subject. This can give a softer,

more natural light, but be aware that bouncing can throw off your light

meter.

- Try using flash with

slow shutter speeds to brighten your backgrounds at night or in the late

evening.

- Use your flash during

the daytime ("fill-flash") to soften shadows, especially

under hats or caps.

- Watch your backgrounds!

One primary cause for bad pictures is having the background cluttered

or having lines run through people, such as power lines, telephone poles,

or plants that grow out of people's heads. If you have a manual camera,

you can use a shallower depth of field or lower f-stop number to make

the background less focused.

- Finally, for a really

memorable picture, be willing to wait for it. Try resisting the urge to

take only photos where people pose and smile. By waiting you may be able

to take a more candid or natural picture that really expresses the subject's

personality.

- Stephen Grote

Photographic Imaging Faculty

The Art Institute of Atlanta