GOCAPTURE A WINNER Tips for how to make that prize-winning Missouri State Parks photo by Paul Newton | pnewton@ruralmissouri.coop N owadays, almost everyone has a camera handy every time they leave the house. Smartphones and their high-tech cameras have made any moment the perfect time to capture your surroundings. In fact, in last year's Missouri Snapshots Photo Contest, sponsored by Missouri State Parks and Rural Missouri, nearly half of the winning photos were shot with a smartphone camera. The annual contest always showcases amateur photographers with a variety of skills. Entries come pouring in from Missouri's state parks and historic sites located all across the Show-Me State. Each and every year the judges are blown away by the creativity and beauty of the contest entries. We've partnered again with Missouri State Parks for the 12th iteration of this postcard-worthy contest. Before you head out to capture that photo worth a $500 state park vacation, here are a few tips on how to make your photos stand out. Arrive Early and Stay Late The early bird gets the worm. While Missouri's state parks are beautiful all day long, some of the best light occurs early in the morning just after sunrise or in late afternoon and early evening. Depending on the weather, the skies may fi ll up with red hues or serve as bright yellow or orange backgrounds in the evening. Get the right light and it just might make a perfect silhouette. 12 RURAL MISSOURI | JUNE 2022 Look for Interesting Angles Most of us generally see the entire world from a similar eye level. While there is nothing wrong with this vantage point, our judges like seeing new and interesting angles of the parks. This might be as simple as bending your knees and getting a low-angle shot of your family playing in front of the bluff wall at Echo Bluff State Park. You can also fi nd an elevated position to shoot down on a scene. If you're the owner of a drone, the options are nearly limitless for the interesting perspectives you can get. Arrive Early and Stay Late. Photo by Joan Garbacz at Ha Ha Tonka.