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Show (SNAPSHOT CUILLV BABY PICTURES j, V r-Tl ... . j , . -'.TT-, r 'Wl J WMi.JUt. .. J. ,11 1. MW l-YC?v r 0 'OfKV X l No doubt about it, the babies themselves "directed" these snapshots. In other words, they did as they pleased and the camera was clicked at the right instant. npHERE aren't any official statls-tics statls-tics that we know of, so we're perfectly safe in saying that babies constitute the largest single group of snapshot subjects. It's perfectly reasonable that this should be so; for we snapshoot those things in which we are most interested. inter-ested. For another thing, babies make ideal subjects, because they don't pose. They're always natural. There are baby pictures and baby pictures, of course. Some arouse spontaneous enthusiasm; others are merely records, without much appeal. ap-peal. What's the essential difference between be-tween the good and the merely so-so baby pictures. Usually you'll find, the good pictures show infants doittfl' something crawling, chewing a doll, wrestling with toes, or even indulging in-dulging in a real good cry. The merely so-so pictures give us only recognizable glimpses of babies doing do-ing nothing much at all. Of course, it's possible to take a picture of a sleeping baby and get a charming result. But to do this, the camera work must be unusual. Very well, what about the technic of baby pictures? First, you'll need to have light enough for action pictures. Few bahlesgtaj' still long enough for time exposures. Out-of-doors, you'll hav no trouble at all working In open shade or out In the full light, providing it's not so bright that it casts unpleasantly sharp shadows or causes the baby to squint. Use the regular snapshot time and lens opening. This time of year, of course, it may be more convenient to work indoors. in-doors. One of the easiest ways to take baby pictures Indoors, during the daytime, is to get the subject fairly close to a big window (not necessarily a sunny one) and then use a photofiood-type lamp to light up the side of your subject that's away from the window. A photoflood bulb In one of those inexpensive reflectors re-flectors will be found very handy for this and other indoor shots. If there's a lot of light coming from the window, you'll be able to use a regular regu-lar snapshot exposure. For surety's sake, better work with the lens at its widest opening. Walt until your subject sub-ject strikes an interesting pose; then click the shutter and the picture's yours. Don't forget that you can us6 supersensitive film to get beautiful action shots with much less light than other films require. And let your baby subject "direct" his own picture. Let him do as he pleases, with only slight suggestions from you. So doing, you'll get real looking, satisfying pictures And you'll always treasure them. JOHN VAN OUILDKR |