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Make your photos count A picture tells a thousand words, so the saying gees, and that’s why it's important to have clear and in- teresting photographs in Home & Country. More and more Women’s Institute members are taking an in- terest in the magazine by submitting good pictures, but let’s go over some of the characteristics of a good photograph and how to take one, so every WI member will have a chance at having her photo printed in Home & Country. First, your picture should be sharp, so hold the camera steady. Camera movement is the enemy in most cases when your photographs come back blurred. Keep the photograph simple. Most good pictures have only one main subject, or center of interest. The closer you get to this subject, the more likely you are to cut out any distracting extras that might be in the scene. A good rule to remember is move in close enough to fill your viewfinder with your subject. Be careful not to get too close however, you may accidentally leave out somebody's arms or head. Also. some cameras can’t take sharp photographs of subjects closer than four or five feet. If you're taking a picture of a building, get back far enough to include what you want in the picture. If you’re taking a scenic picture, include the part of the scene that’s important and no more. ‘ While you’re framing your subject in the viewfinder, don’t forget to notice everything else that’s going to be in the picture. Your lens and film will notice it, even if you don’t. A cluttered background or foreground will detract from your main subject. Grass, faraway trees, the side of a plain building, and the sky will all make good, simple backgrounds. The people in your pictures will look stiff and unnatural if you stand them straight in front of you and ask them to smile. It‘s better to have them engaged in some activity. Peo- ple will be more relaxed and natural if they are active, rather than trying to smile in a “say cheese" fashion, What should you have them do? What they would normally do. PiC- ture them in some natural position â€" working in the kitchen, gardening, playing with a pet, or doing whatever is comfortable for them. Black and white photographs are the best for clear reproduction in Home & Country, however a sharp color print can be used in some cases. Remember too to provide a com- prehensive explanation of who is in the picture, what they are doing, why, when and where, with the photograph when you sent it in to Home & Country. Information provided by Eastman Kodak Company. Anniversaries around Ontario The inclusion of anniversary photographs and write-ups in Home & Country magazine has been a matter of concern among WI members during the past year and I have tried to address the problem publicly whenever called upon to do so. As I have explained to members, there is not enough space in Home & Country to in- clude every anniversary item which is sent to this office. Also. I believe Home & Country should be printing articles that are of interest to every WI member across Ontario and although anni- versaries are very important events locally, they are not of major importance to every WI reader. In initiating the following new col- umn. I hope to briefly inform Home & Country readers of the number of anniversaries being celebrated around the province and which branches have marked these special events. I will not be including photographs. Carol Stewart-Kirkby McKay’s Corners, West Kent District; Riverside Heights, Dun- das District; and Dundalk, Grey Centre District recently celebrated their 25th anniversaries. Eden, Elgin East District celebrated its 30th anniversary while Strabane, Wentworth North and Everready, Prescott District held special festivities for SOIh anniversaries. Burritt’s Rapids, Grenville North District marked its 70th anniver- sary in 1983 and Mount Pleasant, Brant South District and Vandeleur, Grey East held their 80th. Six WI branches had 75th anniversaries in 1983. They are Roseneath, Northumberland West District; Clavering, Grey West; Burnt River, Victoria East; Millgrove, Wentworth North; Lucknow, Bruce South and Eden- vale, Simcoe Centre. Congratula- tions to all these WI branches and their members. 17