The objects needed to frame your subject must be associated with the person. You would not want to frame a Seabee with the wings of an airplane (unless of course a runway is being constructed). The Seabee would be better framed by the arch of a new building being constructed, or the hood and engine of a dump truck. The frame should add emphasis and lead the viewer to the subject. Do not make the frame the subject. The frame does not always have to be in focus or “box” the subject. Study pictures of people that have been framed Sometimes the frame is only on one side of the subject, sometimes in back of the subject, and sometimes only in the foreground. Seldom does the frame completely box  the  subject. PEOPLE WORKING When you read an article about someone, it may be accompanied by a picture of the person who is often at work A picture of someone at work says more to a viewer   than   an   ordinary   head-and-shoulders identification ever can, because it immediately places the  person  in  a  particular  setting. The secret to making good working pictures is to capture the atmosphere of the place and show the subject  actually  working.  The  use  of  a  wide-angle  lens lets you show a large work area from close in. This conveys a better idea of the working conditions. Try to bring  out  the  atmosphere  of  the  worker  and  the workplace; for example, if your subject does hard manual labor, try a low camera angle to create an impression of power. Although it is usually better to photograph a worker as though he were unaware of your presence, this is not always possible. Warn people when you are going to use the flash, so you do not startle them. When shooting at a slow shutter speed, you can even ask the worker to hold a pose. Most people who are working are involved with something that can provide a prop: books, scale models, equipment, and so forth. Use these props to create a stage and put the people into it-really into it. TWO-SHOTS So far, the discussion has been based on shooting pictures  of  only  one  person.  Another  assignment  facing the photographer is handling the two-shot, a picture showing  two  people. People can be pretty awkward when told to "just be natural" or "just talk to each other." It is better to give them something to talk about. Have them talk about what they are doing. Tell them you are listening to what they say so you can have information with which to write your captions. Better yet, give them something they can actually handle, talk about, and concentrate on. This makes the situation more realistic to them, and it results  in  better  quality  pictures. Try the frame approach for your two-shots. It is very effective.  Even  people  can  be  used  to  frame  other  people. DIRECTING   PEOPLE One of the most difficult tasks in photographing people is directing them. But you, the photographer, are the only one that can actually see what the picture is going to look like before it is taken. So, you must take the responsibility for setting up the “pose.” It is not enough to let your subjects just arrange themselves. They have no idea what they look like. One way to make directing and posing easier is to give your subject something to do. Do not tell your subject to "just stand there," as though in a vacuum, with nothing to do. Instead, give your subject something to handle. For a man, it might be a pipe, a book, a spyglass, or a tool they use in their work. For a child, it could be a doll, a model plane, or something of a similar nature. Often a woman can use an item of clothing in this way-a hat or a scarf. Another useful tip is to give your subject a “prop” or a support in a more literal sense-something to lean on or sit on. A chair, stool, post, or tree can be used. When using props, frames, and poses, do not forget one important point: The Navy uses photographers so its pictures are made by professionals. These are people who  know  what  they  are  photographing  and  the  reason why. A civilian photographer could most probably make an excellent picture of a Navy scene; however, it probably will show technical errors that make the picture look like a joke to other sailors. Do a little research. If using props that you do not understand, ask about them. Do not have a sailor hauling on a line that should be taken to a capstan or a Gunner's Mate holding a 3-inch shell in front of a 5-inch gun. Eyes are very important when photographing people. You must direct the subject to ensure that all parts of the scene are in the right place or in proper perspective.  You  must  also  direct  the  expression  of  the subject. The eyes are a very vital part of this and have a significant effect on the viewer's response. In a picture where the eyes of the subject are looking straight into the camera, a strong and immediate impact is created. This attracts viewer interest. When the eyes are directed away from the camera, the effect is less explicit and has a  more  ambiguous  quality. Finally, you must be in charge of the situation. It is up to you to tell the subjects where to stand, what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. This applies to everyone. 6-4