If you (or another amateur photographer) are going to shoot some pictures for your article, we recommend that you use a 35-mm single-lens reflex (SLR) camera with interchangeable lenses. Professional photographers will probably use a camera that produces larger negatives, such as 2-1/4 × 2-1/4 inches. The following discussion relates to the use of a basic 35-mm SLR camera. Although this information may not lead to professional-quality results, it may remind a practiced amateur photographer of the considerations that will produce acceptable photos.

For equipment photos, use a background of plain white or gray paper that has no lines or creases. Use two or three light sources to illuminate the project from all angles and eliminate shadows rather than using a single, straight-on flash.

Sharply focus your pictures. If the photo is of a project you built, or of your station arrangement, for example, the entire photo must be in focus. If one side of the equipment is fuzzy and out of focus, this will detract from the whole presentation. This discussion relates to the "depth of field" of the camera lens. Depth of field describes the range of distances from the camera that will be in focus. For example, if anything between five and ten feet from the camera is in focus, you have a fairly narrow depth of field. If anything from five to 50 feet is in focus, you have a much wider depth of field. The smaller the lens opening (the larger the f-stop number), the greater the depth of field. Most 35-mm SLR camera lenses have a depth-of-field scale marked on the barrel. To use a smaller lens opening (and obtain a greater depth of field) you will have to provide more light and/or slow the shutter speed.

A lens with a focal length in the range of 70 to 100 mm is generally considered optimum for photographing people and equipment. Such a lens is called a telephoto lens because it makes the image appear larger and closer than the "normal" (50-mm) lens of a 35-mm camera. Wide-angle lenses (shorter than the 50-mm focal length) will make the image appear smaller and farther away. This leads to a type of distortion known as keystoning. (Squares come out looking like trapezoids.)

Best results are obtained with a medium or fine-grained black and white film, such as Kodak Plus-X or Tri-X. Take your film to a lab that specializes in black and white processing. (See "Photo Finishing" in the Yellow Pages of your phone book.) The corner drug store or 1 hour photo lab isn't set up to develop or print this film properly. If you prefer, you could submit 3- × 5-inch prints from your film developer, but please include the negatives in that case. Generally speaking, instant prints are unsuitable for publication. Color photographs (transparencies are greatly preferred to prints) are used in some sections of QST, however, such as Up Front in QST. The lead article of an issue often falls in a color section, so if your article is chosen as the lead article, color photos may be used. A color slide may also be considered for the cover, but these need to have a vertical format (taller than they are wide) to fit the cover design. Slides should be evenly illuminated. Slides that are very slightly overexposed tend to print the best. Slides will be returned upon request.