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Kids and photography: Building their interest in the discipline

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  Photography has become largely accessible to children of all ages, all thanks to the advanced camera technology present in smartphones. While photography is within their reach, true love and appreciation for the discipline may take some time to develop in a child’s consciousness. Image source: sharpshotsphotoclub.co.uk One way to kindle a child’s interest in photography is by surrounding them with great photography, shares Janique Goff Madison. Kids are generally intrigued by animal photos, which makes it a good starting point. Once a child is familiar with the concept of taking images, encourage them to take their own photos and explore. Take it slow the techniques and methods. Allow them to discover the discipline on their own. Following their own exploration, teach the child about background and foreground. Framing starts with scanning the surroundings of the subject. Image source: claremurthy.com Teach them the proper way to handle all kinds of cameras. Kids these ar...

Why good photography matters in animal rescue

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  Animals in shelters badly need new fur-rever homes, but it’s never easy to find the best for them. In many cases, the characteristics and qualities of animals in shelter are not captured well, causing prospective adoptive parents to take a step back to reconsider until they totally let go of the rescues.  Image source: petapixel.com Good photography is important when it comes to animal rescue, says San Diego-based student and photography fan Janique Goff Madison. Any composition with bad lighting is ultimately a bad photo. When rescue animals have their photos taken in a relaxed, fun, warm, and well-lit environment, their loving and cuddly sides can be seen. It would be a disservice to rescue animals just to post photos of them that look frightened, hostile, and injured when they possess the total opposite of those qualities.  Image source: boredpanda.com Most prospective pet parents first meet an animal through a social media post by an animal shelter. Such posts...

Guidelines for photographing national parks

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  Janique Goff Madison is a photography student who enjoys visiting national parks. Going to these places allow her to hone her skills. To truly make the most of a trip to these places, here are some guidelines worth remembering.  Image source: Unsplash.com Respect the wildlife Photographers should keep a safe distance from the animals. They should also avoid feeding and petting the animals for their own safety. While it's alright to take photos, one should avoid using flash as much as possible as it can scare or distract the animals. It’s also important to note that respecting wildlife involves preserving their habitat and keeping it clean.  Seek permission when working with models and sets According to Janique Goff Madison, photographers don't need to get a permit if they're just going on a photowalk or touring the parks on their own. However, if they're going to work with models or build sets, they need to get a permit from park authorities especially if the ...

Best life hacks for dog owners

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  Pets like dogs can be a handful regardless of their size. They can be big, bulky, and clumsy or small, feisty, and the destroyer of all socks and shoes. But thanks to countless online communities of dog owners sharing their stories on social media, pet owners like Janique Goff Madison learn new tricks that make living with dogs a lot easier. Here are some life hacks dog owners can use to have it easier.  Image source: lifehack.org Make home-made dog treats instead While dog food is expensive enough, buying doggie treats for snacks can push you over your budget. One way to cut down on this expense is to make your own doggie treat. To make homemade pill pockets, all you need is milk, crunchy peanut butter, and flour. Repurpose old furniture If you just brought home a pet but discovered that you lack space for their bed or a place where they can rest, why not repurpose old furniture to fit these doggie amenities? Convert an old TV cabinet to a display case on top a...

Tips for the beginner wedding photographer

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  Wedding photography is the bread and butter of many photographers when they’re not pursuing their favorite subject matters. What’s not to love about photographing weddings? They’re a great place to hone your sense of timing, shot planning, and equipment management aside from earning a good amount of money. Here’s what you need to know to start doing wedding photography. Image source: photographytalk.com If you’re still just gaining your sea legs in terms of wedding photography, your best course of action is to work under another wedding photographer before setting up on your own. You will need a lot of weddings under your belt in order to capture the essence of two lives intertwining to become one. A mentor will prepare you and give you insights about capturing the special m oments in a wedding according to Janique Goff Madison . Before anything else, you will need to plan how you’re going to conduct the shoot. Aside from planning the shots, you will need to visit the ch...

Action shots: Taking pictures of moving objects

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  In many ways, taking pictures of moving objects is more challenging than still-life photography. That said, some tips can make action shots much easier and more striking. Here they are, listed below. Janique Goff Madison .  Image Source: improvephotography.com 1. Preparation is key. Like any endeavor in life, photography requires preparation, and action photography even more so. Photographers have to take into account factors such as location, lighting, subjects, and more. They need to know ahead of time what kind of shot they want to take and what the final image would look like. Another key point in preparation is knowing which equipment to bring and the right settings to take action shots. Janique Goff Madison . 2. Spend time with trial shots. Spending time experimenting with trial shots before the actual shoot is something a lot of photographers sadly take for granted. The result is that many of them are overwhelmed by the speed at which these subje...

How to tell when a dog is in distress

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Telling if a dog is in distress can be tricky to the untrained eye, shares Janique Goff Madison . People who claim that they care about dogs, especially strays, need to be aware of some common signs in distressed dogs if they want to make a difference in the lives of humanity's most loved animals. Here are a few of them.   Image source: dogtime.com Image source: twitter.com 1. Incontinence When a dog cannot stop itself from leaking, especially if it happens for no apparent reason, this could well mean that the animal is in distress. There could be various reasons behind the stressor. Some dogs have been known to behave in this manner when they get into contact with humans. This could also be a physical issue, too. 2. Mood swings Sometimes an animal is lethargic one moment and excitable in the next. If the dog seems to be exhibiting behaviors that run along with extremes, this is a classic sign that the animal is in distress. Observe the dog for a few days and try t...