PHOTOGRAPHING FLOWERS.
Flowers require particularly careful treat ment, both as regards arrangement and lighting, for error in lighting is sufficient to give quite an erroneous idea of the trite shape of the flower photographed. However, with a little care, thought, and trouble, most charming. truthful, and beautiful photographs can be obtained. Flowers are singularly sensitive to vibration, a door banging or someone walking in an adjoining room to that in which they are being photographed, them to tremble. It is, therefore, very important to have a good light so that the exposure may be cut clown as much as possible. Everything in the room must be absolutely still ; and if it is necessary to give a very prolonged exposure, as is sometimes the case, the photographer should sit beside the camera rather than stand, as the slightest movement in the vicinity of the flowers is liable to cause them to shake and spoil the picture. Excessive contrasts of light and shade
and dead black backgrounds should be avoided, as tending to give an unreal and displeasing result. A very great deal depends also on the careful selection of the most appropriate colour screens or filters. In photographing blue or white flowers with green foliage, a deep-coloured screen is of very great assistance in correcting the ordinary untruthful colour values given by and tame, are constantly on the move and changing their positions except when asleep, and therefore it is of great importance to be able to focus right up to the instant of ex posure. The twin-lens camera, although in its time having done admirable work, is now practically an instrument of the past ; owing to its weight, the necessity of having most accurately paired lenses, and the introduction of the reflex type of camera, which requires only one lens.