while Nikkormat is not so good.When I photograph I prefer to do it

under natural light conditions. But thereare times when one cannot utilize naturallighting. When this happens, we rely onflash lighting or studio lighting. For thepurposes of avian photography studiolighting is impractical. This leaves us withflash lighting. Flash lighting can either beflashbulb source or power strobe source. Iprefer strobe since in the long run this formof light is most economical. Strobes arealso a faster and better quality form oflighting. They also offer a variety of waysto control light intensity by incorporatingthyristor circuitry. Thyristors measure theavailable ambient light and allow thestrobe to supply only the needed light. Thestrobeflash unit to purchase will have aguide number of 50 or more, and have atleast one thyrister circuit.

Now lets build an actual photographicsystem that we use to take pictures ofbirds. The camera we will purchase willhave a shutter speed capability of at least1/ I000 of a second. The normal lens thatcomes with camera will be at least an f 1.4.Self timers are not important. With ourbasic camera we will need one other lens.This lens will be a zoom lens that operatesbetween 80 mm and 200 mm. This lensoperates on the telephoto level and willproduce good clear close up pictures.When purchasing a strobe I recommendeither a Vivitar or a Sunpak.

Now that you have your basic photo­graphic system, the big question to askyourself would be just what you are goingto do with your equipment. Many newphotographers get frustrated and give up toearly. Its true that not everyone is cut out tobe a photographer but you must learn thebasics before you can find out your talents.Don't be afraid to experiment and remem­ber you learn more from your mistakesthan from anything else. So go out andmake your mistakes, no one will everknow except yourself.

In future articles I will discuss filmtypes, subject composition and film pro­cessing. Also I will periodically includeinformation from you, the reader. Thiswill be in the form of problems you mayexperience and are willing to share with allof us as well as handy hints that you havefound to aid your picture taking. Pleasedrop me a line c/o Watchbird.

Chasing The One-Eyed Camera

~v I~n by Steve Clause~ ~ Poway. California

photoCjRaphyNot long ago I received a call from an

aspiring photographer complaining that atbest it is difficult to purchase the properphotographic equipment. I of course hadto agree since after many years of exper­ience I still have trouble determining whatI should purchase in terms of application,performance, and quality. I will say rightup front that all the major brands are for themost part good and one will not get into toomuch trouble buying brand name equip­ment. There is a better way to purchasecamera equipment however. I purchase allmy equipment in terms of appropriatefunctions available on the equipment. Ialso settle on one brand and then purchasethe components of this brand. In this way Iam developing a photographic system thatI can rely on which is completely inter­changeable which in tum gives me versa­tility in my picture taking.

So, what functions and characteristicsshould a 35 mm SLR camera have? Wewill start with the camera since it is theheart of any photographic system. Simplyput, I need a camera that has the shuttertrigger, focus and aperature rings andshutter speed control positioned in such away that I can adjust all these functionseasily and quickly. You would be sur­prised at which well known brands requiretwo hands and a nose in order to operatethe camera. Another important feature of acamera is its weight. A light camera willfeel much better at the end of a daysshooting than a heavy one. Another veryimportant consideration is lens variety andavailability. Remember that your camerasystem is only as good at its optics. I prefera system that makes its own optics. Thisway I am reasonably sure that all the lensesI purchase will be perfectly matched to thecamera and that the all important metercoupling will be complete. Two compan­ies that manufacture their own lens areMinolta and Nikon.

When I load film into my camera it hasto load easily and quickly. There are somecamera brands that have poor film take upspools. That is, the film leader does notpositively lock into the spool and you haveto play around with it. Sometimes you maythink that it is locked into place only to find36 exposures later and after you have re­wound your film leader back into the can­ister that the only thing that advanced wasyour film frame counter. Minolta andCanon have good film takeup mechanisms

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USAH, Exotic & Pet Bird Industry ProblemscOl/til/ued ji'om page 23

Perhaps this and other proposed pro­grams could come within the scope of con­sideration of the newly formed sub­committee on Cage and Aviary Bird Dis­eases of U.S.A.H.A.

Also of interest to aviculturists and in­cluded in this report on U.S.A.H.A., is thestatement made at the Committee meetingby a representative of the American Asso­ciation of Avian Pathologists that thatbody is on record before U.S.D.A. as be­ing opposed to the new government quar­antine program for the recovery of costsand services (User's Fees).

U.S. ANIMAL HEALTH ASSOC.Types of Membership

OFFICIAL: Limited to Governmentunits-includes seat on Executive Com­mittee. Dues-$150 annuall y.

ALLIED ORGANIZATION: Limited to'national non-profit organizations inter­ested in animal health science. Includesseat on Executive Committee. Dues­$150 annually.

I DIVIDUAL: Limited to individuals in­terested and/or working in animal healthscience. Dues-$20 annually.

o -VOTING JUNIOR: Limited tostudents in veterinary medicine or relatedfields. Dues-$3.00 annually.

Zebra FinchMutationFollowup

The Ocr.-Nov. 1978 Watchbird articledescribing an apparently new Zebra Finchmutation in a Florida aviary elicited sev­eral comments. A Clearwater, Fl. breederhas produced the same mutation, thoughnot in the white form from stock obtainedin Sarasota, Fl.

A Fr. Worth, TX breeder says he got apair, in the cream form, at last year'sDallas National, and raised young like theparents from that pair. He had planned tobreed out to normals but found two morebirds in September at the Austin (Texas)Show.

"Whatever this mutation is," he ob­serves, "it is more common than youwould first think. "

The question remaining unanswered:What is it?

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