124the PhotograPhIc BlIndinventor of the habitat diorama as a form of museal display.81 He also originated the practice of Christmas counts in ornithology. Chapman was a key figure in integrating photography into the practice of ornithology and was responsible for formalizing the photographic blind. Chapman first discussed the use of the photographic blind in his 1900 book on bird photography Bird Studies with a Camera.82 The book was a how-to manual of bird photography for the general public. In the book Chapman described the Keartons�use of blinds and their connection to the hunting blind. s the sportsman constructs blinds in which he may conceal himself from his prey, so the bird photographer may employ various means of hiding from his subjects�(23). However, at this point Chapman failed to see the importance of the blind to the practice of animal photography. Chapman argued that whatever benefit the blind might confer was outweighed by its inconvenience: t is difficult to carry one of these blinds in addition to a camera, etc., without assistance, and I fear that the inconvenience attending their use will restrict them to the few enthusiasts who count neither time, labor, nor cost in attaining a desired end�(24). For this reason, Chapman noted, he preferred o conceal my camera and make exposures from a distance rather than weight myself with a portable blind and endure the discomforts of being confined within it�(24). Thus, in 1900 Chapman saw no special value in the photographic blind for producing images and no significant difference in the images it produced. However, in 1901 Chapman invented his own version of the photographic blind (Figure 30). Gross describes Chapman mbrella�blind:This blind was merely a large leaf-green ign�umbrella which was opened within a bag large enough to fall to the ground. There was a large hole in the center of the umbrella for purposes of ventilation. The stick of the umbrella was supported by adjustable brass rods the lower one of which was driven into the ground. This blind had the valuable feature of being easily
