I really have a great job: It's all Jeeps, all the time. But one thing that depresses me is having to toss out so many of the neat photos submitted by our readers.
Why in the world would I toss them out? After all, you send them in for us to print, not toss in the round file. The sad truth is that a lot of these seemingly wonderful photos just won't cut it in the Jeep Shots department. We get quite a few pix in the mail and would really like to use them all, but space is at a premium. So, to help you guys out, here are a few tips on maximizing your chances of being in print.
First, you have to play by the rules printed at the end of the Jeep Shots department. That means that first, photos must not have faces that we can make out, and they must be accompanied by a letter signed by the owner of the vehicle. Second, since photos that are too dark, too light, out of focus, or Polaroids just won't reproduce well, I choose crisp, clear shots that are properly exposed. Third, you must be sure to check the photo's background for telephone poles and trees that may appear to be growing out of the Jeep. Fourth, how about some action? Except for the obvious show Jeep or vintage museum piece that won't see mud or rocks, photos of Jeeps in the dirt or on a trail are more exiting.
And the more information you include, the better; readers want to know about your Jeep. That doesn't mean you should write a five-page history of every part, but a concise note describing all the important items would be great. This tip applies as well to Your Jeep, our letters-to-the-technowizards department. Honestly, I've received letters from readers who simply state "my Jeep won't run right, and the dealer won't help. I think it's the wiring. How do I fix it?," without listing the model, year, and engine size-we need that stuff just to get in the ballpark. If it's a gearing or tranny question, how about letting us know the type and ratio? If you don't have the information, then tell us if it's a four- or five-speed. Or give us the stock ratios or say that you've got bigger tires. The more info you give us, the better the answer we give you.
As for feature vehicles, we usually find them on trail rides. If your Jeep is unique or special (as they all are), we'll spot it on the trail and do all the camera work. Rarely will we shoot a rig after the owner has bugged us about it for two days.
Finally, a word about e-mail. If I could, I'd personally answer every letter, but we often receive over 200 messages a day, so just to read them takes quite a while. Most messages are filed or forwarded to the proper department, but only a select few receive a reply. That doesn't mean we don't read your letters or don't care what you think, because we do. Letters to the editor appear in the Dispatch column, and tech questions are added to the hundreds of letters in the Your Jeep pile, which we hope one day to plow all the way through.
Now you know how to maximize your chances of getting in Jp. Keep sending in stuff and showing up at trail rides we attend, and we might choose your Jeep for the magazine. And those photos that I toss? Truthfully, the neat ones that we can't use often end up on my wall.
-Rick Péwé