Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-01-13
Stalking and Luring.
By Alexander ]. WeddeFburn
cvrctes Of Photography
The Susithsouiun institution

4N0AAAVA0 AssAAoS ~ "--~-O
Its lot easier to learn to use q
mechanical call, by the way. than
it is to perfect a vocal imitation.
Some forms Of wild life do not
respond to calling and must be
put on the move by hounds or
bird dogs. Few Of us own hunting
dogs, but many have friends or
|acouaintances who will lend one
for the occasion.
Before we take OF on our expe-
dition to the country we should De
sure our equipment is suitable Tor
the task. Although 1t is quite pos
sible to take pictures Of wild life
with q box camera or its equiva-
lent, our recommendation is that
you take along a camera with q
fast shutter and lens. Game on
the run Cor wing) calls for shots
| at 1/100th Of q second or faster. II
the motion Is to be stopped. About
the only way you can stop motion
with q box camera Is to swing or
pan" the camera with the NOV
ling, subject, which will blur the
INSTRUMENTATION Is important
to such pictures. On the other
hand, any movement that you
make will alarm your subject and
make subsequent or follow-up
shots virtually impossible.
Roll Film Is Faster.
If you are taking a small cam
era it should be one that you are
familiar with, so that focusing can
be quick and without recourse to
| a split-image finder or focusing
device because you will seldom
have an opportunity to focus at
your leisure. Shots must be made
in a hurry or the animal or bird
will be gone before you have begun
to get set for an exposure. Roll
Aim cameras are better than those
that use Aim holders and are ideal
for making series Of related
shots. If you do use press type
camera Aim pack is the answer.
Pulling the tabs is a lot quicker
than changing holders and the
holders are apt to make a great
deal Of noise as they are showed
into position.
This is the best time Of year.
incidentally, for trying your hand
at wild-life photography. The
foliage is of the trees and most
weeds and tall grass have been
bitten down by frosts so that you
will have a comparatively unre-
stricted field of vision-even in the
woods. In the summeB vision Is
restricted usually to a very few
feet because of the foliage. And
from now on until the end of
February the fur and feathers of
the wild life will be at their best.
As we know, most wild animals
depend largely on speed and pro-
tective coloration to protect them
from their natural enemies. Others
such as the skunk and porcupine
have their own particular lad
vantages." But we will be mostly
concerned with the first men
toned problems-speed and pro-
tective celebration. First we will
have to find our subjects and then
after we accomplish this, the ma
jor problem is that of taking the
picture before the subject can use
its speed to get. away from the
lens.
Celebration Advantages.
Most animals prefer to rely on
their natural camouflage and this
is a big point in our favor. AS
long as the animal feels that it
is undecided. 1t will remain per-
lfectly stil1-a perfect setup for
the nature photographer. Keep
ling this always In mind, make 1t
a point to always move slowly and
as noislessly as possible when
looking for game. AS you walk
along carefully search the area
in front of you and to, each side.
Your quarry will be cleverly con-
cealed against q tree, bush or
other object Of a color similar to
that Of the animal. It Is easy
to walk within a foot or SO of
some animals and miss seeing
them entirely as they remain
frozen. And many a hunter has
been scared half out Of his wits
|by a rabbit. quail, pheasant or
grouse as it "barreled off," lit
orally from between his feet. But
III you move carefully ana inspect
every foot Of ground as you go,
you will be able to spot. these
wary creatures and snap an entire
series Of pictures without causing
them to scamper or fly away.
A knowledge OF the habits Of
certain game, when pursued. Is
also very helpful to the. camera
sportsman. A rabbit, as all hunt
|ers know. win circle, when pur-
sued by hounds, and return to the
close vicinity OF its nest. Know
ing this. the man with the camera
Photographic Notes
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