There is more involved in taking a good picture than aiming the camera and saying `cheese'.

And top photographer Art Simons of Photographic Associates said there were a few tricks of the trade that would help even the most novice photographer take better shots.

"When taking pictures of a person or a child, you don't want a distracting background,'' he advised. "And if your camera has a little box in the viewer, keep the person inside that little box.'' Mr. Simons said there was a simple way to avoid having your subjects look like they're possessed by some evil demon -- the dreaded red eye.

"There is a way to avoid having red eyes in your pictures,'' he explained.

"When you're taking the shot, try not to shoot at the same eye level as the person. Shoot above or below them.

"And if you have turned your camera vertically, make sure the flash is on top.'' He also advised using the same principle to avoid getting a glare when photographing a shiny object.

"If anything shiny is being shot, like a glass, go off to one side to shoot the picture.'' When taking pictures on a bright sunny afternoon, the popular wedding photographer advised budding photographers to take care.

"It's good to have people's backs to the sun,'' he said. "If the sun is in their eyes they will squint.

"Between noon and 4 p.m. it's best to have the sun behind you.'' Mr. Simons also urged people to think about the composition of their pictures before they take them.

"The important thing is composition,'' he said. "Think about how you're going to take the picture before you. Some shots may look better as a vertical shot instead of a horizontal one.

"And a lot of the times people will put someone against a wall or tree for a picture. Instead they should bring the person away from the object, about five feet.

"It will make a better picture and that wall or tree can act as a backdrop and you also avoid getting a shadow on the person from that object.'' David Sousa, manager of the Kodak Express Photo Labs, said there were a few handy hints that the public should know when picking out film.

"Use 100 ASA Kodak film or 200 at the most,'' he said. "When you're taking pictures inside, you will need to use a flash with this film.

"The number indicates the speed of the film and the light sensitivity. The higher the number, the less light the film needs.'' For visitors, eager to document the beautiful beaches of Bermuda, Mr. Sousa had a special words of advice.

"For the beach, never use more than 100,'' he warned.

And Mr. Sousa urged locals not to be afraid to purchase film in bulk since there was a way to keep them fresh.

"If you see film on special, pick some up and just put it in the refrigerator -- not the freezer,'' he said. "It will keep fresh in the fridge and when you're ready to use it, just take it out, let it sit for five minutes and then put it in the camera.'' Photo terms For those who know little more about photography other than smiling and saying `cheese', here are some basic photography terms to help you find your way through the dark.

Darkroom: A room without light used to process photographs; Normal lens: Lens that sees and records an image pretty much as the eye sees it; Close-up lens: An accessory that is attached to the front of a lens, like a filter, and allows the subject to be focused at a close distance; Tripod: A stand, usually with three adjustable legs, that attaches to the bottom of a camera to hold it steady; Viewfinder: A piece of glass or plastic on a camera through which the subject is viewed; Electronic flash: Reusable flash tube powered by an electronic source, usually a battery; Reflected light: Light that bounces or reflects off the subject; ASA (American Standards Association): The system used to rate film speed. The higher the ASA number, the more sensitive the film is to light; and Film speed: Sensitivity of film to light, commonly measured by an ASA rating.

The higher the ASA number, the more sensitive the film is to light and the `faster' it is; Definitions from the book Black and White Photography, a Basic Manual.

Photos by Ras Mykkal the photo at right, Beth Ann is seen much better.