Features

Tom Vogt of Fort Dodge, Iowa, is the recipient of a Canon EOS 40D D-SLR for his winning photo in the recent Shutterbug/Canon EOS Photo Contest held online at www.shutterbug.com. The contest was open to all photographers who registered at www.shutterbug.com Galleries, where members can post images at no charge for sharing and commenting. The Canon EOS 40D combines Canon’s tremendous know-how in both the digital and photographic worlds, creating a camera that not only does everything one would expect of a traditional D-SLR, but one that incorporates staggering leaps forward in technological innovation. With new features like Canon’s EOS Integrated Cleaning System, Live View Function, a more powerful DIGIC III Image Processor, plus a 10.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, a 3” LCD monitor, and more, the EOS 40D elevates digital photography to new heights, enhancing the shooting experience, and delivering images one could only expect from a Canon.

Vogt’s image was chosen because of the wonderful interaction and curiosity of the creature with a beautiful environment. It combines color and whimsy in a way that caught our judges’ eyes. But, we needed to know, is the frog for real?

Vogt wrote: “The frog definitely was real and is somewhere out in my yard (at least that’s where I last saw him). With all the flooding we have had in Iowa this summer there has been an explosion of these small frogs in yards. I noticed them jumping out of the way of the lawn mower one afternoon, so when I finished mowing I thought I would try to photograph some of them. I set this little guy on a flower growing alongside our house. He struck this pose and in the next instant he was gone.”

While this fun photograph made our day, and winning the contest made Vogt’s, he is an involved photographer whose enthusiasm for the art and craft are much like all Shutterbug readers. Vogt said, “While my profession is as a licensed architect, my passion is photography. I have been interested in photography for more than 30 years and transitioned from manual focus SLRs to autofocus cameras and now to D-SLRs. Subjects during my early years of learning included almost everything, but mostly consisted of still life or landscape scenes with shots of my kids added to the mix. Then, about 18 years ago, my wife, a high school English teacher, asked me to photograph the local high school sports for the school yearbook.

“From that point on I was hooked on sports photography. Now 90 percent of my shooting is of action sports, mostly for area parents who don’t have the experience, resources, or access to get good action shots of their athletes. While it keeps me busy year round I’m still on the lookout for interesting photo opportunities, such as this shot of the frog.”

© 2008, Tom Vogt, All Rights Reserved

We’d like to thank the hundreds of photographers who submitted images to the Shutterbug/Canon EOS Photo Contest. Keep your eye on our website for more exciting contests in the future and also check out Canon’s website for interesting news, features, and learning opportunities at www.usa.canon.com.