Schalk takes winning Merit Award photo

WALDO – Sarah Schalk, age 15, Waldo, is the daughter of Deb and Dave. She has been in 4-H for 10 years and is a member of the Waldo Fireflies 4-H Club. She enjoys photography and takes pictures of her Appaloosa horse, Royal, and has won her very first Merit Award at the Sheboygan County Fair.

This is an 8-by-10 photo of Schalk’s horse done in black and white, and it’s matted in a cream-colored mat.

“I take a lot of pictures of Royal,” Schalk said. “I use color and black and white, and this picture just looked good in black and white.

“I used a Kodak digital camera,” Schalk continued, “and there is no enhancing on this photo except that I changed it to black and white in the computer.

“Royal is eating grass along the fence, and I liked how the fence looks in this picture,” Schalk observed.

“The judge liked how the fence came off out of the picture,” Schalk said. “She liked the clarity and that it looks three-dimensional how the fence curves behind Royal, and her head, shoulders and front legs.

“I learned that going at different angles helps to get the best shot,” Schalk pointed out. “I took about 10 of these shots at different angles.

“I will frame it and put it in my room,” Schalk said. “I will also be showing Royal at the fair this year.”