Tracina's Treacherous Trail of Troubles

Don Maeder was born and raised in Southern California's San Fernando Valley. From a toddler and up, his love for animals remains undeniable. Fondest childhood recollections linger with beloved dogs and cats in the home, each bringing joy and companionship after school, after all-day trips to Disneyland, or returning home from watching a game at Dodger Stadium, then later, collecting favorite ball-player autographs by their cars. Special end-of-year memories also include dogs close by eagerly watching the unwrapping of Christmas presents while mischievous cats stole tinsel and broke delicate Christmas Bulbs–– the shiny kind you could see yourself looking funny with tiny eyes above a bulging nose and chin. Once he had added three semesters of college to his high school diploma, Don entered the job market as an outside salesman, selling industrial supplies to manufacturing plants by day and working nightclubs as a singer-guitarist at night. His all-work and no-play schedule paid the bills but left little time for himself. Years later, he sought a creative hobby and purchased a camera per a visit to the Los Angeles Zoo, which sparked a fascination with capturing close-up animal headshots through a zoom lens. As a zoo member, he frequently explored the wildlife exhibits from Fresno to San Diego, honing his photography craft. This dedication eventually led him to a volunteer docent position at the L.A. Zoo, where he deepened his understanding of animals from around the globe. With practice, his photos improved, and a friend who worked with terminally ill children began purchasing his prints to use as visual aids during Chemotherapy. News spread at the hospital, and other healthcare professionals assisting children became customers. Word of mouth grew that even doctors were added as clients, seeking larger prints as examination room wall coverings for easing patients' nerves. Making cold call pitches to dentists proved easy with a stack of 16 x 20 images of animals yawning. $65.00 each. He called his new business Memorable Mammals and Animals, turning his Fujichrome slides into pre-ordered larger prints as needed. However, after almost a year, he moved out of state, where healthcare professionals dwarfed the tourist trade, and Don turned his business into developing photographic brochures and picture postcards for the Hotel Industry. As a token of appreciation to those browsing about the author brief, Don offers a fun tip on how to get better images of zoo animals. Most everyone knows popular animals on display usually sleep during open daylight hours. Therefore, take a small empty aspirin bottle and secure at least seven pennies inside. Now, you have what sounds like a rattlesnake when shaken vigorously. This new noise will awaken the animal, so be sure to have your camera ready, focused, and framed, then wait till it looks at you because it will. The rattling arouses curiosity, guaranteed. A dog whistle brings the same results if you're in a crowd and unsure how others will react to the racket. The whistle won't hurt ears unless you are face-to-face with an animal, so please be respectful to all domestic fur babies in your neighborhood. Happy Reading.