Diana the Valkyrie's guide to taking pictures There's two kinds of picture-taking. One is where the subject is to some extent posed, and you have some control of the environment. For example, in the surroundings of an event, you can walk up to a bodybuilder, explain that you're taking pictures for Diana the Valkyrie's web site, and ask them to pose. The other kind is action shots, where you're in the audience at an event. Preparation You'll need a camera. For Action shots, you'll need a telephoto or zoom. And I'd suggest 800 speed film or faster (larger numbers means faster). If you're going to be spending some time shooting, then a tripod or monopod will help your weary arms, plus it steadies the camera. A monopod is easy to use in a confined space, you might not have enough space to put up a tripod. You should get 36-rolls of film, you don't want to be changing rolls more often than you have to. I'd suggest 20 rolls would be right to cover a one-day event. It means you don't have to keep thinking "should I take this shot?". Get Fuji or Kodak, ASA 400 or (better) 800 http://www.photo.net/photo/film.html Spare batteries might be a good idea. And you should have an automatic-metered flash. With spare batteries. Thinking of getting a camera? Have a look here http://www.photo.net/photo/point-and-shoot.html Trouble is, without a tepephoto lens (or a zoom) you won't be able to shoot a BB event. Digital cameras I don't think they're there yet. The problems are: Resolution, battery life, zoom lens, storage of pictures .... If you're thinking of getting a digital camera, you're unlikely to be able to use it to cover an event. Posed shots For posed shots, make sure that there isn't a light coming from behind the subject; you'll be surprised how bad the picture will be if it is. Your eyes aren't fooled, but the camera automatic exposure will take an average, and the subject will come out looking dark and you'll have a very poor picture. It's usually a good idea to get the subject to smile. People look ten times better when they're smiling. Of course, in some situations, you want a frown instead. If you aren't working in daylight, use the flash. The human eye will adjust to dark rooms, and colours look fine. The camera isn't so good at that. One good way to go, is just tell the subject "Show us what you've got", and let her go through whatever routine she has. Action shots You maybe can't use the flash, the action is too far away. Find out the limit of your flash, and maybe you can get a seat close enough. The biggest problem is heads, heads that get in the way of your shot. You can partly get round this by sitting close to the action (but everyone else has that idea) and partly by holding the camera up high (a monopod helps here). Maybe you can get to the aisles. The fitness competitors move a lot, and move fast. That's why you want fast film. And you'll probably be a long way from the action, so that's why you want a telephoto or zoom. But then hand-shake becomes a problem, so the monopod helps. If you don't use a telephoto or zoom, then if the picture is rock steady, I can blow up the portion of interest, because I have a negative scanner that can do that. To get the picture rock steady, you use a tripod ... Processing If you send me the exposed film, I can do the rest; get it processed, scan the negatives, and put them on the web site. If you want the negatives, I'll send them to you (I don't make prints, it's just paper that I don't need).