Life — July 18, 1907 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Explanation for Modern Readers This *Life* magazine page satirizes nature photography and makes a political jab at President Roosevelt's post-presidency plans. **Top cartoon**: Shows two figures with cameras on tripods facing each other with caption "LOOK PLEASANT, PLEASE"—a visual joke about the artificiality of posed nature photography. **"Nature Fakeographs" section**: Discusses skepticism about nature photographs accompanying animal stories, noting some experts doubt their authenticity. The author claims to use a "non-lying camera" and promises to show a "gigantic toad" specimen as proof. **"An Easy Matter"**: Jokes that Roosevelt, leaving office, needs a job. The text ironically suggests his talent for giving advice makes him perfect to advise his successor—implying he'd struggle to actually step aside and let someone else lead.