302.277
Figure 6-6.–Award presented by the former Secretary of Defense Frank C. Carlucci
The reenlistee, retiree, or person being advanced,
promoted, or receiving an award is always the subject
(fig. 6-6). Regardless of who is presenting the award or
conducting the ceremony (whether it be the division
officer, commanding officer, or the Secretary of
Defense), the recipient is always the center of interest.
Avoid profile photographs of the subject. If
necessary, shoot over the shoulder of the person
presenting the award or conducting the ceremony.
Prevent objects from giving the appearance of
protruding from a person's head or body, such as pipes,
flags, or doorframes. Always view the entire subject
through the viewfinder and adjust your camera angle or
viewpoint as necessary to prevent this compositional
flaw.
If you miss a shot or you know the photograph
does not meet your standards, such as eyes closed, face
hidden, or flash does not fire, always re-shoot the
photograph. When it is not possible to re-shoot
immediately, setup and re-shoot after the ceremony.
When in doubt, re-shoot. Film is relatively cheap, but
your reputation and the reputation of the photo lab is not.
Never fake a shot. If you run out of film or have
camera problems, make arrangements to take
photographs at a later time. Better planning and
improved communication will normally prevent this
from happening.
CAPTION WRITING
Photographs, despite their unique story-telling
ability, are seldom effective enough to stand alone. No
matter how exciting the picture may be, it fails unless
the viewer understands the five Ws-Who, What, When,
Where and Why of the photograph. The area of
providing information that the photograph cannot give
is in the caption-the text that accompanies the
photograph. It is your responsibility, as the
photographer, to gather the necessary information and
write complete, concise, and factual captions.
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