Gila's Place Blog

Shelter Me Photography:Nanette Martin continuing her mission for shelter pets- slideshow included

2010-05-08T22:07:31Z

Shelter dog (Photo by Shelter-Me-Photography)

Photo: Shelter-Me Photography Nanette MartinSince our last article about Shelter-Me Photography, pet photographer Nanette Martin has remained steadily on track.

Mid February Nanette found herself traveling to Southern Colorado Spay and Neuter Association, to photograph a pair of Double Merled Shepherds (term used to describe a color pattern), Willie and Annie. The pair had come to the shelter some 5 years ago, along with their litter mates and have been there ever since. They have been there so long because you cannot adopt just one of them, you must adopt them both.

Why? Because they are a special needs pair. Annie is deaf and blind and extremely dependent on her brother, Willie. And a few years ago Willie was attacked by two other dogs and almost died. While he manage to pull out of it and live his badly injured left leg had to be amputated. They need each other, it’s that simple. (Full article)

Pet photography 101: What is the best digital camera auto settings to use when photographing pets?

2010-05-08T22:52:29Z

Most digital camera’s are loaded with auto settings that can make even a seasoned photographer’s life much simpler. For a newbie, they are almost a must. Each auto function on your camera will cause a specific technical outcome of your photographs.

These are some of the basic auto functions found on most cameras today, and what they do.

Auto – Camera automatically senses conditions and auto sets to the best shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and white balance.

Portrait – Camera makes settings to keep the main subject in clear focus and the background out of focus causing a shallow depth of field and allowing subject matter to stand out in image…….

(Full article)

Photo by Gila Todd

Pet rescue and shelter photography: A “saving grace” for homeless pets. Can you help?

2010-05-08T22:47:34Z

In today’s economic climate, among budget cuts, home repossessions, and the growing jobless rate, we humans are not the only creatures suffering through hard times. Our four legged friends, all over the US, are suffering right along beside us. And they do so loyally.

Rescues and shelters are taking in record numbers of pets as they are abandoned in the streets and turned into shelters daily. More and more people are turning in their beloved pets for lack of money to feed them, take care of veterinary bills, or some because they no longer have a home to provide.

Many facilities will be forced to turn away new arrivals due to over populations in their kennels and the need to preserve funds for animals already living in their care.Shelter administrators are working diligently trying to find homes for all these homeless pets but there just isn’t anywhere for them to go. Everyone is over capacity. While there are many no kill shelters across the nation , great numbers of pet shelters are forced to euthanize animals on a regular basis to make room for the ever growing numbers walking in the doors. (Full article)

Humane Society of Southeast Missouri holds monthly mobile adoptions April 17th-slideshow

2010-05-08T22:44:15Z

The Humane Society of Southeast Missouri will be holding it’s monthly mobile pet adoption at the Cape Girardeau Petco April 17, 2010 from 12pm-3pm. They will be bringing several lovable pets with them and hope that you will come out them. Bring your family, including current fur babes, to meet the pets available for adoption!

The Petco store is located at 266 Siemers Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO. They often sponsor pet adoption drives for local shelters and rescues. You can find an adoption drives going on just inside store doors most weekends.

(Full article) Photo by shelter volunteer. Editing by Gila Todd

2010-05-08T22:35:38Z

Photo: Gila Todd

Caruthersville Humane Society had a successful adoption day at Petco April 10th. Out of the eight animals they brought along only 2 went back to the shelter. Four kittens and two dogs were discovered by their new families just as you walk through the door at the Cape Girardeau Petco Store.

Just across the aisle, a few feet away, was an adoption booth forSafe Harbor Animals Sanctuary from Jackson, MO. Safe Harbor too had a good day for adoptions.

(Full article)

Pet adoption drive at Cape Girardeau Petco, April 10: Caruthersville Humane Society returns

2010-05-08T22:12:42Z

Photo by Erma Page, Caruthersville Humane Society

Caruthersville Humane Society is once again teaming with Petco to show off their adorable pets up for adoption. The adoption drive will be Saturday, April 10, from 11am to 4pm at the Cape Girardeau Petco. The store is located at 266 Siemers Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO. (573) 332-1580.

Coming along to meet you will be Duchess, Guinevere, and Sir Lancelot. All are pups from the same litter and folks at the shelter believe they are a Beagle/Chihuahua mix. All are up to date on their routine shots, de-wormed, and kennel broke. All three are adorable. See them in the slideshow below, along with other shelter adoptables.

At the last adoption drive the shelter didn’t bring along kittens but this time they will. Come see Lyza and her fuzzy kitty friends. They are all looking for loving homes. (Full article)

Caruthersville Humane Society reports successful adoptions at Cape Girardeau Petco – slideshow

2010-05-08T21:56:42Z

Employees and one volunteer of the Caruthersville Missouri Humane Society traveled to Cape Girardeau Petco yesterday, Saturday, April 3rd. With them they brought six adorable animals; 5 puppies and an adult dog:

Sweet Pea
Bubba
Tubby
Brandy
Bruiser
Sundance

The store was busy and not a single incoming customer failed to stop and pet or check out the adorable animals up for adoption. Still, only three were adopted from the group.

Sweet Pea will now be residing with a family in Illinois. She seemed quite happy when the family arrived after their long journey to meet her. Equally as important, the family seemed to be taken with Sweet Pea right away. They all looked quite happy to be going home together. (Full article)

Volunteer pet rescue/shelter photography series: Part 2- Doing an organized shoot

2010-05-08T21:49:23Z

Photo by Gila Todd

To shoot rescue and shelter photography will require great patience, a little skill, and a decent grasp on organization.
If you are a big animal lover, have a few pets of your own, or have had a good deal of contact with animals in your life, the patience is a given.You already know that like children, pets are unpredictable and you will understand the challenge going into this situation.

The skill will come from showing your patience and persistance getting the job done, and done well. (Full article)

Pet Photography 101: What is aperture and how does it effect my pet photos? Going manual

2010-05-08T21:41:29Z

~(This example illustrates the difference in opening size in the iris of a lens at different F-stops. Notice that the smaller numbered F-stop is actually the larger opening of the iris.)~

What Is Aperture?

With photography it’s all about the light and your camera sensors ability to get the right amount of it, for the appropriate length of time.

The lens is the part of the camera used to collect and control the amount of light allowed inside. Aperture, in combination with shutter speed, regulates the degree of light allowed into your camera’s sensor. (Full article)

St. Louis Pet photo contests in review: Overall a big hit with readers all over the US and Canada

2010-05-08T21:38:28Z

If you have been keeping up with St. Louis Pet Photography articles and contests it’s not hard to see how popular pet photos are.

With only two contests held so far, a whopping 1454 votes have been cast between the two of them! That’s a load of people interested in pet photos and there are thousands more out there just like them waiting to be invited in to have a look.

Holding these contests has confirmed a few things…….(Full article)

Photo: Gila Todd~~ Pet from the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri