American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1934)

366 American Cinematographer ^ January 1934 Shooting Close Ups Indian Style by Karl Hale A MIGHTY interesting story is told us by Stanley Foster, cinephotographer, who uses a 16mm camera instead of a rifle when hunting. For years Foster had been an enthusiastic huntsman, traveling into the forests of Canada from his home in Adrian, Michigan, to bag big game. He is still an enthusiast of the hunt, but the 16mm camera has brought a new type of hunting to him and he now brings his prey home on the motion picture film to enjoy his jaunts into the wilds any time he wishes. However, we believe the most interesting part of the yarn he tells is the tip the Chippewa Indians gave him in how to secure scenes of the wily moose. It was only by exercising a great deal of patience that he secured the information from the Indians, and when he had the information he wanted it was also only by exercising the greatest patience that he secured the pictures he wanted. Seemingly, the Indian is not a talkative sort of chap, but once he feels friendly toward you he will give you some very valuable information in hunting lore. Foster wanted a good picture of a moose; in fact, he wanted a good continuity of one of those big fellows. By observation he found that they fed mostly near the shore in the shallow water, but this didn't do him a great deal of good, as he found on several experiments that they swished away even though he was perfectly concealed on shore behind shrubbery. Frequently the moose wade out into the water until just their heads protrude above the surface, and then reach down in the water feeding on weeds at the bottom. They seem to be able to keep their heads under water much longer than any other of the upland animals. The Indian plan of approaching the moose is first to see that the wind IS blowing from the moose to the photographer and then, as the moose in the distance places his head underneath the water to feed, the canoeist paddles as rapidly as he can toward the unsuspecting moose. As soon as it is apparent the moose is coming to the surface, the hunter becomes rigid in the canoe, leaving the paddles in just whatever position they may be at that instant. Even though the canoe continues forward in the water the moose does not seem to mind or possess the ability to distinguish a man in the canoe unless he makes some motion. So as soon as the moose again puts his head underneath the water you again paddle as rapidly as possible and then remain motionless as the head of the moose is seen above the surface of the water. This operation is repeated again and again until you are only a few rods away from the moose. Then as he puts his head beneath the water for the last time, you either paddle very rapidly or else pull the rope on the motor, if one is attached to the canoe, and run the canoe between the shore and the moose. The moose is very much alarmed on finding a canoe so near and takes to the deeper water. If you are handy with the paddle or have an outboard motor you will have no difficulty in securing all the moves you may desire. Time and again by this method Foster was successful in approaching moose and securing many good close-ups The camera method of hunting is more difficult than with the rifle, according to Foster. One must not only keep up wind from his prey, but he must be in photographic distance, and then above all there is the light to take into consideration, an important point in photography, but of no value in hunting with the rifle. The direction of the sun is, of course, doubly important when you are photographing on the water, so Foster seemingly has added more hazard to his method of hunting than the type he has forsaken. But his moose pictures are said to be worth while. Fine close-ups of his head, a medium shot of him sailing through the water and a long shot of him, all combining to make a fine piece of hunting continuity that will never go out of style. Foster didn't bring any trophies home with him on his running board, but he did secure several rolls of the finest hunting pictures that he has had the pleasure of taking. He has a permanent record of a hunting trip that he can live over any time he desires.