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Title
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“Cut Off Lake”
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Date
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1901
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Creator
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Frank Shoemaker
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Description
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Frank Shoemaker - Omaha, Lincoln, and Nebraska Narratives
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Identifier
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321301-1901
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Transcription
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2 the two grotesque little creatures we prepared to take some photographs. I found a straight dead willow about feive feet long and thrust its butt into the mud, with a slope of about 45 degrees. Trostler placed his tripod firmly and focused on the sloping stick; then I ventured to perch the young birds upon it. I had regretted our finding only two of the four young birds; but long before we had finished exposure of the nine plates devoted to this most attractive subject, I realized fully that two birds were enough; indeed, at the time I thought two birds were a pair too many. Time after time I had to pursue them through the reeds, with hot water to my knees; it must have been ten minutes before they were sufficiently quiescent to perch. I fear that their seeming quiet was the beginning of fatigue, but even as they finally perched, their attitude and their actions were warlike. When Trostler and I go together, as happens frequently and none too often, we divide the labor, when our bird subjects are restless. He adjusts the tripod, does the focusing, and makes all exposures. We both use 5×7 cameras with 5×7 plates. He takes his personal pictures with his camera; then places my camera on his tripod and takes my pictures. On occasion he uses his camera for both sets of picutes, using my plate-holders for mine, as they fit both cameras. — He is kind enough to proclaim a fancy that I get along with the restless birds better than he can; and it is a definite fact that he is fare more skilful [sic] and expeditious than I in handling the camera; so our team work is good.
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Rights
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To inquire about usage, please contact Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries. These images are for educational use only. Not all images are available for publication.
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Is Version Of
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image-225.jpg
“Cut Off Lake”