Guidelines 2

Include as many different types of shots as possible: close-ups of people or bats, as well as medium and distant shots that show the setting, habitat and activities. Vary the backgrounds, lighting, etc. You may need a tripod and assistant or timer to get in the picture yourself if necessary. This is especially important for grant and scholarship recipients. We need action shots of you in the field!

Pay attention to background. A distracting background can ruin your picture.

Show people working. Have them look official wearing a uniform, using tools, writing in a notebook, holding a bat, etc.

If you take a picture of a person holding a bat please be sure that person is wearing a glove on the hand used to hold the bat. We want readers of our publications to understand that bats are wild and should be handled with caution.

Try to avoid white objects and clothing in your photos. Too much white will throw the color contrast off for the rest of the photo. White t-shirts especially should be avoided.

Take close-ups. For example, if someone is examining or caring for a bat, shoot just their face with their hand and the bat, not the view of their whole body. Be aware that in close-ups, you will want a very tight crop, so you should have the person hold the bat really close to their face. The close proximity may seem unnatural or uncomfortable for your subject, but should be about right for your photo.

Include shots that show the local culture. Clothing, architecture, and signs in other languages are all good ways to depict different cultural settings. In this photo, from the Winter, 1997, issue of BATS, the park ranger wears a traditional Samoan skirt, and visiting conservationists wear appropriate tropical attire. Note that all subjects focus their attention inside the photo. Photo by Merlin D. Tuttle.

Quick Composition Checklist

- Make a list of shots you want. Plan each image to be sure the picture tells a story. Get a variety of shots, including close-ups and wide-angles, verticals and horizontals.

- Pose people to show them working, wearing uniforms and holding pertinent props. Show bat handlers wearing at least one glove. Avoid backsides.

- Have people wear colors minimal white. When necessary, situate anyone in black near the front, and white near the back.

- Move extraneous objects out of the scene (camera bags, vehicles, drinks, etc. But remember that vehicles or other things with official seals and emblems can often help tell the story.)

- Use basic framing rules of composition: Rule of Thirds; Subjects Looking into Scene; Leading Lines; Awareness of Background.

Rule of Thirds: Do not center the primary subject. It is best to have it faced into the picture about a third of the way in, so two-thirds of the photo is in front of the subject. Subjects can be toward the bottom, top or side, but always should look or face into the remainder of the frame. Also, if the horizon is in the picture, make sure it does not cut the scene in half. Move the camera position so that the horizon line is in the top or bottom third of the photo.

Subjects Looking into Scene: When photographing people, always be sure they are looking into, never out of, the picture. A frame with two or three people all looking at the same thing helps focus viewer attention.

Leading Lines: Be aware of geometry. Use natural lines to lead viewer attention to the center or to the main point of interest in each picture. Skylines, clouds, branches, beach edges, trails and roads all provide lines. Using a wide angle lens often helps to take best advantage of lines.

Awareness of Background: Always be aware of the background. Try to keep it plain or out of focus, unless it is specifically intended to help tell the story. A telephoto lens can help to keep the background out of focus. Deep shadows behind well-lit subjects will do the same. A confusing background will destroy nearly any picture.