Evening star., 1950-07-30

all the time. Entries in this years
Snapshot Contest, sponsored local
ly by The Star. are heads above
the pictures that were sent in last
year and we are all hopeful that
Washington will do even better in
the Grand Finals this fall.
AS a matter Of fact, at this early
date, I have my eye on several en-
tries that should have no trouble
at all in the national competition.
However, there are several weeks
to go and there is no reason in the
world why you shouldn't make an
effort to win one of the prizes.
AS you know, if your snapshot is
one of the weekly cash award WIN
ners, you will collect at least $5
or even $40 If it is selected as the
best print Of the week. Later you
may win a much larger cash
award If your snapshot places in
the Washington finals. If this
happens your photograph will be
sent on to compete with winners
from other parts of the. country
for the big money. Grand prize in
the national awards is $1,000,
which is a pretty nice sum to re-
ceive for any snapshot.
There are also to be four $500
prizes for top winners in each
category as we'll as four second
prizes Of $3.50 and a like number
of third prize awards of $100. Tc
( top this off 10 other prints will
win special merit awards of S5(
and 81 others will capture honora
BILE mention prizes of $25 each. AL
of which means that you had bet
, ter keep shooting better and better
pictures from now on and send
them in regularly to increase your
chances for a share of that more
than $4,000 in cash.
Pointers for Better Pictures.
Now. in spite of our optimism,
there is still room for improve
ments in some of the pictures
submitted. We will now throw out
few pointers that may help you
in your quest for a winning snap
shot.
Good composition is just as i'm
portant in taking snapshots as it
is in any other kind of picture.
The word, composition, is one that
many beginners shy away from.
Good composition is really no more
than good taste. When you go
about furnishing room in your
home, you place in it the items
of furniture that you will need and
stop there. You naturally would
not consider filling the room up
with all sorts of odds and ends
having no utility.
The same rule applies when
composing a picture for your
camera. The reason for picture
is its center of interest. There
fore let this interest center domi-
nate the picture and keep all un-
necessary subject matter out,
Proper placement of subject mat
ter to be included is also i'm
portant. For the same reason
that you would not move all the
heavy pieces of furniture down
to one end of your room, try to
balance your composition so that
it will not appear top heavy or
lopsided. If you can't move the
objects in a scene you can move
the camera position until you have
achieved a more balanced group
ing.
Background Is Important.
A few amateurs still forget to
examine the background when
taking a picture of a person, pet
or still life object. The result is
that all sorts of weird effects crop
up such as limbs of trees and
bushes, clothes lines, picket fences.
etc. Interfering with and clash
ing with the center of interest.
All this can easily be avoided by
looking first-then taking the pic
ture. If you find that objects in
the background will adversely
affect picture you are about to
take, move the subject to a more
favorable location or, if this is
impossible. lower the camera until
the sky becomes the background.
In some cases you will find it pos
sible to raise the camera angle
and use the ground as back
ground.
Careless camera operation is an
other cause for rejected snapshot
entries. This includes both errors
of commission and of omission.
Don't aim your camera directly
into the sun unless some object
intervenes or unless the lens is
we'll shaded. Be sure that you