Posting Thirteen
"How to Impress Those Judges – Part Four"


This four part article was authored by Jack Alexander and appeared in The Lens Tissue, The newsletter for the Greater Brockton Camera Club.
Jack finishes his helpful hints.

Just what catches the eyes and the hearts of the judges as much as people – animals! Easily available critters would be your pets and those belonging to your friends and neighbors. Kittens and puppies score well with most judges – IF properly set-up. Filling up a basket of kittens or having a puppy frolic with a ball are sure winners.

Looking for something a bit wilder – try the zoo! Remember to keep the hand-of-man (fences, cage bars, bales of hay, dirt roads, sawed-off limbs, and phony looking rocks) out of your image. On a more positive note, zoo directors take considerable time and money to give their animal residents a more natural setting!

Now, how does one make a zoo shot not look like a zoo shot? Your zoom could be all that it takes. Zoom in tight for a head shot on larger animals. Avian houses offer interesting bird photos in a very natural setting. Again, the use of your zoom and a flash might get you that winner.

One of my favorite local spots for shooting animals has been Roger Williams Zoo – especially the polar bear enclosure. We are very fortunate to have a couple of butterfly conservatories in Massachusetts – Westford and South Deerfield. With some advanced planning and a little luck, you can catch these winged beauties resting on colorful flowers. (ED Note – next week’s blog will address shooting butterflies).

For a more controlled environment, check out the opportunities at NECCC Amherst. Here you will not only get some rare and exotic animals but the organizers at NECCC provide the proper lighting as well. If it’s adventure you are seeking, our national parks provide great photo ops for wildlife. Yellowstone is probably the premier park for variety - bison, elk, wolves, moose, deer and coyotes. One of my favorite bird locations is the Anhinga Trail in the Everglades – you should be able to catch a few gators there as well.

Well, that wraps up Jack’s tips on “How to Win More Acceptances.”