CUT FLOWERS.
Perhaps few branches of photography are more neglected than the picturing of cut flowers. Why it should be so is not easy to say. The difficulties are not so very great and every owner of a Kodak can be sure of success after a little careful experimenting. With a 4 x 5 Kodak, pictures suitable for lantern slides can readily be made. In few ways can the work of the camera be made more delightful than by means of the lantern slide, and certainly flowers better than any other subject lend themselves to slides, especially when they are to be colored. The accessories necessary in photographing cut flowers are, first, several backgrounds of suitable shades ranging from very dark green to white. An absolutely black background is not to be recommended as it makes the contrast too strong. Second, a few well shaped vases for the more slender plants. Third, a flat dish about one or two inches deep, with a few strips of lead, one inch wide and four or five inches long. These bent in zig-zag form can be used to suppo-t many kings of flowers that have fairly rigid sterns, by simply pressing the lead against the stem, and allow of very decorative arrangement. It will be found extremely difficult to support such delicate flowers as anemones, and I would advise the use of a piece of glass laid at a slight incline so that the flower will rest on it. Then the camera may be tipped until at right angles to the glass. The background can be placed at a distance of not less than 18 inches back of the flowers. Very dark backgrounds will show reflections cast on the glass, so they cannot be recommended. Should you wish a dark effect it may be procured by using a fairly light non-actinic color such as orange. In selecting backgrounds be sure they are free from noticeable texture so far as possible, and to render them still softer in quality place them at considerable distance from the subject, that is, entirely out of focus, remembering that the further they are from the subject upon which the camera is focused, the dai ker they will appear in the picture.
The ray filter or color screen is occasionally advisable even with films which have orthochromatic qualities. Probably no part of the amateur's outfit is less understood than the ray filter, so let me say that when photo graphing an orange flower with dark green leaves, the filter is absolutely unnecessary ; it simply prolongs the exposure without accomplishing any thing, but when the subject is a white flower of delicate form and texture with dark leaves, then use the lemon colored filter in order to hold back the white, which would otherwise be over-exposed if the green leaves secured their correct exposure ; in other words, only use the ray filter when there are extreme differences in color. Blue flowers will appear lighter than they really are unless the color screen is used. In placing the flowers do not be afraid of trying different effects of light. Even sunlight may be used at times With pleasing results. White flowers should seldom have the light from the direction of the camera, whereas rich red or orange ones need all the light they can get. Bear in mind that flowers of nearly all kinds tremble at the least movement of air or vibration, so stand absolutely still during the exposure and have all the windows closed. These precautions will save many failures. In g-athering wild flowers for photographic use place them in a cool cellar over night either in water or in a box containing wet cloth or paper, and cover with some wet material which should not be in contact with the flowers. Don't use cotton batting, as small particles adhere to the plants and show with startling clearness in the piaure.