C. G. Schillings, phot.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF BIRDS TAKEN WITH THE TELEPHOTO-LENS AT DISTANCES VARYING FROM 20 TO 200 PACES. 1. SPURRED GOOSE (PLECTROPTERUS GAMBENSIS, L.). 2. DARTER OR “SNAKE-NECK” (ANHINGA RUFA LACEP, Daud.). 3. GREATER CORMORANT (PHALACROCORAN LUCIDUS LUGUBRIS, Rüpp.). 4. YELLOW-FLUTED FRANCOLIN (PTERNISTES LEUCOSEPUS INFUSCATUS, Cab.). 5. A BIRD OF PREY (MELIERAN POLIOPTERUS, Cab.)(?) 6. BEE-EATER (MELITTOPHAGUS MERIDIONALIS, Sharpe). 7. SHRIKE (LANIUS CAUDATUS, Cab.). 8. PELICAN (PELICANUS RUFESCENS, Gm.).
C. G. Schillings, phot.
TELEPHOTOGRAPHS OF BIRDS ON THE WING. FIRST ROW: THE STORK-VULTURE (SERPENTARIUS SERPENTARIUS [MILLER]). SECOND ROW: HAMMERHEAD (SCOPUS UMBRETTA, Gm.), SMALL BUSTARD (OTIS GINDIANA [OUST]) SADDLE STORK (EPHIPPIORHYNCHUS SENEGALENSIS [SHAW]). THIRD ROW: BATELEUR EAGLE (HELOTARSUS ECAUDATUS [DAUD.]), VULTURE (PSEUDOGYPS AFRICANUS SCHILLINGSI, Erl.), MARABOU (LEPTOPTILOS CRUMENIFER, [CUV.], Less.).
C. G. Schillings, phot.
TELEPHOTOGRAPH OF A DWARF GAZELLE (GAZELLA THOMSONI, Gther.) IN FULL FLIGHT, TAKEN AT A DISTANCE OF 60 PACES. WHEN ANIMALS IN RAPID MOTION ARE THUS PHOTOGRAPHED, THE BACKGROUND ALMOST INEVITABLY COMES OUT BLURRED.
Some of the photographer’s difficulties are avoided when he uses a heavy lens with a long focus. These can be easily used in a strong light. On the other hand they have many drawbacks—they are too apt, especially, to give a blurred effect to the background in the case of objects photographed near at hand. This entails the loss of one of the essential elements of such pictures, namely the representation of the animal in its natural surroundings. However, I would like to call the attention of all travellers to the fact that such apparatus are available. Their weight and size entail the putting forth of great strength and energy, both in the carrying of them and the handling of them, but to my mind no trouble and no exertion could be excessive in the work of securing records of what is left us of animal life, in the spirit in which Professor Fritsch achieved his task in South Africa.
