a. Although positioning and posing in an informal group shot is
necessarily carefully planned the results must appear casual and realistic.
Achieving this natural feeling will depend on your ingenuity.
If at all
possible, limit the number of the group size to as few people as necessary
to tell the story. Three to four subjects is ideal.
b. As you compose the group, make sure everyone is engaged in some kind
of action. The various members may be seated, kneeling, or standing in a
variety of positions and need not be looking in the same direction, but they
should be looking at the point of action taking place.
That point of
action, for example, may be a piece of equipment which is being worked on.
3.
Lighting.
When you photograph a group indoors,
your
primary
concern
is
even
illumination over the entire group.
a. A single light held 2 to 3 feet to the side and higher than the
camera is adequate for small groups.
b. You will need several lights to photograph a large group. In both
situations the light or lights should be higher than the tallest person in
the group.
This will prevent the appearance of unnatural lighting and
shadows from the subjects in the front row falling on the subjects in the
next row.
c. When you use several lights, you must meter the light output across
the full width of the group adjusting the lights until the lighting is even.
d. You will find that the best outdoor lighting occurs on hazy, bright
days during the early part of the day when the sun is at a 45-degree angle
to the horizon.
It provides soft light shadows and does not cause your
subjects to squint.
e. If possible, place your group so the light falls on it from 45
degrees of either side of the camera.
f. On days that are sunny bright or when the shadows are too contrasty,
you should use the synchro-sun flash technique to fill the shadows.
PART B - RECOGNITION PHOTOGRAPHS
4.
Types of Awards.
a. Recognition of Personnel. People generally thrive on accomplishment
and recognition of their accomplishments; no place more so than in the
military. The Army takes pride in
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