Evening star., 1948-09-12
By Alexander J. Wedderburn
cuvater Of Photography
The Smi.hsenian Institution

The Smithsonian Institution
If you are tired Of shooting run
of-the-mill portraits and have
patience and steady nerves We sug-
gest that you try few shots OF the
family pets. Dog lovers shouldn't
have much Of a problem because
most CANNES are trained and well
behaved animals. Cats, on the
other hand. are creatures with wills
Of their own, and consequently more
difficult subjects for the camera
fan. But if you have both cats and
dogs in the family, you. also have all
the elements of a riot or three
ring circus if they are not mixed
with caution.
There are a good many reasons
why you should enjoy taking pic
lures of domestic animals. To begin
with they are seldom. If ever. self
conscious as Photographic subjects.
In almost any shot that you make
you will get cute expression.
At least you have a subject who
cannot rise to the occasion and
say, that doesn't look bit like
me-"
You will find many uses for pic
lures of your pets. The best por-
trait shots can go to the salons,
others with a human interest angle
can be sold to papers, advertising
agencies, and publishers who are
always on the lookout for eye
catching photos. A photo album
of pictures of your pets will take
care of your personal requirements
and will bring pleasant memories
long after Puss and Rover are chas-
ing mice and rabbits In the happy
hunting grounds.
Posing Has Its Problems.
For a thorough coverage you
should take both portraits and in
formal shots. AS with human SUBJ
jects the portraits will vary from
head shots to three-quarter and
full length views. The head shots
will be the easiest for you to take
The others will have to be posed
or grabbed" when the subject as
sumes a natural and pleasing stance
You will have better luck In posing
a dog than you will with a cat A
cat will rarely "stay put" so you
will have to resort to trickery and
be very patient if you expect to have
any luck in getting formal shot.
If your dog is thoroughbred or
show animal you must first obtain
knowledge of the special points of
the breed and attempt to bring
them out in your pictures. Other
wise, it will make little difference
how the posing is done, provided
the normal rules of composition are
followed. Normally, formal photo
graphs Of dogs are made inside with
artificial lighting. However, If you
own a hunting dog, scenes in the
field may be more appropriate. Try
both methods. If your dog Is a
pointer or setter. be sure to shoot
a series Of pictures as he goes
through his paces-and don't come
home without that shot when he
freezes on the point. Pictures of
fox hounds, night dogs, retrievers
and rabbit dogs should show them
in the various stages of their field
activity. On the trail, freeing, re-
trieving bird, crossing = stream
jumping fences are just q few OF
the pictures that will occur to you
Flash Lighting Advisable,
Outdoor shots, as circumstances
warrant, may need supplementary OF
flash lighting. If you are using a
fast film and the Light is good
chances are that you will be able
to take most OF your pictures with
natural light. In deep woods and
on overcast days it will be advisable
to take along flash equipment.
When shooting inside you should
use flash exclusively-either syn
chronized or open flash, according
to the type of equipment you have
Photo flood lights are much too hot
and glaring for animals. Cats and
dogs will not be able to understand
the bright lights, will become restive
and finally run away after few
minutes under the lights.
Larger animals can be posed on
the floor against a plain background
that will contrast with their color
ing. For instance, If you are pho
tographing a white cat and want
it to stand out from the back
ground, use a piece of black ma
terial or keep the background that
you are using as free from light as
possible. Conversely, a black ami.
NAL should be photographed against
light background. A sheet OF
light, plain wall paper will be salts
factory.
Preliminary Focusing.
Cats and small dogs are best pho
tographed on table. A bridge
table is ideal for the job, but any
table of like size will do. Keeping
the animal in position for your ex.
posure Is the big job. 1t will re.
main in position for a short while
out of curiosity, but will very soor
lose interest in the proceedings and
IL ~ \ /