Jackson’s Picture Perfect

Want to take Michael Jackson’s photograph?

Then you’d better be prepared to follow some pretty specific instructions.

Two days before last week’s press conference announcing Jackson’s estimated $20-million corporate link-up with L.A. Gear, the Los Angeles public relations firm for L.A. Gear, Burson-Marsteller, telephoned newspapers with detailed advice on how to prepare for the event.

They not only advised photographers what kind of lens to place on their cameras--but exactly how many feet away they would be positioned from Jackson--and even what F-stop settings to use on their cameras.

Sound a bit loony? Said a publicist, “Don’t ask me. I’m just following instructions.”