How This Book Is Organized

Even though this book is designed for you to “open anywhere and start exploring,” it’s also organized into general categories. There are eight chapters, many of which contain more than a dozen hacks:

Chapter 1, Digital Camera Attachments

Let’s start with the goodies. This chapter introduces you to the various odds and ends that you can attach to your camera to help you accomplish hacks in subsequent chapters. Along the way, you’ll become familiar with most of the basic terminology we use to describe camera parts.

Chapter 2, Daytime Photo Secrets

Even though creative juices often flow in the wee hours of the night, photography requires light, and there’s no source more plentiful than the sun. But if you think this is just another chapter on boring daylight technique, you’re wrong. We’ll have you stretching things over the front of your lens, spinning your camera around in circles, and getting so close to objects you’ll think you’re exploring another world altogether.

Chapter 3, Nighttime Photo Hacks

The stars come out at night, and so does evocative photography. Through your lens, you’ll capture streaming lights, exploding fireworks, and glowing candles. Colors seem richer against a dark background, and the images you produce by working with these hacks will saturate your eyes.

Chapter 4, Magic with Flash

For many photographers, the camera flash is an untamed beast that never behaves. But there are situations in which a burst of light can make the difference between success and a ho-hum result. This chapter provides a collection of hacks that will change your mind about electronic flash.

Chapter 5, The Computer Connection

Your PC is a digital shoebox, sophisticated darkroom, and mad-scientist laboratory rolled into one. The minute you connect your camera to the computer, magical things can happen. Not only will this chapter help you improve your technical chops, but it also provides step-by-step instructions on how to become a movie maker, web publisher, and master printer.

Chapter 6, Photoshop Magic

If you really want to push the limits of photography, you need to explore Photoshop. Often, the Elements version is bundled with cameras. If it isn’t included with yours, you can buy it for less than US$80. But then what? This chapter is pure Photoshop for photographers. Your entire image-editing world will change as you investigate these hacks, and you’ll find yourself in charge of your pictures instead of at their mercy. Most of the techniques work with the cheaper Photoshop Elements software, while some require the professional CS version. Still, there is plenty here for anyone with any version of this outstanding image editor.

Chapter 7, Camera-Phone Tricks

Have you looked at the instruction manual that came with your camera phone? Not very helpful, is it? We think camera phones have great creative promise, in addition to some practical applications. So we’ve dedicated an entire chapter to mastering this raw but potentially exciting aspect of photography.

Chapter 8, Weekend Photo Projects

This chapter is a grab bag of photo goodies. Treats include instructions on how to create your own coffee-table book, maintain a digital diary, turn your camera into a virtual fax machine, and so much more. Rainy days will never be the same.

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