Success in Athletics and how to obtain it

THE CAMERA AND CINEMATOGRAPH 227 or by properly taken photographs. The enormous advantage he thus derives is too obvious to need any explanation. Naturally, it is the aim of the Press photographer to get startling rather than athletically accurate pictures, and therefore he does not, as a rule, take the photographs from a position which will be of the greatest instructional value. When photographing a hurdle-race, for instance, the photographer will usually elect to place himself in a crouching position at an angle to the. front of the hurdler. But from an in– structional point of view the photograph would be of more value if he stood at right angles to the hurdle. To get a photograph of a high-jumper or pole-vaulter coming over the bar, the photographer will usually crouch as low as he can to give the athlete an exag– gerated appearance of height, and this deteriorates greatly from the value of the picture from the trainer's and athlete's point of view. For the proper photographic study of athletics, it is necessary that the fastest lens and shutter made should be obtained ; the man working the camera must know the exact psychological moment at which to release the shutter. The photographs should be taken from every con– ceivable angle, and with the camera held at such heights as will give a true representation ofwhat takes place. If, for instance, it is desired to record the passing of the high-jumper's body over the cross-bar, the photographer should stand on something that will raise him to the level of the bar to be cleared. If it is desired to obtain a picture of the leverage the pole– jumper gets on the pole in the final push up with the arms, then the photographer should be on a level with