Tech Support Pits:

From Helene===
Dear Webby,
Whenever I take close-up pictures of people with my digital
camera, they look like they were in a police mug-shot, or had
been frozen by aliens and were waiting for the end of the
ice age. Do I need a better camera or a different way of
taking the pictures?
Helene

Dear Helene
It's not the fault of the camera.
You are probably getting "dead pan" pictures from people
staring at the camera too long, waiting for the flash. Try
doing it like the old time photographers. Hold up a birdie
with your left hand, arm straight out to your side, bent up
at a right angle at the elbow. That reduces the sharp
shadows from double or triple chins, but gives a lively
contrast to the faces.

A little rubber duckie works fine too, especially if you
replace the squeaker with one from a whoopee-cushion.

If you can't take a birdie along, stick some bubble wrap
into your camera case. Crunching that in your upheld fist
works almost as well.

Have FUN!
DearWebby