OReilly digital photography hacks 100 industrial strength tips and tools may 2004 ISBN 0596006667

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TableofContents
Index
Reviews
ReaderReviews
Errata
Academic

DigitalPhotographyHacks
ByDerrickStory

Publisher :O'Reilly
PubDate :May2004
ISBN :0-596-00666-7
Pages :352


Goingbeyondthestandardfareofmost
digitalphotographybooks,Digital
PhotographyHackssharestheknowledge
thatprofessionalphotographershavelearned
throughthousandsofshots'worthof
experienceandyearsofexperimentation.

Withexquisite,full-colorphotosthroughout,
thebookpresents100proventechniquesin
theareasofdaytimeandnighttimephoto


secrets,flashmagic,digitalcamera
attachments,funphotoprojects,camera
phonetricks,andmore.Thisbookisyour
passporttotakingthekindofdigitalphotos
you'vealwaysaspiredto.



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TableofContents
Index
Reviews
ReaderReviews
Errata
Academic

DigitalPhotographyHacks
ByDerrickStory

Publisher :O'Reilly
PubDate :May2004
ISBN :0-596-00666-7
Pages :352



Copyright

Credits
AbouttheAuthor

Contributors

Acknowledgments


Foreword
WhyPushtheEnvelope?


Preface
WhyDigitalPhotographyHacks?

HowtoUseThisBook

HowThisBookIsOrganized




HowtoContactO'Reilly



ConventionsUsedinThisBook
GotaHack?
Chapter1.DigitalCameraAttachments





Introduction




Hack2.TravelTripod:AHappyCompromise




Hack4.ConvertYourMonopodintoaMakeshiftTripod

Hack6.AttachYourCameratoBicycleHandlebars




Hack8.AFlexibleArmtoHoldAccessories




Hack10.BattletheSunwithanLCDHood




Hack12.T-MountsandOtherThreadedTricks




Hack14.StayinChargeofYourBatteries

Hack1.PocketTripodsontheGo
Hack3.Walking-StickMount
Hack5.SteadyShotsfromtheComfortofYourCar
Hack7.FlashBracketsforProLighting
Hack9.BubbleLevelstoKeepThingsStraight
Hack11.ConvertYourDigicamtoaDigitalSLR

Hack13.Double-StrappingontheTrail
Hack15.Gaffer'sTapeWhenAllElseFails


Chapter2.DaytimePhotoSecrets
Introduction

Hack16.PantyhoseDiffusionFilterforFlatteringPortraits




Hack17.CaptureKidsWithoutGoingCrazy




Hack19.GettheBigPicturewithaPanorama




Hack21.MakeYourOwnPassportPhoto




Hack23.MultipleExposures,DigitalStyle

Hack25.PainlessInfraredPhotography




Hack27.CreateSoftBackgroundPortraits

Hack18.UseSunglassesasaPolarizingFilter
Hack20.SecretsofWhiteboardPhotography
Hack22.GetSuperClose
Hack24.GoLow-Rez
Hack26.CreatetheMaximumDepthofField
Hack28.AnalyzeMetadatatoImproveYourShots


Chapter3.NighttimePhotoHacks
Introduction

Hack29.NighttimePortraitswithScenicBackgrounds




Hack30.StreetShootingatNight

Hack32.TakeFlashShotsofPeopleWhoBlink



Hack34.StarlightEffectsforCandlesandLights

Hack31.CapturetheNighttimeMoodandLeavetheRedEyeatHome
Hack33.AutoHeadlampsandOtherStreamingLights




Hack35.LightPaintingandColoredGels




Hack36.SecretsofFireworksPhotography
Hack37.NightLandscapesandtheMoon

Hack38.ColorfulStarTrails


Chapter4.MagicwithFlash
Introduction




Hack39.OutdoorFillFlash

Hack41.AddExternalFlashtoPointandShoots




Hack43.ProPortraitswithJustTwoFlashes




Hack45.FreezeActionwithElectronicFlash

Hack40.PreventRedEye
Hack42.BounceFlashforSofterLight
Hack44.EliminateGlareinReflectiveSurfaces
Hack46.Second-CurtainFlashforCoolEffects


Chapter5.TheComputerConnection
Introduction

Hack47.JudgeImageSharpnessbyFileSize

Hack48.UnerasetheLost




Hack50.CreateaWebPhotoGallery




Hack52.GreatColorPrintsfromYourInkjetPrinter




Hack54.TakeYourSlideshowontheRoad




Hack56.DigicamMovieEditingMadeEasy




Hack58.CreateaRollingMovieTitle

Hack60.VoiceoversforThatProfessionalTouch

Hack49.NameFolderstoOrganizeYourImages
Hack51.AmazingB&WPrintsfromYourInkjetPrinter
Hack53.Pro-QualityPrintsfromYourDigicam
Hack55.Virtual-RealityMoviesfromYourDigicam
Hack57.RotateYourMoviefromHorizontaltoVertical
Hack59.AddMusictoMoviesandSlideshows
Hack61.StorePicturesandMoviesonaniPod


Chapter6.PhotoshopMagic
Introduction

Hack62.MatchResolutiontoOutput




Hack63.SecretsofSharpening




Hack65.CropandResampleinOneStep



Hack67.Power-LineVanishingTrick

Hack64.SampleDownforEmailAttachments
Hack66.LevelThatDippingHorizon




Hack68.CombineTwoPictures




Hack69.SpongeOutRedEye




Hack71.IntelligentAutoColorCorrection




Hack73.FixFlashFalloff

Hack70.BrightenTeeth
Hack72.SoftenFacialLines
Hack74.Hand-ColorwiththeHistoryBrush


Chapter7.Camera-PhoneTricks
Introduction

Hack75.LivewithaLess-Than-PerfectCamera




Hack76.SendSnapshotstotheDesktop




Hack78.SendaPaperTextMessage




Hack80.CreateaHomeInventory




Hack82.GettheBigPicturewithaLittleCameraPhone




Hack84.CaptureLife'sLittleMomentswithCamera-PhoneVideo

Hack77.TransferImagesViaEmail
Hack79.CommunicateinaForeignCountry

Hack81.Rental-CarTipsandOtherAutoHacks
Hack83.PhotoMoblogging
Hack85.UseYourCameraPhoneasaSlideshowViewer


Chapter8.WeekendPhotoProjects
Introduction

Hack86.CreateaCoffeetablePhotoBook




Hack87.CreateCustomGreetingCards




Hack89.CapturePicturesofYourTVScreen




Hack91.CopySlideswithYourDigicam




Hack93.PhotographZooAnimalsWithoutBars

Hack95.AdvancedPanoramaTechnique




Hack97.Remote-ControlCamera




Hack99.RenamePhotosAutomaticallyinWindowsXP




Hack88.KeepaDigitalDiary
Hack90.FaxfromYourDigitalCamera
Hack92.PreviewFilmPictureswithYourDigitalCamera
Hack94.GetClosewithDigiscoping
Hack96.ShoottheMoon
Hack98.ShowWho'sWhoinGroupShots
Hack100.StackImagestoRemoveNoise
Colophon
Index


Copyright©2004O'ReillyMedia,Inc.

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Credits
AbouttheAuthor
Contributors
Acknowledgments

AbouttheAuthor
DerrickStoryisaphotographer,writer,andteacher.Hestarting
hackingoncameraslongbeforehisfirstshave,date,orkiss.
Mostlikely,thispassionfortinkeringdelayedthelattertwoby
manyyears.Duringtheformativeperiodofhiscareer,hewas
muchbetterattakingcamerasapartthanputtingthemback
together.Helearnedthatducttapeleavesanastyresidueon
glassoptics,thatplasticbagsaren'talwayswatertight,andthat
justbecauseyouthinksomethingshouldworkacertainway
doesn'tmeanitwill.
Now,morethan30cameraslater,herunshisNorthern
Californiaphotobusiness,StoryPhotography
(),writesarticlesandbooksfor
O'Reilly&Associates,andteachesdigitalphotographyat
technologyconferencessuchasMacworldExpo.
YoucanreadDerrick'sonlinearticlesatMacDevCenter
()andcheckouthisotherbooks
atO'Reilly'swebsite(),includingthe
DigitalPhotographyPocketGuide,DigitalVideoPocketGuide,
andiPhoto4:TheMissingManual.


Contributors
Thefollowingpeoplecontributedtheirwriting,images,and
creativesoulstothisproject.Withoutthem,thisbookwouldnot
havethediversityandcharmthatisimbuedbytheirefforts.
JanBlanchardisafreelancephotographerinNorthern
Californiawhobelievesthere'snosuchthingastoomuch
magnification.Whenshedoesn'thaveherlenshoodburied

inthepistilsandstamensofflowers,youcanfindher
shootingweddingsandbuildingdigitalslideshowsonher
iBook.Youcanseemoreofherworkat
/>DavidGoldwasseristheownerofInertia,LLC,whichhe
startedin2000toprovidevisualmediaservicestothe
designandconstructionindustry.Heisalifelong
photographyenthusiastwhorackedupsevenyears'
experienceinthearchitecturalfieldpriortoventuringout
onhisown.HehasaBachelorofArchitecturedegreefrom
TulaneUniversityandaMasterofConstructionManagement
degreefromWashingtonUniversity.
David'sfocusisonhigh-resolutionpanoramicphotography,
aswellasarchitectural,travel,landscape,andcommercial
photography.Notonlydoeshelovetheartofphotography,
buthealsolovesexploringthescienceandtechnologies
relatedtothecapturingandapplicationofdigitalimages.If
he'snotbusyworkingonaproject,he'sprobablyout
findingnewthingstophotographorriggingupsomeoddlookingdeviceorworkflowtopushphotographictechnology
alittlefurtheralong.YoucanemailDavidatorvisithiswebsite:


TerrieMilleristheProductionManagerfortheOnline
PublicationsGroupofO'Reilly&Associates.Forfun,she
maintainsPointReyes.net()and
isahawk-watchvolunteerfortheGoldenGateRaptor
Observatory()duringthefallraptormigrationseason.
ToddOgasawarafocusesontwodistincttopics.Thefirstis
MobileWorkforceandMobileLifestyletechnology,with
specialattentionpaidtotheMicrosoftWindowsMobile
platform(PocketPCandSmartphone).Microsofthas

recognizedhisdemonstratedpracticalexpertiseand
willingnesstosharehisexperiencebyrecognizinghimasa
MicrosoftMostValuableProfessional(MVP)intheMobile
Devicescategory.
Hisothertechnologyfocusisintheefforttobring
commercial(especiallyMicrosoft-relatedproducts)and
GNU/open-sourcesoftwaretogetherinasynergisticand
productiveway.Forlackofabetterterm,Toddcallsthis
conceptEccentricTechnology.
Toddhaswrittenseveralarticlesrelatedtomobiledevices,
includingcameraphones,fortheO'ReillyNetworkWireless
DevCenter(He
previouslyworkedasatechnologyanalystforGTE/Verizon.
HealsoservedasthecontractedForumManagerforthe
MSN(andlaterZDNet)TelephonyForumandWindowsCE
Forum.Morerecently,heservedasprojectleadtodevelop
anintranetportalfortheStateofHawaiiusingopensource
tools.
YoucanfindTodd'sMobileWorkforceandLifestyle
commentaryatat.Youcan
learnmoreaboutEccentricTechnologyat
.Forcommentsrelatedto
cameraphones,youcanreachToddbyemailat



MikePasinieditsImagingResource'sDigitalPhotography
Newsletter( />helpingsubscribers"getthepicture"withtutorials,reviews,
columnsforbeginnersandpros,real-lifeadventures,and
free,personaltechnicalhelp.Shorterthanheappearsin

print,hehasescapedseriousinjurybehindthelensandthe
keyboardthanksonlytothehackshehasgleanedfrom
family,friends,andnearlyperfectstrangers.He'shappyto
shareafewfavoriteshere,notjusttohelpreducetheneed
formedicalcarebutalsotoexpresshisgratitude.
HadleySternisadesigner,writer,andphotographer
residinginBoston,MA.HadleywasborninLondon,
England,relocatedatage4toSingapore,thentoCanadaat
age10,andfinallytoAmericaatage22,wherehemethis
lovelywife,Meiera.
Hadleystudiedcreativewritingandwesterncivilizationand
cultureatConcordiaUniversitybeforestudyinggraphic
designattheRhodeIslandSchoolofDesign(RISD).While
atRISD,hebegantopursuephotographyseriously,working
inblackandwhiteandcolorandalwaysexperimentingwith
differenttechniques,includinglearninghowtoprint
Cibachromes.
SincegraduatingfromRISD,Hadleyhasworkedasa
professionaldesigneratMalcolmGrearDesigners,Rykodisc
Records,andRazorfish.Hehasworkedoncorporateidentityprojects,CDpackages,websites,flashbanner
advertising,andawidevarietyofprintcollateral.Equally
adeptasbothaprintandinteractivedesigner,heuseshis
technicalknowledgeofdesignproductiontofurtherenrich
hisphotography.Hadleynowworksasafreelancedesigner,
consultingwithvariousclients.Hispersonalsiteis
.


Hadleyalsofindstimetophotograph,workinginavariety
ofmedia,bothdigitalandtraditional.Hiscurrenttools

includeaCanonEOSElanIIE,BronicaETRS,GraflexSpeed
Graphics,aCanonS50,aPowerMacG4,andaJamcam.His
workhasbeenexhibitedinKentucky,Providence,Newport,
andKansas.
HadleyhaswrittenforWebMonkey,AmericanPhoto
magazine,andiPodLounge.com,andisthePublisherand
Editor-in-ChiefofAppleMatters.com.AppleMattersisa
seriousyetirreverentlookatallthingsApple.Covering
opinions,news,andinterviews,AppleMattershasdone
tremendouslywellsinceitslaunchoverayearago.Design,
writing,photographyeachinformstheothers.
AndrzejWrotniak("Un-jay,"ifyouwanttopronounceit
right)isalongtimeamateurphotographer,computer
enthusiast,andwebpublisher.Inhisfreetime,heisalsoa
chiefscientistandsoftwareengineeratasmallaerospace
companyinMaryland,workingwithairtrafficapplications.A
physicistbyeducation,hespent16yearsincosmicray
researchinhisnativePolandbeforesettlingintheUnited
States20yearsago.
Andrzej'seclecticwebsite()provides
about300pagesoforiginalmaterial,includingphotography
(mostlydigital),travel,andanumberofshareware
Windowsapplications:someadvancedmathtoolsfor
scientistsandengineers,butalsoanaddictivepuzzlegame.
Hisarticlesonphotographyrangefromin-depth,technical
reviewsofselecteddigitalcameramodels,throughgeneral
how-toarticles,toahistoricsectiononthefirst35mmSLR
evermade.Hiswebsitealsoincludesanumberofphotogallerypages,withhigh-resolutionimagesfromUzbekistan,
Japan,theOuterBanks,MonumentValley,andmore.

Whenyouvisithiswebsite(refreshingly,withoutany
advertising,pop-ups,frames,orscripts),bepreparedto
spendquiteawhile.ThisiswhattheWebwassupposedto
beabout.YoucancontactAndrzejat


Acknowledgments
I'mindebtedtothecontributorstothisbook,whosharedtheir
secretstohelpreadersbetterenjoytheartandscienceof
photography.
NoneofthiswouldhavehappenedatallifRaelDornfesthadn't
calledmeonedayatworkandaskedmewhoIthoughtmight
beagoodauthorforthisbook.Thanks,Rael,forringingmeup!
AndI'vesoenjoyedhavingyouasmyeditor.
IlikethephilosophyoftheHacksseriesandtheformatofthese
books.Thisapproachbroughtoutmycreativityandhelpedme
becomeabetterwriter.DaleDoughertyoriginatedthisseries,
andItipmylenshoodtohisenduringingenuity.
Finally,Iknowthathavingawriterinthefamily,orasafriend,
requirespatienceandtolerance.Iamblessedtohavethe
supportofthosedearsoulswhotouchmydailylife,encourage
mywork,andenduremyendlessbrainstormofcrazyideas.
AnddespitethedisruptiveinfluenceIbringtotheirlives,they
stillloveme.Thankyou!


Foreword
WhyPushtheEnvelope?

WhyPushtheEnvelope?
Capturingadecisivemomentinthecameralensandknowing
thatyou"gottheshot"isoneofthemostsatisfyingfeelingsa
photographercanexperience.Bestofall,it'sanexperienceyou
canenjoyinthemomentandthenreliveagainlaterwith
others.Andifyou'relucky,whenyoushareyourimagewith
others,theymightalsofeelwhatmovedyouwhenyouclicked
theshutter.
Youhavetopursuephotographs,notjustinthephysical
senseasIdidwhenItraveledtoAustraliatoworkonFromAlice
toOceanbutmentallyandemotionallyaswell.Photographyisa
fascinatingmarriageofartandphysics.It'sajourneyofthe
mindaswellasofthebody.Andthat'spreciselywhyI'mdrawn
tothiscollectionofphotographyhacksbyDerrickStory.
Thetaglineforthisbookis"100Industrial-StrengthTipsand
Tools."Here,hackisdefinedasacleversolutiontoan
interestingproblem.Anyoneseriousabouttakinggoodpictures
knowsthatgreatphotographyisfullofconstantproblem
solving.Whenyoufindthesolution,you'reoftenrewardedwith
astrikingimage.Thisbookcanhelpyousolvethose
problemsnotjustinthesenseofchoosingthecorrectaperture
andshutterspeed,butalsointermsoflookingatyour
photographyinanentirelynewway.
Thehacksinthisbookrangefromtheartistic,suchasusing
infraredimagingtorecordstrikinglandscapes,tocutting-edge
consumertechnologies,suchaswebloggingwithacamera
phone(knownasmoblogging).Eachtechniqueisanexperience
untoitself,andthebookinvitesyoutopickitup,openittoany
page,anddiscoversomethingnewtodowithyourcameraand

yourphotographs.
Theexplorationofphotographyhasbeenawakeningtheartist,


scientist,andadventurerwithinusforover100years.Andnow,
digitaltoolshaveopeneddoorsweneverknewexisted.It's
possiblethatbytryingthetechniquesandexploringthe
conceptsinthisbook,youmightfindyourtruephotographic
voice.Andevenifyoufeelyouarewellversedintheworldof
photography,itneverhurtstospeakasecondlanguage.
--RickSmolan
AgainstAllOddsProductions



Preface
Photographyattractscreativeproblemsolvers.Masterssuchas
W.EugeneSmith,JerryUelsmann,andAnselAdamsworked
withmoretechnicalacesuptheirsleevesthanariverboat
gambler.Theiringenuityandphotographicprowessinspiredthis
book.
IfyouwereabletoseeanoriginalcontactprintforAdams's
"Moonrise,Hernandez,"you'drealizethattherawphotograph
hetookin1941lookedmuchdifferentfromsubsequent
enlargementshangingonmuseumwallsyearslater.ByAdams's
ownadmission,itwasadifficultnegativetoprint.Hemasked
certainareasandintensifiedothers.WhatisarguablyAnsel
Adams'smostacclaimedpicturerequiredeveryounceofhis
talentandcreativeproblemsolving.Inotherwords,hehacked
theheckoutofit.

Ourtoolsaredifferentnow.Insteadofan8"10"viewcamera,
manyphotographersaretotingpocket-sizeddigicams.What
wasoncetheredglowofadarkroomsafelighthasbeen
replacedbythecool,whiteradianceofanLCDcomputer
monitor.
I'moneofthosehereticswhobelievethatdigitizingthe
photographicprocesshasstrengthened,notweakened,the
medium.Thepracticeofmakingcreativeimageryismore
accessibletomorepeoplethanever.Accesstoinnovationis
whatthisbookisallabout.
Digitalphotographybringsoutthemostwonderfulthingsin
people.Anotherwiseconservativebusinessmanwillshootwith
carefreeabandonwhenadigitalcameraisplacedinhishands.
Self-consciousteenagerstransformintorockstarsinfrontofa
zoomlens,andseniorcitizensbecomeinstantandadept
historians.


Digitalphotographyencouragesyoutotakerisks.Ifitdoesn't
workout,eraseitbeforeanyoneknows.Thepathto
photographicsuccessislitteredwithdiscardedpicturesthatno
oneeversaw.
Ihopethisbookhelpsyoutakelotsofpicturesandthatyou
findthingsherethatyouwouldneverhavedreamedoftrying.
Nothingcouldmakemehappierthantohearthatyoutooka
creativeriskandultimatelysucceeded.Ifthathappens,please
writemeatandtellmeallaboutit.
MostofuswillneverenjoytheacclaimofW.EugeneSmith,
JerryUelsmann,andAnselAdams.Thatisn'tthepoint.Ifwe
cansatisfyourowncreativeyearning,andpossiblytouchthe

heartsofothersalongtheway,thenthisendeavorisasuccess.


WhyDigitalPhotographyHacks?
Thetermhackinghasabadreputation.Itisoftenreferredtoas
theprocessforbreakingintocomputersandturningtheminto
weaponsofdiscord.Amongpeoplewhowritecode,though,the
termhackreferstoa"quick-and-dirty"solutiontoaproblem,or
acleverwaytogetsomethingdone.Andthetermhackeris
takenasacompliment,referringtosomeonebeingcreativeand
havingthetechnicalchopstogetthingsdone.
TheHacksseriesisanattempttoreclaimtheword,document
thegoodwayspeoplearehacking,andpassthehackerethicof
creativeparticipationontotheuninitiated.Seeinghowothers
approachsystemsandproblemsisoftenthequickestwayto
learnanewtechnology.
Thiscollectionofhacksreflectsthereal-worldexperienceof
photographerswhoaresteepedinphotographichistoryand
expertise.Theysharetheirno-nonsenseand,sometimes,quickand-dirtysolutionsto"gettingtheshot."Thisbookcontainstips
forworkingindoors,outdoors,duringtheday,atnight,infront
ofthecomputer,andevenwithacameraphoneinhand.
Eachhackcanbeabsorbedinafewminutes,savingcountless
hoursofsearchingfortherightanswer.DigitalPhotography
Hacksprovidesdirect,hands-onsolutionsthatcanbeappliedto
thechallengesthatfacebothnewusers,whoaremeetingthe
digitalcameraforthefirsttime,andlongtimeusers,whoare
alreadytotingheftydigitalSLRs.I'mconfidentthatthis
collectioncontainsmanygemsthatwilldelightyou.

HowtoUseThisBook
Youcanreadthisbookfromcovertocoverifyoulike,butfor
themostpart,eachhackstandsonitsown.Ifthere'sa
prerequisiteyououghttoknowabout,there'llbeacrossreferencetoguideyouontherightpath.Sofeelfreetobrowse,
flippingaroundtothesectionsthatinterestyouthemost.
I'vewrittenthebookthiswayforareason.Exploring
photographyisnotalinearprocess.Youdon'twakeupone
morningandsay,"TodayI'mgoingtolearneverythingthereis
toknowaboutaperturesettings."Irememberstandingina
camerastoreandoverhearingacustomertalkingtothe
salesperson.Hesaid,"Yes,lastweekImasteredblack-andwhitephotography,andnowI'mreadytoconquercolor."
Photographyjustdoesn'thappenthatway.
Instead,whatyoumightsaywhenyouwakeupinthemorning
is,"Ineedtofigureouthowtoshoottonight'slunareclipse."
Chancesare,youreallydon'tcareaboutthehistoryofaperture
settingsortherelativebrightnessofthemooncomparedtothe
sun.Whatyouwanttoknowishowtogettheshot.Andifthat
requiresclampingyourdigitalcameratoanoldtelescopeand
usinggaffer'stapetoholditinplace,sobeit.
Ifthisapproachmakessensetoyou,sowilltheorganizationof
thisbook.Whenyouneedtosolveaproblem,I'mhopingthat
you'llfindthesolution,oratleastaclue,inthefollowingpages.
TheTableofContentsiscomprehensive,asistheIndex.Use
themtosearchoutyouranswers.Andifyou'rejustinthemood
totrysomethingnew,openthebooktoanypageandsay,"I'm
goingtodothisprojecttoday."


HowThisBookIsOrganized
Eventhoughthisbookisdesignedforyouto"openanywhere

andstartexploring,"it'salsoorganizedintogeneralcategories.
Thereareeightchapters,manyofwhichcontainmorethana
dozenhacks:

Chapter1,DigitalCameraAttachments
Let'sstartwiththegoodies.Thischapterintroducesyouto
thevariousoddsandendsthatyoucanattachtoyour
cameratohelpyouaccomplishhacksinsubsequent
chapters.Alongtheway,you'llbecomefamiliarwithmostof
thebasicterminologyweusetodescribecameraparts.

Chapter2,DaytimePhotoSecrets
Eventhoughcreativejuicesoftenflowintheweehoursof
thenight,photographyrequireslight,andthere'snosource
moreplentifulthanthesun.Butifyouthinkthisisjust
anotherchapteronboringdaylighttechnique,you'rewrong.
We'llhaveyoustretchingthingsoverthefrontofyourlens,
spinningyourcameraaroundincircles,andgettingsoclose
toobjectsyou'llthinkyou'reexploringanotherworld
altogether.

Chapter3,NighttimePhotoHacks
Thestarscomeoutatnight,andsodoesevocative
photography.Throughyourlens,you'llcapturestreaming
lights,explodingfireworks,andglowingcandles.Colors


seemricheragainstadarkbackground,andtheimagesyou
producebyworkingwiththesehackswillsaturateyour
eyes.

Chapter4,MagicwithFlash
Formanyphotographers,thecameraflashisanuntamed
beastthatneverbehaves.Buttherearesituationsinwhich
aburstoflightcanmakethedifferencebetweensuccess
andaho-humresult.Thischapterprovidesacollectionof
hacksthatwillchangeyourmindaboutelectronicflash.

Chapter5,TheComputerConnection
YourPCisadigitalshoebox,sophisticateddarkroom,and
mad-scientistlaboratoryrolledintoone.Theminuteyou
connectyourcameratothecomputer,magicalthingscan
happen.Notonlywillthischapterhelpyouimproveyour
technicalchops,butitalsoprovidesstep-by-step
instructionsonhowtobecomeamoviemaker,web
publisher,andmasterprinter.

Chapter6,PhotoshopMagic
Ifyoureallywanttopushthelimitsofphotography,you
needtoexplorePhotoshop.Often,theElementsversionis
bundledwithcameras.Ifitisn'tincludedwithyours,you
canbuyitforlessthanUS$80.Butthenwhat?Thischapter
ispurePhotoshopforphotographers.Yourentireimageeditingworldwillchangeasyouinvestigatethesehacks,
andyou'llfindyourselfinchargeofyourpicturesinsteadof
attheirmercy.Mostofthetechniquesworkwiththe
cheaperPhotoshopElementssoftware,whilesomerequire


theprofessionalCSversion.Still,thereisplentyherefor
anyonewithanyversionofthisoutstandingimageeditor.

Chapter7,Camera-PhoneTricks
Haveyoulookedattheinstructionmanualthatcamewith
yourcameraphone?Notveryhelpful,isit?Wethink
cameraphoneshavegreatcreativepromise,inadditionto
somepracticalapplications.Sowe'vededicatedanentire
chaptertomasteringthisrawbutpotentiallyexcitingaspect
ofphotography.

Chapter8,WeekendPhotoProjects
Thischapterisagrabbagofphotogoodies.Treatsinclude
instructionsonhowtocreateyourowncoffee-tablebook,
maintainadigitaldiary,turnyourcameraintoavirtualfax
machine,andsomuchmore.Rainydayswillneverbethe
same.