TAKING BETTER PHOTOS OF YOUR PETS

All of us love to brag about our pets, especially our Rescue dogs, and having a good picture to show only reinforces our pleasure in showing off our pets. Here are some helpful hints to keep in mind as you take pictures of your pets:

(1)  Although there are some exceptions to this rule for the sake of art, in general make sure there is enough contrast between the dog and its background--dark dog, light background; light dog, dark background.

Madison's picture with his buddy Prince won an Honorable Mention in the photo contest for the 1997 GRREAT Rescue Calendar.

(2)  Keep the background clean: watch out for wires or lights or other distractions that may end up "growing out of the head" of the pet being photographed. Keep the foreground uncluttered as much as possible, too.

(3)  Use a zoom lens or get close to the dog--make it the primary subject of the photo. Position the dog within the frame of the photo.

(4)  Taking pictures in daylight or with a bounced flash or with the dog looking away from the camera will avoid the problem of glowing eyes.

(5)  Take LOTS of pictures. What you think may be the perfect pose could be followed seconds later by an even better one. Skimping on film is not the way to get that perfect image. Fashion photographers may shoot dozens of feet of film in order to get a prize-winning picture.

(6)  Shoot pictures of animals over several sessions. Pets get bored and tire quickly, so break for some playtime and start again when the dog is fresh.

(7)  A straight-on picture is best. Put the dog on a platform or get on the ground so that the angle of the camera is level with the dog. Photos taken from the dog's level bring out the true beauty of the animal, without the distortion of looking down on him as humans usually do.

(8) If possible, catch your dog in action for an interesting picture. Photos of dogs run  ning and playing are some of the most beautiful and energetic pictures ever taken.

(9)  Identify any submitted photographs on the back with a felt-tip pen. Ball point will scratch the surface of the picture. Adding a date will help your memory too.

(10)  In addition to the calendar photo contest announced above, GRREAT News loves to include pictures with its stories, so please, even if you are not a contest entrant or winner, keep those pictures coming in!

(11)  Taking photos of your pet is more important than simply entering a contest. If your pet is ever lost or stolen, the addition of a current photograph to a "lost dog" flyer could make the difference in having your pet returned to you.