extra attach
ments You will need to fasten your camera
in many curious positions. Birds do not
as rule. come to your art gallery and
of a flicker" Here were produced pictures
of two men in the top of a tree with q
camera fastened to limb taking the nest
with eggS.1
A SERIES OF PICTURES.
There followed a series of pictures giving
the young birds and the mother bird feed
ing and the young birds in various stage:
of development. DR.. Kellogg called il
The first outing" Various birds were ex
hibited, some common, some not so com
mon. Among them a family of blackbirds
a set of kinghshers, consisting OF 81,
birds. dug from a hole in the ground ter
feet in length. The expression of each
seemed bewildered in the new surroundings
some seemed delighted, and one in par.
ticular. appeared very angry. No sooner
were the birds pictured. said DR.. kellogg
than two of them left the scene for part:
across the river, half mile away. and
they never appeared to apologize for tn,
abrupt breaking up of the meeting. Blu
four remained and these took up even NOR,
interesting positions when, as soon as the
camera snapped, two more Joined theil
companions the other bank of the river
He said: such are the trials of the birC
photographer.
A very remarkable picture of bush titi
with a family OF five was presented. Thi:
little bird builds very curious house. A
long hanging nest, often sixteen inches in
length. with an entrance in one side. neal
the top. These little fellows were very
tame and bold and were induced with M
difficulty, to take various positions. On,
was on the top Of the cap of DR.. Kellogg
assistant. But the climax was reached IL
a picture of this family taken with the
mother bird feeding one, while all the little
mouths were opened and turned toward
her. This was one OF the delightful sur