West Highland White Terrier ? How To Capture the Best Pictures of Your Westies
West Highland White Terrier ? How To Capture the Best Pictures of Your Westies
For most West Highland White Terrier owners, the dog is a beloved member of the family. Like your children, you will want to capture pictures of your Westies from the time they are puppies until they are old-timers. Getting good pictures of Westies may require a bit of special preparation and know-how, but even the amateur photographer can get good ones at home.Camera AngleA common mistake amateurs make when taking pictures of their Westies is to shoot from a standing position, with the dog on the ground. Although you might get a good picture (teeth showing) or two this way, the best are shot from your Westie's level - low down, on the floor. Alternatively, for a posed picture, you can raise your dog up on a table or chair. The aim is to capture your West Highland White Terrier from his perspective on life.Sitting StillPictures do not have to be hit or miss, with the dog owner struggling to get perfect candid shots. Dogs can be trained, and posed pictures can be taken if you prepare yourself and your pet. It is best to start when West Highland White Terriers are puppies, getting them used to the equipment and the picture-taking process.A simple strategy is to take pics of the dog while he is in his bed. Try placing the bed near a window for natural light. Reward your pet with small treats when he remains still, and he will quickly learn this behavior. It helps to know your dog and his routine. Try to take your images at times when your Westie is neither tired-out nor frisky. Capture their attention, to pose the head in the direction you want, with interesting sounds, food, or a toy.LightingThere are two main lighting issues when taking pictures. The first is the camera flash. Like with humans, the bright lights reflecting off the Westie's eyes produces a blurry, red-eye effect.If the flash can be removed from the camera, set it off to one side, where it will not shine directly into the eye. Natural light is the best solution, as it is with many picture-taking problems, but for indoor pics, increasing the room lighting will cause the dogs pupils to constrict, making red-eye a lot less likely.The second issue is the color of West Highland white terrier fur. The solid white reflects all the light back at the camera, often causing the picture to be overexposed. If you have the camera and expertise to do it, close down the aperture on your camera one f-stop. Dark-colored dogs, like Scottish Terriers, have the opposite problem, with the fur absorbing all light until the detail is lost. The solution there is also the opposite - open up the aperture one f-stop.(Disclaimer: Any information contained in this site relating to various medical, health and fitness conditions of Westies or other animals and their treatments is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own veterinarian. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing the health of any animal. You should always consult and check with your own vet or veterinarian.)I do hope that you have found the article of use to you.Jeff Cucksonwebmaster@madaboutwesties.comWant To Know How To Have The Healthiest,
Happiest and Most Well Behaved Westie You
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Best Perennial Plants for Summer Color-Gardening
Best Perennial Plants for Summer Color
Summer is here and it's time to plant and enjoy the beautiful flowers that blossom during the heat of the season. A perennial plant is one that remains in the ground for two or more years and ultimately gives a garden its character. Most perennials spread readily, filling out gardens and providing a show of color year after year.Perennial plants come in many colors. The colors selected will greatly affect the overall look of your garden. For example, orange and red are stimulating colors that will attract attention. Yellows are warm and refreshing. Blues are cool with the most appeal in the warm summer months. White is a neutral and peaceful color that helps other colors blend together. Normally, it is best not to have more than two or three dominating colors at one time.Many perennials have a distinct bloom period, which lasts anywhere from one week to a month or two. To some gardeners, this may seem like a drawback, since each plant does not flower all summer. However, if planned properly, a perennial garden can have blooming flowers all summer long. Most perennial gardens change with the seasons. For example, you can enjoy pretty Columbines in the spring, vibrant Peonies in the early summer, and wonderful Black-eyed Susans in the late summer ? all in the same garden. One of the finest joys of planting a perennial garden is watching the plants and blooms change with the different seasons.While there are hundreds of perennial plants available, here are some that flower the best in the warm summer months (June-August).? Bearded or German Iris (various colors)? Bellflower (white, blue)? Butterfly Weed (orange)? Cardinal Flower (red)? Coral-bells (pink, red, white)? Coreopsis (yellow)? Corydalis (yellow)? Cupid's Dart (Blue)? English Daisy (pink, white)? European Columbine (various colors)? Fernleaf Yarrow (yellow)? Foxglove (various colors)? Foxtail Lily (pink, yellow, white)? Harebell (blue, violet, white)? Hollyhock (various colors)? Italian Aster (purple)? Oriental Poppy (red, orange, pink)? Peony (red, pink, white, yellow)? Phlox (white, pink, red, lavender)? Purple Coneflower (purple)? Red Valerian (red)? Rose Mallow (white, pink, rose)? Sea Holly (gray)? Shasta Daisy (white)? Spiderwort (purple)? Sweet William (various colors)? Yellow Foxglove (yellow)Here are five steps to planting a successful perennial garden:1. Choose a site that gets partial to full sun. Although there are some perennials that will grow in full shade, you will have a much larger selection of plants to choose from if your garden receives partial sun.2. Choose the best plants for your garden. Check the USDA Zone rating and pick the plants that adapted to growing in your region.3. Prepare the soil. It is important to prepare the soil since the perennial plants will be occupying the same space for a couple of years or more. Most perennials enjoy a moderately rich, loose soil with plenty of organic matter.4. Follow planting instructions that come with the plant.5. Be diligent about watering the new plants. Typically, a deep watering once a week is better than a daily sprinkle.To get your perennial garden started, follow the above steps and make a trip to your local nursery. Take your time and familiarize yourself with as many of choices as possible before selecting plants. Be sure to find out what USDA Zone you live in and select the perennial plants that are best suited to your region and your garden.Happy planting!Lesley Dietschy is a freelance writer and the creator/editor of the Home Decor Exchange website. Please visit the website for home and garden decor resources, articles, decorating pictures, a shopping marketplace, free craft projects, and more. http://www.HomeDecorExchange.com