By David Gewirtz
I'm a big fan of the O'Reilly books. If you're a geek, especially a Linux geek, you probably know how it feels to desperately need that one critical piece of information that'll help you do some obscure, but absolutely critical systems change. And, if you're like me, you've probably turned to O'Reilly books to get you out of a jam more than once.
"Who wouldn't like a book with tips for using pantyhose and getting whiteboard photos?"
That's why I was particularly intrigued by Digital Photography Hacks, a new O'Reilly book, shown in Figure A, written by Derrick Small. After all, while photography is a geeky craft, it's not geeky in the same way that, say, configuring an Apache Web server is geeky. I was really curious what was inside this book.
FIGURE A
Read this book. It's chock-full of really helpful tips and ideas. (click for larger image)
I'm not new to O'Reilly's hacks series. I relied in TiVo Hacks to perform brain surgery on my three TiVos, and I've pored over Google Hacks to see just how much I could get out of that all-knowing search engine. So when Digital Photography Hacks landed on my desk for review, it was time to retire to the throne room for some good readin'.
The big list
The book's cover claims 100 industrial-strength tips and tools, and they're not kidding. What follows is the monster list of what's included in this US$29.95 book.
Chapter 1. Digital camera attachments
This chapter's all about the goodies you might want to take along. My favorites were the tip about gaffer's tape (I've used blue painter's tape, but there were some ideas I hadn't thought of), and the flexible arm tip, which is a really neat gadget we're going to try to get into the magazine for review.
Here's the list of tips in this chapter:
- Pocket tripods on the go
- Travel tripod: a happy compromise
- Walking-stick mount
- Convert your monopod into a makeshift tripod
- Steady shots from the comfort of your car
- Attach your camera to bicycle handlebars
- Flash brackets for pro lighting
- A flexible arm to hold accessories
- Bubble levels to keep things straight
- Battle the sun with an LCD hood
- Convert your digicam to a digital SLR
- T-mounts and other threaded tricks
- Double-strapping on the trail
- Stay in charge of your batteries
- Gaffer's tape when all else fails
Chapter 2. Daytime photo secrets
There were a couple of tips in this chapter that were among the best explanations I've seen of the technique. For example, if you've been curious about infrared photography, there's a great summary in this chapter. And, who wouldn't like a book that has tips for using pantyhose and getting whiteboard photos?
Here's the list of tips in this chapter:
- Pantyhose diffusion filter for flattering portraits
- Capture kids without going crazy
- Use sunglasses as a polarizing filter
- Get the big picture with a panorama
- Secrets of whiteboard photography
- Make your own passport photo
- Get super close
- Multiple exposures, digital style
- Go low-rez
- Painless infrared photography
- Create the maximum depth of field
- Create soft background portraits
- Analyze metadata to improve your shots
Chapter 3. Nighttime photo hacks
I like taking night shots, and I've gotten some great photos. But, usually, there's as much luck involved as art. This chapter has some great tips that I'm going to keep in mind the next time I'm out shooting at night. Hopefully, I'll still have all the luck I usually do, but not necessarily need it to succeed.
Here's the list of tips in this chapter:
- Nighttime portraits with scenic backgrounds
- Street shooting at night
- Capture the nighttime mood and leave the red eye at home
- Take flash shots of people who blink
- Auto headlamps and other streaming lights
- Starlight effects for candles and lights
- Light painting and colored gels
- Secrets of fireworks photography
- Night landscapes and the moon
- Colorful star trails
Chapter 4. Magic with flash
Some of the information in this book is similar to what's been covered elsewhere. But because most of the items are boiled down into tip or hack form, some of the tougher concepts are explained in a tight, clear manner.
For example, there's a section on taking portaits with two flashes. This is far from an uncommon process. But the way the author explains it in the book makes the process very clear. I liked it, as well, because he also provided a budget alternative if you weren't prepared to drop $600 or more on flash gear.
Here's the list of tips in this chapter:
- Outdoor fill flash
- Prevent red eye
- Add external flash to point and shoots
- Bounce flash for softer light
- Pro portraits with just two flashes
- Eliminate glare in reflective surfaces
- Freeze action with electronic flash
- Second-curtain flash for cool effects
Chapter 5. The computer connection
I have to admit, this chapter didn't "do it" as much for me as the other chapters. That said, there were again some very clear explanations.
Derrick is also the author of iPhoto 4: The Missing Manual and it's clear that he uses the simplicity Mac users expect (OK, no snickering here, I didn't mean it that way) to his advantage when writing this book.
Here's the list of tips in this chapter:
- Judge image sharpness by file size
- Unerase the lost
- Name folders to organize your images
- Create a Web photo gallery
- Amazing B&W prints from your inkjet printer
- Great color prints from your inkjet printer
- Pro-quality prints from your digicam
- Take your slideshow on the road
- Virtual-reality movies from your digicam
- Digicam movie editing made easy
- Rotate your movie from horizontal to vertical
- Create a rolling movie title
- Add music to movies and slideshows
- Voiceovers for that professional touch
- Store pictures and movies on an iPod
Chapter 6. Photoshop magic
What I like about this book is that it can appeal to different sorts of people. For example, if you're a long-time photographer, but a bit new to computer editing, this chapter might be for you. Whereas, if you're a long time Photoshop geek, but somewhat new to the actual use of the camera, some of the other chapters are a win.
Here's the list of tips in this chapter:
- Match resolution to output
- Secrets of sharpening
- Sample down for email attachments
- Crop and resample in one step
- Level that dipping horizon
- Power-line vanishing trick
- Combine two pictures
- Sponge out red eye
- Brighten teeth
- Intelligent auto color correction
- Soften facial lines
- Fix flash falloff
- Hand-color with the history brush
Chapter 7. Camera phone tricks
While we cover camera phones here in Connected Photographer, I have to admit I never thought there were tricks for using them. Frankly, I've been a bit of a camera snob and figured that since they were so low-res, they were also low-rent, and I didn't give them much thought.
Derrick did. There are some very cool ideas here. You should definitely read this chapter and take note of a the tips that might actually make your life easier. In fact, after reading this chapter, I find the idea of getting a camera phone for myself far more appealing!
Here's the list of tips in this chapter:
- Live with a less-than-perfect camera
- Send snapshots to the desktop
- Transfer images via email
- Send a paper text message
- Communicate in a foreign country
- Create a home inventory
- Rental-car tips and other auto hacks
- Get the big picture with a little camera phone
- Photo moblogging
- Capture life's little moments with camera-phone video
- Use your camera phone as a slideshow viewer
Chapter 8. Weekend photo projects
OK, I have to say that using a digital camera to send faxes is a silly, silly tip. It's well-written, and, I guess if you were trapped on a desert island with an Internet connection (or phone line), a high-end computer with photo-editing software, and a digital camera, you could now send a fax. It's not exactly a note in a bottle, but it's fun, regardless.
Some of the other projects are cute, especially if you have a family. And I really like the idea of keeping a digital diary. In fact, that might even be a useful technique for those working through emotional issues who are more visually inclined than those who are more auditory/digital. And, the second-to-last tip, the one that renames photos automatically in Windows XP is so cool, I almost think it's got to be illegal. I had no idea you could do that!
Here's the list of tips in this chapter:
- Create a coffee table photo book
- Create custom greeting cards
- Keep a digital diary
- Capture pictures of your TV screen
- Fax from your digital camera
- Copy slides with your digicam
- Preview film pictures with your digital camera
- Photograph zoo animals without bars
- Get close with digiscoping
- Advanced panorama technique
- Shoot the moon
- Remote-control camera
- Show who's who in group shots
- Rename photos automatically in Windows XP
- Stack images to remove noise
What we think
Overall, this book is great. It's got excellent photographs throughout, many of them in color. And, as I said before, it's very well written. I have a few minor nits. Some of the tips are a bit simplistic. For example, the tip on getting quality color from your inkjet printer presupposes that your printer has color profiles. If your printer didn't come with a profile, the tip gives you no suggestions for what to do about it.
Also, there are classes of digital camera photos just screaming for tips, like taking pictures for eBay and for online dating services. These weren't mentioned in the book. Of course, that's what a magazine like Connected Photographer is here for, so I'm glad they left us something to write about.
We give Digital Photography Hacks by Derrick Small a very clear 4 out of 5.
RATING: 4 STARS