Does Our Photography Make An Impact?
Yes!
Photograph can portray the animals at the shelter in a more positive light.
It can also be used to advertise and inform the public about the animals at the shelter as well as responsible pet ownership.
Our photos make the animals look more adoptable first and formost. The shelter staff are so busy running the shelter they have little time to take good quality pictures of the animals. Many of the shelter photos are unflattering of the animal because of this.
Our photos also give the public a more positive outlook on the shelter. Their are negative rumors about how WCAS is a kill shelter and that they don't care about the animals (This is absolutely not true!). However our quality photos show the public that the shelter does care for the animals.
Our photos have brought Meredith College closer to the shelter and the community. We are reaching and bring proactive trying to inform our community about Wake County Animal Shelter in the hopes more people will become involved.
There are several other art forms that could be used to have a positive impact on the shelter.
The public wants to come into a building that is well kept. Painters could use their artistic talent to paint murals on the wall to make the shelter look more friendly and inviting. Graphic Designers could use their artistic skills to make pamphlets, signs, posters, and banners to inform the community about upcoming events or educational tips such as what it means to be a responsible pet owner. Fashion designers could use their artistic talents to make bandanas and blankets for the animals.
I could imagine collaborating with another artist. A friend of mine does a lot of graphic design work. I could work with him and potentially the shelter to make pamphlets and signs alerting the public of up coming events as well as educational facts.
In the picture below you can see my "artistic skills" while using photoshop to digitally enhance a photo. These photos will be seen by the public and a person who walks in the shelter after looking at a photo online is more likely to adopt an animal.
Skylar
Animal ID: 71775
Adoption Pending!
This is Ricci the volunteer coordinator and his dog at Wake County Animal Shelter. In this picture you can tell the passion Ricci has for animals. The staff are behind the scenes working diligently but often under appreciated. It is important to recognize those who are working hard for the animals.
Pictures from "behind the scenes" show the staffs dedication.
The idea about bringing fashion designers in the shelter to help create bandanas and accessories for the animals is a great idea. You should talk to Meredith College and the department head of the fashion design program and see if this is something they would be interested in doing in the fall. I have a best friend who studies fashion and I know (like all of us) they are busy with their work, but a service like this with the animals could be an opportunity they may not have again! Also, thank you for putting the "behind the scenes" picture, I love seeing the compassion in Ricci's face and body.
ReplyDeleteYES! That photo of Ricci with the boxer is touching and beautiful. The shallow depth of field allows us to focus on the place where the human and dog touch face to face. Moving and compassionate!
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