INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – They crowded into a cat room at the Humane Society, armed with a digital camera and a quick tutorial on how to use it. The cats were ready for their close-ups – others a little too eager.
One young photographer, Abby, sat on the floor – ready to snap a photo of Grady, a gray shorthair waiting for his forever home. A little too friendly, Grady climbed into Abby’s lap, making it difficult to get the shot.
Abby and nine other children participated in Monday’s Pet Photography class at the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County, hoping to hone their skills to take back home and practice on their pets.
Victoria Redman had a hard time deciding which of the cats she photographed was her favorite.
“I like them all but if I had to choose one, I’d say him,” she said, pointing out Romeo, a long-haired black cat. “His tail is so fluffy.”
Before taking aim on the cats, the children practiced a bit with Humane Society graduate Pierre, a miniature poodle who was adopted in 2004.
Carol Mershon, Pierre’s adoptive mom, brought him out specifically to mug for the cameras.
Using treats to get Pierre to sit still, lay down or hop about on his hind legs, Mershon helped the photographers get the shots they were looking for.
“Ah! I got it a good picture of that!” Quintin Newinski cried as Pierre stood upright. “Oh he’s so cute.”
“He’s smiling so perfectly,” another child said as Pierre sat still on the grass.
Danielle Dobson decided to take the class because her friend, Victoria Redman, was going to.
“I thought it would be fun to try it out,” she said.
Dobson hasn’t done much with photography, she said, explaining that her preference is to draw and animate.
Director of Education Janet Winikoff led the photography class, using the opportunity as a way to encourage the children to look at the world – and animals – in another way.
She impressed upon them the importance of shooting their cameras from different angles, even lying on the ground to prove the point.
Natural light is better than flash, Winikoff told the photographers, showing two examples.
“See how the dog has devil eyes?” she asked, pointing to the photo that had the flash.
She also encouraged them to take chances – to change the settings on the camera, taking it off automatic.
“You’re not going to break anything on your camera,” Winikoff said, “unless you actually drop it!”