Things I take pictures of - Strange and unusual uses for a digital camera

I always have the camera on me, ready to shoot pictures, ready to show pictures.

This is a list of what I use my digital camera for:
(now a pentax 8 mp 2.5" screen was a 4 megapixel Sony Cybershot 1.5" screen)
The most important feature might be a macro option (the tulip mode will usually do)

I often take a picture to avoid rewriting information.

1. ARCHIVING DOCUMENTS. Photocopying important documents.
   Time sheets, contracts, invoices for warranty purposes.
   Place the sheet in a bright uniform light, rest your camera on the back of a chair or doorframe. 14 day trial pdf from photo of book download snapter
2. ORGANIZE SCRAPS OF PAPER. Photograph hand written notes so I can throw them away.
3. LISTS. Photograph lists of phone numbers for quick reference
   (student list, co-worker list, extension numbers, emergency numbers)
   in fact if you see a phone number on a wall, (not that wall) you may need it later.
4. OCR. Yes, you can convert a picture of a text to modify it using a word processor.
   Make sure your camera is centered and squared up.
   The lighting must be uniform over the page. A letter should fill the screen.
   Then convert it to TIF format (Microsoft Picture Manager / EXPORT)
   Then OCR the TIF file: using Microsoft Document Imaging* / Tools / Recognize text using OCR
   then Microsoft Document Imaging / Tools/ send text to word...
5. PHOTOCOPIER. Copy any draft or handwritten document someone sticks in your face for future reference, inclusion in a website, blog, report. Try a large map, time sheets.
6. DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. Copy signed agreements, receipts you hand out before the ink is dry. They are time stamped and absolutely legible. Ready for filing.
7. FINISH READING AN ARTICLE. Photocopying exerpts from a magazine article at the doctor's office to finish later.
8. BIBLIOGRAPHY. Capture references for "the reading list"
   http://sitivi.blogspot.com/search?q=My%20life%20reading%20list
9. NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS. "Virtual clipping" of specials from advertising flyers (look ma-no scissors!)
   Everyone asks me for the price of computers and accessories, so I keep the latest promos in my camera.
   Clipping classified ads is one of the best uses of a camera I have found. Click as you read, then make all those calls.
10. GARAGE SALES. We go down to the "village post" and take pictures of every sign, ad, business card, then plan the route and refer to the pictures as we go)
11. SHOPPING. Take pictures of the advertising rolodex cards at the drugstore to call later from home.
12. SCREEN CAPTURE. Take a picture of your computer or TV screen. Show an error message to a technician. Some cool invention from the Discovery channel.
    Sometimes even a bad picture is better than no picture. This works for anything with a display: PC, TV, VCR, DVD, Calculator, Microwave, Video camera, Cell phone, fax machine.
13. RECORD A HOME MOVIE. Someone run a movie of you at the beach years ago.
    Set the camera down and record it. This may be the only conversion that ever gets done. Trust me.
14. PHOTO ALBUMS. Take pictures of all the pictures in your mom's album.
    Many have no negatives anyway.
15. OLD SLIDES. Take pictures of slides in macro mode (in front of a sheet of paper) stand the slide in putty to stabilize it.
16. OLD NEGATIVES. Take pictures of negatives then crop. If black and white just shoot and enjoy. If color, this is not for the faint hearted. Use the Macro setting (tulip), place the negative against glass with a sheet of paper on the other side in a window or in front of a lamp. If colour, set the colour balance manually to shade or tungsten. shotcopy.com how to
    Convert the negative to positive with colorpilot.com/silver.html maximum 512 pixel results in the free version.
    Photoshop users : three_easy_ways.htm
    HP's suggestions: scanning_slides
    Use Picture Window Pro_intro.html
17. FAMILY TREE. Illustrate your family tree. I use:
    Microsoft Paint to remove people, switch faces between shots, fix backgrounds
    Microsoft Picture Manager to improve and crop the pictures
18. REPORTING MAINTENANCE ITEMS. Just walk around and take pictures of everything that is broken then email them or write an illustrated report.
19. DIGITIZE WHITEBOARD. Take pictures of my whiteboards/blackboards before erasing them. Then I can study and improve my presentations.
    Or review the photos of the whiteboard as notes to REVIEW yesterday's LESSON with students.
20. COMPARISON SHOP. With all these model numbers it's hard to compare. Discretely snap price tags, no flash. Great for those listing in used car lots. It's probably illegal, and certainly frowned upon.
21. TAKE OUT THE TRASH. I take pictures of anything of sentimental value before throwing it away.
    These pictures are stored in a folder called "MEMORY LANE" and play as a slide show from time to time. Sometimes I wish I had that old yak wool sweater my brother gave me, but someone else is wearing it today and I still can reminisce.
22. TRAVEL INSURANCE. Take a picture of your luggage and it's contents, while your at it, take another at the ticket counter. If your luggage makes it, just delete it, otherwise it will help you file a claim.
23. PUT CITY HALL TO WORK. Take pictures of potholes, damaged signage and send them to the city. They actually get the job done!
24. REPORT DISTURBANCES. Take pictures of students causing disturbances and forward them by email to the principal, before I tell them to stop. Done discretely this is very effective at : a) stopping the disturbances b) starting a rumor the school has cameras everyhere.
25. AMUSE KIDS. Make animated cartoons with cutouts form catalogues. Make sure the camera is stable, use the 2 second delay and keep your hands off it to prevent camera motion. Run the pictures in rapid sequence slide show.
26. FREE "GPS". Take pictures of your screens in http://maps.google.com then follow them while in the car. Also take a picture of the GOOGLE STREET VIEW in google maps so you can recognize the buildings when you get there. Also take pictures of any landmarks to find your way while walking in an unknown city.

More ideas for K-12 teachers http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~ucfcasio/html/qvuses.htm
As for the usual pictures I take:

1. Of course, pictures of my wife, daughter, family, friends in action.
2. Documenting parties.
   http://picasaweb.google.com/sitivi
   http://picasaweb.google.com/hispanolaval
3. Inventory for insurance purposes (keep the CD in a fireproof safe or off premises)
4. Selling stuff online (my perpetual garage sale) http://lespac.com/ Kijiji Montréal craigslist: montreal
5. Take pictures of the house before during and after various projects.
   Added a walkway, patio, snow removal.

I do not take pictures of :

1. My students
2. Shopping centers, shops, banks, businesses (you know... staking out)
3. Artwork for sale in shops

Things I do with my pictures:

1. Send pictures to mom by printing them over the internet. (I like Jean-Coutu's service, but you can use wal-mart, etc.). She picks them up at her local drugstore.
2. Publish them in a PRIVATE UNLISTED album at http://picasaweb.google.com/
   I do not download or use Picasa on my computer. I just upload them directly using their handy online drag & drop feature.
   You can still send a link to one of these in your email to show friends.
3. Print them rarely with these tips: http://www.normankoren.com/makingfineprints.html

* Microsoft Document Imaging is part of the Microsoft Office Pro 2003 suite.