Movie Makers (Jan-Dec 1952)

78 LET'S MAKE A NATURE MOVIE! With this simple remote control, you too can train your camera on "Nature's Half Acre." Our award-winning author proved it with his Sportster 8 Photographs by Herbert D. Shumway, ACL FIG. 1: Simple remote control unit includes camera base, magnet to trip shutter release, battery box and a length of wire cable. FIG. 2: A knurled bolt (see also Fig. 3) easily attaches magnet to camera base. Note too camera aligning strips on the baseboard. FIG. 3: Closeup shows the magnet tripping lever (top center) in contact with camera release button ready for a downward thrust. HERBERT D. SHUMWAY, ACL FEW true-to-life motion pictures have received such wide acclaim as has the Walt Disney production Nature's Half Acre (see How Disney Does it, Nov. and Dec. 1951 — Ed.). Undoubtedly you were one of the millions throughout the world who thrilled to the superb closeups of colorful birds, brilliant butterflies or insects transformed into grotesque monsters by the magic of the movie camera. Perhaps as you watched this beautiful film you secretly yearned to make such movies yourself— movies that would captivate your own audience just as you were now being enchanted by this masterpiece. NO ADVANCED EQUIPMENT NEEDED If so, here is good news for you. You can make such breath-taking movies of many of nature's creatures! You can fill your screen with a single brilliant butterfly, and birds will become easy prey for your camera. Furthermore, no expensive equipment is needed. If your present camera will accept a medium telephoto lens (such as a 1 or 1% inch lens for 8mm. cameras, a 2 or 3 inch lens for 16mm. cameras), then a simply-made remote camera control will enable you to film birds in startling closeups. All this can be accomplished with the expenditure of only a few dollars from your pocketbook and a few hours of pleasant work with hammer, saw and nails. Beginning with bird filming, it will be the purpose of this series of articles to show you exactly how to build the simple equipment required for varied types of nature photography. If you own a Bell & Howell Sportster or any one of its similar models, then the directions and illustrations can be followed exactly. But whatever the make of your camera, if you follow the principles outlined here (changing only the details of construction to conform to your camera), you will be ready to enjoy the fun of year round nature filming. BUILD SIMPLE REMOTE CONTROL The first unit to build will be a remote control for your camera similar to the one pictured in Fig. 1. In essence, this consists of a magnet (or solenoid) to operate the camera release lever, one or more batteries to operate the magnet and a suitable length of wire to connect the batteries to the magnet — so that the magnet, and thus the camera, may be controlled from any distance. To construct this remote control unit, begin first with a base upon which the camera and magnet may be mounted (see Fig. 2). The base itself is merely a piece of wood 1 inch thick which, for the Bell & Howell cameras mentioned above, should measure 7 inches long and 21/2 inches wide. For other cameras, design the base so that it is 4 inches longer and l1/^ inches wider than the camera itself. Your next step will be to provide a means of mounting the camera on the base so that it will be positioned each time in exactly the same spot. To determine the correct spot for this mounting, place the camera so that its rear edge is flush with the rear edge of the baseboard. Now move the camera from side to side on the base until the