Taking photographs in offices, gymnasiums, or even homes that have overhead lighting can present some problems. Here are some special tips for taking pictures in these environments.

• If you have a choice, take the picture in an area with diffused overhead fluorescent lighting rather than harsh spotlights. The effects are worse when ceilings are rather low, say eight to ten feet, and less pronounced with higher ceilings.
• If ceilings are low, have your subjects sit down. When light comes from overhead, subject matter much closer to the ceiling (such as people's heads) receives much more light than objects only a few feet lower (for example, things they are holding in their hands).
• Be sure to position yourself at eye-level with human subjects, particularly if one or more have thinning hair, to avoid emphasizing the tops of their heads. Arguably the worst possible shooting environment is a group portrait of bald men in a room that's brightly lit from above!