PEOPLE IN ACTION When you photograph people in action, such as in sports and at work, the name of the game is anticipation, staying alert, and expecting the unexpected. Covering action events becomes an exercise in “guesstimating” where the action will take place and firing the shutter at the  right  moment. A good action photographer relies on his knowledge of the event taking place; for example, if you will be photographing a General Quarters (GQ) drill and the principal players are going to be the Hull Maintenance Technicians, you could take a crash course in the job they will be performing during GQ. You might even observe them going through the drill a day or two before it   is   time   to   photograph   them.   Like   a   sports photographer-you must know the rules of the game. Even if you cannot learn the game, a photographer that understands the principles of shooting people in action can do a good job by following a few simple rules: Anticipate the action. Watch for the unexpected moment. Know the mechanical functions of your camera equipment.  Practice  aiming,  focusing,  and  shooting until  they  become  reflex  actions.  This  leaves  your  mind free  to  concentrate  on  the  event. Learn something about the action you plan to photograph. The best pictures of people usually have action, implied or apparent. The action should be appropriate to the subject of the picture. The cook, for example, should not be shown in the boiler room (unless for a special reason or effect). Even a posed picture can have plenty of  action  and  interest  and  not  seem  at  all  posed. Artificial,  stiff  effects  kill  the  picture.  Avoid  static,  dull pictures of groups staring directly into the camera Plan and shoot for action, such as applause shots or a speaker making  gestures,  or  shots  of  an  audience's  facial reactions. Break up the overall scene into small groups of action, such as shots of important persons talking, the guest of honor shaking hands with others, and so forth. Even an attitude or arrangement of hands, feet, head, and shoulders  often  creates  action.  There  is  action  in everyday living, in working, eating, drinking, smiling, arguing, driving, flying, sailing, and swimming. It is not so easy to capture action in still photographs, but by understanding  the  importance  of  action  in  a  picture  and the  abundance  of  action  available  everywhere,  you  will soon become proficient at recognizing and picturing it. The blur technique has become popular for advertising 6-11 and  illustration  use.  Panning  the  camera  with  the  action of a moving subject keeps the subject fairly sharp while blurring  the  background  in  a  horizontal  sweep,  and  this gives the feeling of action. A slow shutter speed is needed. Try the technique and see the interesting results. A photo should have emotional mood and impact that can be accomplished by actual movement of a physical nature. The head may be raised in victory or joy or lowered in despair and sadness. The body sagging or the body squared away indicates different moods. Arms on the hips can indicate swagger, arrogance, or confidence. Hands in pockets indicate relaxation, or at the sides, may show formality. Knowing the elements of action, how to recognize them, and what moods they convey permits you to click the shutter at the right instant   when   you   recognize   outstanding   action happening.   The   shooting   angle,   lighting,   and composition  all  contribute  to  a  feeling  of  action. Action should always be photographed at its peak (fig. 6-5). This is a matter between the photographer and the  photographer’s  own  well-developed  sense  of motion.  A  highly  capable  photographer  knows  with certainty, at the instant he or she shoots, whether the picture will be a good one or not. This does not come from  occasional  picture  taking  but  from  steady, continual  practice. COMMAND FUNCTIONS The majority of the job orders your imaging facility receives will probably be in support of providing photographic  documentation  for  command  functions. Photographic assignments that fall into this category are as follows: reenlistments, retirements, change of commands,  awards  presentations,  and  VIP  (Very Important Person) visits. Some of the larger imaging facilities provide a photo mailer service whereby amateur   photographers   take   snapshots   of   their command functions and forward the film to the imaging facility for processing. For those Photographer's Mates that are fortunate enough to cover these photographic assignments, high quality and professional service and products are imperative for the continued success of customer  service  and  satisfaction. To provide the best photographs possible, you must apply  all  of  the  principles  and  techniques  discussed previously   in   this   TRAMAN.   Proper   planning, composition,  and  lighting  must  be  applied  regardless  of how routine you feel the job may be. Some general guidelines  are  as  follows: Always  use  bounce  flash  whenever  possible.