NATURE PHOTOGM>HY
FOR > BEGINNERS If
BY
EDWkRD ^BEDFORD
THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
We see distinctly only what we know thoroughly."
JOSEPH WOLF.
BLUE TIT GOING TO \KST
NATURE
PHOTOGRAPHY
FOR BEGINNERS
BY
E. J. BEDFORD
WITH COLOURED FRONTISPIECE
AND NEARLY
ONE HUNDRED STEREOSCOPIC ILLUSTRATIONS
FROM PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN DIRECT FROM
NATURE BY THE AUTHOR
I 909
LONDON
J. M. DENT & SONS LTD.
29 BEDFORD STREET, STRAND, W.C.
QH
TO
MY FATHER AND MOTHER
WHO HAVE
ALWAYS TAKEN THE GREATEST INTEREST
IN MY WORK,
I AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATE
THIS BOOK
P3SSJ4
PREFACE
So far as I can ascertain, this is the first book treating of
Nature Photography which is illustrated almost entirely by
means of reproductions of stereoscopic photographs.
I hope, therefore notwithstanding the numerous existing
volumes dealing in some form or other with the representa-
tion of Nature by means of the camera that room will be
found for this volume.
If it should also be the means of reviving stereoscopic
work in the direction of Nature Photography I shall be highly
gratified.
The illustrations have been selected from a very large
number in my collection, and every one has been photographed
direct from Nature by myself. The stereoscopic ones should,
of course, be seen through a stereoscope.
I desire to express my heartiest thanks to all those friends
who have assisted me by finding subjects, acquainted me
with the whereabouts of curious nests, or helped in other
ways.
My thanks are specially due to Mr. J. Ade, Mr. W. Wratten,
Mr. W. A. Alderton, Mr. J. S. Forbes, Mr. J. E. A. Gwynne,
J.P., Major H. P. Molineux, J.P., and Colonel H. Finn for
permission to take photographs on their respective estates;
viii NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
also to my friend Mr. E. J. Bunnett, M.A., for kindly reading
through the proof sheets.
If the perusal of the following pages should be the means
of inducing some persons to use the camera instead of the gun,
and should also cause them to take a greater interest in our
Wild Life, the purpose I had in view will have been accom-
plished ' E. J. B.
EASTBOURNE, June 1909.
CONTENTS
CHAP. I'AC.E
I. INTRODUCTION ........ i
II. APPARATUS: THE CAMERA AND PLATE-HOLDERS . . 8
III. APPARATUS continued: THE LENS . . . .17
IV. APPARATUS continued: SHUTTER, TRIPOD, AND OTHER
ETCETERAS 26
V. THE DARK ROOM, DEVELOPING AND PRINTING . . 34
VI. ON THE CHOICE OF SUBJECTS 47
VII. A FEW HINTS ON STEREOSCOPIC NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY . 52
VIII. How TO OBSERVE AND PHOTOGRAPH SOME OF OUR COMMONER
BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS AND EGGS .... 64
IX. How TO OBSERVE AND PHOTOGRAPH SOME OF OUR COMMONER
BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS AND EGGS Continued . . 83
X. How TO OBSERVE AND PHOTOGRAPH SOME OF OUR COMMONER
BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS AND EGGS Continued . .100
XI. How TO OBSERVE AND PHOTOGRAPH SOME OF OUR COMMONER
BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS AND EGGS Continued . . 113
XII. SOME CURIOUS NESTING-PLACES 128
XIII. THE FIRST THREE WEEKS IN THE LIFE OF A CUCKOO . 135
XIV. NIGHTINGALE LANE 143
XV. THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF ANIMALS, INSECTS, AND FLOWERS . 147
XVI. PROTECTIVE COLOURATION ...... 155
INDEX .......... 164
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
BLUE TIT GOING TO NEST Frontispiece
FIG.
1 THE AUTHOR'S CAMERAS AND TILTING-BOARD . To face page 3
2 SONG THRUSH'S NEST ......,, 5
3 YOUNG SONG THRUSHES 5
4 BLACKBIRD'S NEST .......,, 12
5 LONG-TAILED TIT'S NEST 12
6 WILD DUCK ON NEST 14
7 WILD DUCK'S NEST .......,, 14
8 PHEASANT'S NEST (18 eggs, 5 were laid by a second bird,
their different colour showing this) . . . ,, 19
9 LITTLE GREBE'S NEST (site), (photograph taken before
disturbing the reeds in front of nest) 19
10 LITTLE GREBE'S NEST (showing covering placed over
eggs by the bird on leaving the nest) . . . 21
1 1 LITTLE GREBE'S NEST (covering over eggs removed for
the purpose of photographing them. It was after-
wards replaced) .......,, 21
12 SOUTHDOWNS 28
13 A TEAM OF SUSSEX OXEN 28
14 COMMON WHITETHROAT'S NEST , 30
15 SAND MARTINS' NESTS (Some of these had to be re-
moved on account of working the sand-pit and were
laid bare specially for the purpose of obtaining a
photograph. The channel from face of cliff to the
nest containing 5 eggs measured 27 inches in
length) , 30
16 LAPWING'S NEST 35
17 YOUNG LAPWING CROUCHING .....,, 35
18 MOORHEN'S NEST 37
19 NIGHTJAR'S EGGS ........ 37
20 YOUNG NIGHTJARS (egg-shells still in nest) . 44
xi
Xll
NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
21 YOUNG NIGHTJARS (photographed 9 days after Fig.
20) To face page 44
22 CHIFFCHAFF'S NEST
23 WILLOW WARBLER'S NEST 4 6
24 A SUMMER'S DAY
25 SUSSEX OXEN AT PLOUGH
26 ROBIN'S NEST (built in some ivy on the wall of the
Author's garden)
27 ROBIN GOING TO NEST WITH FOOD FOR YOUNG
28 YOUNG ROBINS (from nest shown in Fig. 26)
29 MEADOW PIPIT'S NEST
30 GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN'S NEST
31 HEDGE SPARROW'S NEST
32 COMMON PARTRIDGE'S NEST
33 CORN BUNTING'S NEST
34 HAWTHORN IN BLOOM
35 HAWTHORN IN BLOOM (nearer view of a portion of Fig.
34) 6z
36 COMMON PARTRIDGE'S NEST UNDER SEAT (22 eggs) ... 69
37 DORMOUSE'S NEST ......... 69
38 DAISIES ASLEEP (taken in the evening when the flowers
had closed) 7'
39 DAISIES AWAKE (the same group as Fig. 38 taken the
following morning) . . . . . . ,. 71
40 WILD ROSES 74
41 FOXGLOVES 74
42 SPRING FLOWERS ......... 76
43 WOOD ANEMONES 7 6
44 PEAR TREE IN BLOOM 83
45 GOOSEBERRIES ......... 83
46 BY THE WAYSIDE (Wild Carrot) 85
47 RHODODENDRON 85
48 HONESTY IN BLOOM 87
49 HONESTY IN SEED (same plant as Fig. 48) 87
50 NEST OF LARV* OF LACKEY MOTH 90
51 LARGE MUSHROOM (greatest diameter 14^ inches; 7
inches high) ........ 90
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xiii
FIG.
52 RED ADMIRAL BUTTERFLY (wings expanded) . To face page 92
53 RED ADMIRAL BUTTERFLY (wings partly closed) . 92
54 LARGE WHITE BUTTERFLY 94
55 COCOONS OF SIX-SPOT BURNET MOTH ,, 94
56 ROBIN'S NEST IN OLD CUPBOARD (site) 99
57 ROBIN'S NEST AND EGGS IN OLD CUPBOARD (shown
in Fig. 56) 99
58 ROBIN'S NEST IN CURTAIN IN SCHOOLROOM (site) . ., 101
59 ROBIN'S NEST IN CURTAIN IN SCHOOLROOM (photo-
graph taken from the platform shown in Fig. 58) ,, 108
60 ROBIN'S NEST IN BOOKCASE IN SCHOOLROOM . . ,, 108
61 BLACKBIRD'S NEST WITH 8 EGGS no
62 SONG THRUSH FEEDING YOUNG IN CAGE . . . ,, no
63 GREAT TIT'S NEST IN POT (site) . . . . ,, 115
64 GREAT TIT'S NEST IN POT (lid removed) . . . ,, 115
65 ROBIN'S NEST IN HAT 117
66 PLAYMATES 117
67 SWALLOW'S NEST BUILT ON TENDRIL OF IVY . . ,, 119
68 WREN'S NEST IN WAGGON ROPE . . . . 119
69 SEDGE WARBLER'S NEST CONTAINING CUCKOO'S EGG . ,, 122
70 YOUNG CUCKOO 6 DAYS OLD IN SEDGE WARBLER'S
NEST (one of the Sedge Warbler's eggs thrown out by
the young Cuckoo is resting on edge of nest) . . ,, 122
71 YOUNG CUCKOO 6 DAYS OLD ....... 124
72 YOUNG CUCKOO 14 DAYS OLD , 124
73 .. 126
74 ,, 126
75 .. 131
76 EMPTY NEST OF SEDGE WARBLER AFTER YOUNG
CUCKOO HAD FLOWN ,, 131
77 HEDGE SPARROW'S NEST BUILT BEHIND WIRE NETTING ,, 133
78 SITE OF NIGHTINGALE'S NEST , 133
79 NIGHTINGALE ON NEST 135
80 NIGHTINGALE'S NEST . . . . . . 135
8 1 BUTTERFLY ORCHIS 138
82 DANDELIONS ........,, 138
83 LARVAE AND COCOON OF Puss MOTH . 140
xiv NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
FIG.
84 EMPEROR MOTH (female) ..... To face page 140
85 BURNET MOTHS AND COCOONS ....... 142
86a BROWN -TAIL MOTH ., 142
866 RED ADMIRAL BUTTERFLY , 142
86c MAGPIE MOTH .......,, 142
87 HARK! THE LARK ......... 147
88 COMMON TOAD ......... 147
89 YOUNG COMMON SANDPIPERS CROUCHING . . . ,. 151
90 KENTISH PLOVER'S EGGS in situ . . . . 151
91 STONE CURLEW'S EGGS in situ ...... 158
92 PHEASANT ON NEST ,, 158
93 COMMON WREN'S NEST IN BRACKEN 162
94 COMMON TERN'S EGGS in situ ..... 162
NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
THE number of persons who are devoting some attention to
the fascinating subject of Nature Photography appears to be
on the increase, judging from the many books dealing with it,
in some form or other, which have been published during the
past few years. Certainly, it might be said at the present
day, " Of making many Nature books there is no end; " but it
would hardly be equally true to say, " Much Nature study is
a weariness of the flesh." On the contrary, the study of
Nature is one of the best recreations for both body and mind,
and should, therefore, be encouraged in all young people as
well as in those of more mature years. One likes to think it is
owing to an increased appreciation of Nature's ever-varying
delights which has brought about the demand for additional
literature devoted to the subject a demand which is so well
provided for at the present day. Nature study, as a subject
of instruction, has been introduced into many schools with
very satisfactory results. It has proved of far greater interest
to the scholars than some of the other subjects taught.
The Nature lover will surely be gratified to find that many,
who at one time took pleasure in killing our wild life, now take
much greater pleasure in photographing it, and, at the same
2 NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
time what is more satisfactory still leave it unharmed for
others to observe and enjoy.
Some of the books already published show what remark-
able results may be achieved, provided the photographer has
the necessary time and means at his disposal; coupled with
the all-important exercise of plenty of patience. The names
of such successful exponents of the art as Messrs. R. and C.
Kearton, R. B. Lodge, Oliver Pike, and Douglas English
occur to one's mind as some of the more prominent workers.
But it is not every one, however enthusiastic he may be, who
has the necessary time and means at his disposal to produce
similar results, even if he were willing to dangle over dangerous
cliffs at the end of a rope, climb high trees, or stand in water
for hours, not to mention other exciting adventures. Only
being able to devote a limited amount of time to Natural
History Photography myself, I have had to rely for the
majority of my subjects on such as are of common occurrence.
This manual has been written specially for those
commencing the study of Nature Photography, or those
desirous of taking it up, the majority of whom will probably
find themselves in similar circumstances to myself, as regards
the time they are able to devote to the practice of their hobby.
An endeavour will be made to describe how to obtain many
interesting results with an expenditure of only the limited
time which the majority have at their disposal, and I hope,
therefore, the suggestions offered may be found both useful
and practical.
When we consider it is only about forty years ago that the
dry plate was introduced which made photography possible
as a hobby for the average individual, we can hardly refrain
from marvelling at the wonderful results which have since
Fig. i. The Author's Cameras and the Tilting-Board.
INTRODUCTION 3
been obtained. The illustration of our books and magazines
at the present day is only one phase of the way photography
has been able to minister to our profit and enjoyment, and
to mention two others: astronomy owes many important
discoveries to the sensitive photographic plate, which will
reveal the existence of bodies quite impossible to be perceived
by the aid of the most powerful telescope that has been
constructed hitherto. The Rontgen Rays, too, by the aid of
the sensitive photographic plate, have also administered to
our infirmities, and permit a diagnosis of broken bones and
many other uses in surgery which would have been quite
impossible without their assistance.
But as we are here dealing more especially with Nature
Photography, let us consider a few useful results now made
possible in that section of work. Many of the children who
are brought up in our large cities and towns, and who attend
the elementary schools therein, are unable, for various reasons,
to see the wonders of Nature for themselves. Photography
has made it possible to bring wild Nature to such as these, and
by so doing, give them an interest in living things which they
could not otherwise have. Some of us may have heard the
story of the boy who was going mushrooming, and on asking
a pal to accompany him received the following reply, " Oh, yes,
I will come as I am a good 'un to climb ! " It is no doubt due
to conditions such as the above which has led to the introduc-
tion of Nature study into our schools.
Another valuable feature of photographic work is the
facility with which records can be made by its aid. Many
counties have now, in full working order, what is known as a
" Photographic Survey." The object of this is to obtain
records of any building, object, or custom of interest especi-
4 NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
ally such as are passing away for the use of future genera-
tions. Should we not value such records of bygone ages now,
had it been possible to have obtained them? What an
interest, for instance, a photograph of the egg of the Great
Auk in situ would have, or of the bird itself, which has only
become extinct during comparatively recent years, and which
was at one time quite common. Very few specimens of the
egg exist at the present day, and one sold by auction in the
year 1894 realised the huge sum of three hundred guineas.
One cannot but fancy how Gilbert White would have
welcomed the use of photography to aid him in his studies,
had it been available in his day. His charming book, The
Natural History of Selborne which has passed through about
a hundred editions, and has become quite a classic would,
I think, have been even more interesting still had it been
illustrated by a series of photographs taken by the author.
The admiration he has expressed for some water-colour draw-
ings done for him by an artist named Grimm leads one to
think he would have been delighted with the help of the
camera also. The point that more directly concerns us in
connection with these surveys is that photographs of the
fauna and flora of the district, and also of other natural objects,
are wanted to add to the collections of records; and here,
surely, we have a vast field of interesting and valuable work
in which we may all lend a hand.
But whatever may be the class of work we are engaged in,
let us above all things be sincere, and never represent a thing
or palm off anything as representing what it is not. There
are times when it is comparatively easy to make up or manu-
facture subjects; let us from the very commencement stead-
fastly set our faces against any " faking " of this kind, and
Fig. 2. Song Thrush's Nest.
Fig. 3 . Young Song Thrushes
INTRODUCTION 5
although we ought to do so because we value the truth above
everything, it is as well to remember that those who are once
found out in an attempt to palm off a " fake " will be sure to
find, henceforth, their work will always be doubted. In our
attempts at honest work disappointments are sure to occur.
Plates exposed with every prospect of success will be found,
sometimes, on development, to turn out failures; but we
must be prepared for this and accept the failures as the neces-
sary road to successes which are bound to come if we persevere.
Remember the story of Bruce and the spider, which is an
excellent one for any Nature photographer.
Another Natural History story with a moral is one which
may interest the reader, and is as follows: Two frogs acci-
dentally fell into a pan of milk, and after swimming round for
a long time, unable to get out, one gave up, sank to the bottom
and was drowned. The other would not give up, and after a
time, by continued efforts, he had the satisfaction of sitting
on a pat of butter and was able from thence to jump out!
The moral is obvious.
The field of work in Nature Photography is endless, and
no one individual during his life would have sufficient time to
enable him to arrive at the end of its possibilities. Therefore,
although so much work has already been done, a great deal
more remains, in whatever branch the worker is particularly
interested in, and no one need feel that any section has been
exhausted by the results already obtained.
The great advances made in the construction of lenses and
other appliances, and the improvements in the quality and
speed of plates, etc., have made results possible to-day which
could not have been obtained a few years ago; and these
improvements are still in progress. One of the latest develop-
6 NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
merits is a simple means of obtaining glass positives in colour
by the " Autochrome " process, invented and placed upon the
market by the well-known firm of Messrs. Lumiere Bros., of
Lyons, France; and there is no doubt this process will be still
further simplified and improved before very long. Another
development, more recent still, is a method by which the
ordinary cinematograph film can be thrown upon the screen
in the colours of Nature. This is the invention of Messrs.
G. A. Smith and Charles Urban of London.
I do not intend to discuss the practice of photography at
any great length, owing to the fact that many excellent and
cheap handbooks already exist, dealing much more exhaus-
tively with the subject than could be done here. To one of
these, therefore, I would direct the beginner who has no
practical knowledge, at the same time advising him to become
as proficient as possible in producing a good average negative
of the ordinary landscape type before specialising in Nature
Photography. In this branch of work one's apparatus has to
be used at high pressure, as it were, and it is therefore advis-
able to know by means of a little previous experience what
the limitations are, beyond which it is either impossible or
inadvisable to go.
Some of my readers may already have certain apparatus
which they wish to make use of; while others desire advice
to enable them to purchase the kind likely to be of the greatest
service. To the former I would say, almost any camera that
can be used on a stand, and which is provided with a focus-
sing adjustment, may be used; to the latter, any camera
specially chosen for the purpose should be well constructed,
of a substantial pattern, with double extension, and a rigid
front, as the class of work for which it is to be used will entail
INTRODUCTION 7
a certain unavoidable amount of rough usage. The saving of
a few ounces of weight, although desirable, is not advisable
in this class of work, if at the expense of rigidity. But those
who desire to purchase suitable apparatus will do well to read
carefully the following chapters, which deal more fully with
the necessary points to be considered. In any case, the
photographer will be almost certain to require little modifi-
cations in his apparatus, after his first season's work, and from
his own practical experience will be in a better position to
decide on those likely to suit his individual requirements.
One cannot refrain from expressing the hope that the in-
creased knowledge gained by a closer study of Nature may,
amongst other things, prevent any wilful destruction of wild
life through ignorance. For instance, the Owl is a bird most
useful to the farmer, and yet it is often shot in the mistaken
idea that it does more harm than good, and that it is best to
get rid of it. The same remarks apply to the Kestrel, which
feeds principally upon insects, while the food of the Owl con-
sists of mice and field voles. Several instances are on record
of plagues of the latter rodents on account of the needless and
wilful slaughter of all the Owls in the district.
The Englishman has a character which I am afraid is not
altogether undeserved. It has been expressed in the follow-
ing words: " It is a fine day, let us go out and kill something."
To this class of individual I would fain reply, by all means.
If you find time hang heavily on your hands, kill time by
taking up the study of Nature Photography.
CHAPTER II
APPARATUS
THE CAMERA AND PLATE-HOLDERS
THE choice of apparatus will to some extent be governed by
the amount of money the photographer desires to invest, but
let me at once say there are plenty of comparatively cheap
cameras and lenses, etc., on the market, which are also very
good value for the prices asked. The photographer, there-
fore, who does not possess a deep pocket, may be sure of being
able to obtain with due care, of course a set of apparatus
which, while not costing an excessive amount, will yet be
capable, if intelligently used, of turning out very good work.
Remember, it is not so much the camera or lens as the man
behind it, and act accordingly.
If it be desired to purchase the apparatus for the least
possible cost, then a visit to one or other of the second-hand
photographic dealers, or an eye kept on the advertisement
columns of the weekly photographic papers, will probably
result in picking up a kit at about half its original cost. One
word of caution, however; never buy any apparatus unless it
can be had on approval, and do not send money to strangers,
but use the deposit system adopted by practically all the
papers, and so prevent the chance of " being had." There
are bad lenses and other goods on the market ready to be
palmed off on unwary people. Lenses, for instance, may be
fraudulently engraved with well-known makers' names, and
8
THE CAMERA AND PLATE-HOLDERS 9
great care in selection is necessary, or it may be that, instead
of saving money, it is thrown away on worthless articles.
The question of size naturally comes first, and perhaps in
dealing with it my own experience will be useful. When I
started now a good many years ago I did so with a J-plate
camera which could be used either in the hand or on a stand.
The size known as J-plate measures 4jx3i inches. It is an
ideal size for those who wish to use apparatus of the least
weight and bulk, and if the ultimate aim is to make lantern
slides or enlargements from the negatives obtained, it will
answer very well. After using this for several seasons, I
wished to be able to obtain stereoscopic photographs, and I
therefore invested in a |-plate stand-camera of the square
bellows form with double extension. With this I could either
take a single -plate picture, size 6x4f inches, or two stereo-
scopic ones side by side, on the same sized plate, and many of
the illustrations in this book were obtained by means of this
camera. It should be borne in mind that there is a con-
siderable difference in the price of ^-plates and J-plates, and as
it will be often necessary to expose several plates on the same
subject, to prevent the possibility of losing a chance which,
perhaps, may not occur again, the difference of cost, one way
or the other, will be considerable during one season's work.
With the -plate camera, however, we have the means of using
J-plates by having movable carriers in the dark slides to take
them, and as many of the subjects in Nature Photography are
small, even if taken their full natural size, a ^-plate will be
ample for them.
There is one disadvantage connected with the -plate size,
and that is the weight of the camera and lens, and say a dozen
^-plates in double dark slides, with the shutter, stand, focussing
I0 NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
cloth, tilting-board, and other small accessories, including the
case or cases containing them. I have on several occasions
found the apparent weight of my kit appreciably heavier on
my return journey after a long tramp than it seemed to be at
the start, although I knew full well the subjects which had
been impressed on the sensitive plates had not added a frac-
tion to their weight. I found also, with additional experience,
one had occasionally to augment the already heavy weight by
carrying extra lenses, and often an extra reserve of plates,
and it became necessary to make some alteration unless one
were to develop into a kind of pack-horse.
An opportunity having occurred of obtaining a Shew's -
plate " Xit " camera, arranged for stereoscopic work, I took
advantage of it and used this for some time; and, in fact, still
use it when I want to do -plate work. It is an excellent
pattern, very light and rigid, and if the size decided upon should
be |-plate, I can strongly recommend this make. If a " Xit "
camera is selected it should have double extension of bellows,
if possible, because this will add considerably to its use-
fulness.
There is a size of camera which takes a plate 5x4 inches.
This is used more extensively in America than in this country,