CAT’s 1st Annual CUTE CAT Photo Contest opens for entries on June 1.
Please join us in celebrating the love of cats by submitting your favorite feline photo.
GRAND PRIZE: Your photo as the cover of the 2009 CAT Calendar
Contest Rules:
•Open to amateur photographers.
•Accepted subject matter is domestic (pet) cats or kittens.
•Enter any size photo up to 8x10 (no slides, negatives, photocopies, or e-mails).
•Digital photos must be on high quality photo paper (please no electronic submissions).
•Attach completed entry form to each photo entered.
•Include a $5 entry donation per household with the submission of two photos; you may enter as many photos as you like, just include a $5 donation for every two photos.
•Checks should be written to the “Cat Adoption Team.” Proceeds go directly to helping cats at the shelter.
•Please make sure there is a visible collar and identification tag on the cat photographed. CAT stresses the importance of pet identification.
•Entries must be postmarked or delivered to CAT by June 30 at 6 pm.
•Mail / deliver entries to: Cute Cat Photo Contest, CAT, 14175 SW Galbreath Drive, Sherwood, OR 97140.
•Employees of CAT may not enter.
•If photos include cats not owned by the photographer, or people not in the photographer’s immediate family, please include written permission from the pet’s owner and/or the individuals photographed with submission.
•Entries become the property of CAT to use, at its discretion, in any and all media, without limitation.
•Submitter does not relinquish rights to use photo in any way.
•Judging will take place after July 4
•Judging will be done by a panel consisting of professional photographers, veterinarians, CAT staff, and other CAT suporters
•Winner will be notified mid-July
Tips for taking winning photos:
•Take time to ensure your subject matter is in focus, especially the eyes (an animal’s personality comes alive when its eyes are looking right at the camera).
•Fill your frame with the subject of your photograph. If the background is not important to the photo of your animal, come in close and eliminate it. Use your telephoto lens.
•Get n the same level as your pet when taking the picture. For example, don’t stand up and shoot “down” at your cat sitting on the floor.
•Make sure there is a visible collar and identification tag. And the cat is indoors.
•Catch the expression and attention of your pet. If your cat reacts well to squeaky toys or other sound and always poses, then use the squeaky toy to get that shot!
•Use light to help your photograph. Make sure shadows do not fall across your subject. Position your pet until you see reflections of the light in the eyes.
•Avoid using flash. Natural light is the best, in part because of the “red eye” look that flash photography can cause in animals.
•Take plenty of photos – you will not get a great photo if you only take one or two shots. A professional usually gets just a few outstanding shots out of dozens of photos.
•Be patient and remember that your cat does not understand what you are trying to do and why he must endure a long sit while you block your face with a black box.
