Evening star., 1949-07-24


Buck has nothing on mel live
in the country Frank beats the
bushes of Africa and Malaga with
his camera. taking beautiful pic
lures of animals and scenery. But
I take my trusty camera out in
the barnyard or out into the
woods to do the same thing. and
it's a lot safer my way, too. What
I'm trying to get at is that there
are untold opportunities for the
amateur photographer to take
pictures of wildlife, domestic ami
mails and gorgeous scenery just
| few miles outside of town. And
| it's a good way to cool off during
not weather.
/ Even if you are not lucky enough
to live in the sticks" you can
always hop in your car or take a
bus and get there in a few min
utes. The camera possibilities are
many and once you try it you'll
be back for more. There is little
more resting or refreshing than a
stroll along some woodland brook
and the pictorialist and animal
lover will find many a chance for
a different kind of shot-some-
thing new and refreshing.
Too many city folk are unaware
that the nearby countryside is
lteeming with wildlife. True. you
won't run across a lion or water
buffalo, but there is a great plenty
of smaller game that are much
more fun to shoot with the camera
than with a gun. You can have
all the thrills of real hunt with
out having to shed blood to prove
yourself nimrod. l-.:.5 ~.''s
r Silence Is Golden.
Rack your memory for a while
and you will find that you have
seen very. very few really good
photographs of wildlife in its nat
ural state. There is a good reason
for this. Most photographers who
do venture into the woods in
search of game blunder about
with a great thrashing and hula
baloo and then bitterly protest
that all the game had long since
left that particular bit of field
or woodland.
Some sage once said that "si-
lence is golden" and never
truer word could be said in de-
scribing the first requisite of a
good camera hunter. 1t must be
remembered that the struggle for
existence continues just as in
tensely now as it did a thousand
years ago. Each denizen Of the
forest or brush country has a
number of mortal enemies that
are constantly on the lookout for
a meal. Hence. caution is the
word with each of the creatures
doing his level best to remain hid
den and uf1heard.
When one of our wildlife friends
hears an unusual sound it either
freezes or takes off like a bat that
is in hurry to get somewhere
else. In either case, if you were
the maker of the noise the chances
are 100 to that you will not see
the animal-much less have a
chance to take its picture.
Know Animal Habits.
II you pick your way quietly
through the woods or, better still,
remain seated quietly for Is min
utes or SO, you will be amazed at
the number and variety of ami
mails. reptiles, birds, etc., that will
appear all around you.
IT you know the habits Of the
animals it will also be of great
help. For instance, except during
a short period in the early morn
ing and an hour or two near sun
down. the cottontail rabbit sits
immobile in it's nest all day long.
with only an occasional twitch
OF its nose or ears as it tests the
breeze for signs of intrusion. AS
we all know, the rabbit depends
upon its protective coloration and
its high rate of speed as means
OF protection. But a bunny only
runs when he has to. This is be-
cause he knows that with each
Jump he leaves a scent that fox