Cope - Clever digital photography ideas : using your camera out and about

There was a time, not so long ago, when photography was in serious decline. Armed with more and more sophisticated kit, amateur and enthusiast photographers were shooting away as they had always done. But the wider picture was quite different. Although cameras were becoming easier to use and more proficient at delivering great shots, people just werent buying them as they once had. It seemed that they didnt like hassle: the hassle of carrying a camera and film; and the hassle of taking films for processing, then waiting patiently for the prints. It seems results were required immediately and, unless you were willing to wield a bulky Polaroid camera, cameras just didnt deliver.

However, technology was about to change this situation dramatically. As needs changed and demands for more immediate results became more pressing in every walk of life the digital camera came of age. What had been something of an expensive toy for computer enthusiasts only, now became mainstream. Taking digital photos became straightforward and viewing them, immediately, just as easy. The change within the camera market was dramatic; in a very short time cameras began to fly off store shelves again. Digital cameras had restored photographys popularity; in fact, camera use was now greater than it had been at any time in the past.

Waterproof cameras: these give you the means to take your camera almost anywhere

Today, camera ownership has never been higher; each year the record for the number of photos shot is smashed. And of course, cameras are now more than just cameras that take basic photos; they can shoot video or even 3D shots. Indeed some cameras arent actually cameras at all: mobile phones are equipped with potent cameras that shoot movies, too. This means that not only do we shoot more photos now, we also shoot subjects we may never have contemplated as subject material in the past.

Camera with flip-out viewing screen: these are great for taking photos at any angle

When cameras used film every shot cost money and, unless you carried copious amounts of expensive film, every shot you took would have to be carefully considered. Today those limits are gone and everything has become in a photographic sense fair game for shooting with your camera. We can use our cameras not only to record treasured memories, but also to record more mundane events that may still be pictorial, and do more besides. In this book well explore some of the many ways we can use cameras and camera phones today. Some ways you may have already explored; other ways will seem a little more off the wall.

Camera phones: ideal when you want a small, pocketable all-purpose device

Whatever camera you own, we hope youll find some surprising and useful ways to use it better in this book.

Peter Cope

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Using this book

Directly beneath the title for each idea, youll see one or more icons; these denote the following:

The idea is suitable for a digital camera

The idea is suitable for a camera phone/smart phone

The use of a phone app is suggested

The use of computer software is suggested

An easy, medium or hard difficulty level

Although we have done our best to avoid extensive photography jargon as we explain the ideas, sometimes this has been unavoidable. Please refer to the Clever Jargon Buster to reference any unfamiliar terms.

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A camera probably figures pretty highly in a list of essential kit when travelling, heading off on holiday or even spending a day out. It is perhaps less likely to do so when heading off shopping, or doing other more mundane day-to-day duties. Thats something of a shame because there are quite a few opportunities to use a camera on even the most pedestrian of outings.

In this chapter well explore some of these. Some might be obvious; others less so. For some you might just think why didnt I think of that before?. Now that many of us carry camera phones almost every waking hour theres no excuse you can have a go at many of these ideas.

Well also look at some cunning photographic ideas too; ways to make your photos that little bit better without that much effort. And what about a camera as a safety device, something to come to your aid in the most difficult of conditions? Yes, theres even a clever idea for that!

Inspiration can come from strange places and the store selling postcards for tourists can be one of them. If you want to get the best photos of any tourist location youre visiting, a shop or kiosk that sells postcards can provide terrific inspiration. How? Well, postcard printers want postcards that sell. And postcards that sell are those with the best views.

So, from a quick scan of the images that are on display you can quickly establish which are the best views and get ready to emulate or improve on them. You could even buy a few of the best to take along with you to make sure you really do shoot from the best location and viewpoint.

Inspiration: postcards may feature many clichd views, but they can also be the most impressive

City sightseeing buses are an excellent way of getting your bearings and, if you take the top deck, some great shots. OK, taking photos from a moving platform is not ideal, but you can still get some good shots to give your photo album a kick-start. And a sightseeing bus is probably the best way to get to see all the main landmarks and tourist hotspots in the shortest time.