PHOTOGRAPHERS' FEATS.

Mataura Ensign, 23 July 1914, Page 2

PHOTOGRAPHERS' FEATS.

PERILS OF THE BATTLEFIELD. 'l'lio mini behind the gun is n.it liioroi brave limit Hie. man behind the*camera. Armed only wilh his photographic ::|iparatus the .latter penetrates jimgiex, seeales precipices, dodges )<;:!icts ;iit<( blundgeona ill riots and rcvoiu lions, never hi-.si i a tiny; t:> ri"k his life when there V, a chance of obtaining siariling ami un que picture. One of the most astounding feats on record was that, of A<r H. G. I'onting, who climbed a Japanese volcano, Asa-ma-Ynma, l:> gel a pieuuv oi its crater. • While ]ii« helpers sio-;d waiting with a second camera .Mr Ponthig advanced to the edge the orator's mouth and was in ike very act oi' tubing a p'cture when an ei option ocnii"red. J?ut an ass slant was as quick as the, volcano and snapped Air Pouting befeiio t!tlatier ■could even xuru ! ■ round, and then the two ran fort their lives. Hunting big garac with the camera i s now quite an every-day business with intrepid and enterprising photoj^rn]>h- i era and their coolness and skill are', strikingly illustrated by an experience of Mr A. P add iffe Daguioro, who on I one occasion crept within 30 yards of a sleeping rhinocera;, when tUe boast suddenly jumped lip and made for 'him at express spied. Nothing daunted, Mr Dagmore waited until the animal was w'thin 15 yards of him and then snaunod liis .shutter. This photographj: of a charging rhinoc.cm; is-one of tho ; most remarkable pictures in existence. It was touch-and-go too when Air Rudolf Wille secured pictures of throo ■ infuriated lions which .attacked Ji i m unawares. They rushed at h:m 'from :i ; Ihicket and to shoot was impossible. |: The only accessible shelter was a trooj ."lose by, spreading over a rock. Mr Wille scrambled up the rock and leap-, ed for the lowest limb. The foremast lion was only two inches behind. In j his jump Air Wille lost his gun. Ho.' gave no thought of thai., however, but instantly unstrapped his camera, from! "lis hack and calmly took lectures of liis • aptors growling below the tree until his plates were exhausted. I Probably no war photographer ever, bad a more terrible, -experience l.lian ' that which befell Mr Wille. He ;;c----companied Ibo ]{osr armies during their war wilh K.ngland and to get into closer 1 loar-h with events Air Wille Muglit as a Roer soldier. Six of his front teeth 1 j 1 were knocked out —one by a bayonet thrust, another by a blow from a mils- j. ket butt, and the others when in chaw-) inw oil horseback he was thrown headlong on his face. On four occasions lie was shot. Oiico lie lay unconscious on a battlefield for 10 hours and for 14 , wcoks he was carried about in a lioer, ambulance. He lost 'SOU) in weight but all the time he was taking or developing photographs. 1

It was another war photographer wV. during tin* singe of Port Arth.ir, in In* anx : etv to spcun; j;;<• i:it's <>! a I mm• hanlnipni. got fm» flow to 111. jgnw . 1 i't V.M.S 'Viil. ll)'.' Mil.V!: '! . lIV.IIV. :!ie i-t) ik-'.u-sit >! i frciii ii H#» i-amcra v,":ih w : •■•• Ii oil, t> ! ' '"i-ivirlcn. •• saw J{>■ it 'Ji.'iL iv.v; ull!>rv:ls.• 't!, ;tn«i iii all Uir t» i'l Ihi'ro is )>r<ilni»il,v i>ll ui I' ' 'i 1 ij'.clun l '' " v *- "Tikmv arc brilliant monn'iils. in,), m ihe i'l-' "I a maviiie |ihyi-ii<ni|>h<>r, and

Mr S,\ ■ : : Is, wlici ha 1 ' acini in tlic ran a: il \ !'li --in! British Navy i.iiotorapbf. .tics how he wn:- once ca uglit In wven t •; fvh'ii ii.-.iig iiu. m i:;t-p:'(i'i-l.''',il« -te t'vuif, to i.imloorajil'. '! lie vess'»; i.-siiing . f 1 *""1.1;; i ,!iko lines :)f cr.-."ail".* p" each . other, " , V:. Iv el'' M t-CJ'-i-uic Speed, Alld >i,.< up *w-b 'iioiintain-s of water >,! ih'Mi' i.tvn V.iwp that -the stoei'snieii<">nM - •!':!h!:n? (.1 ill' Sym.ond--;' lowH lug or'alt. He n::. ,iagi'd to escape bcmjt '".in il a '.» nt was swainpinl in a ! ■■ i-■ •»•: and rescued only with tho -."••at! I '