Now that most cell phones have cameras, and many models of point-and-shoot cameras are pocket-size, many people are carrying one or the other throughout their day. Here’s a list of some unusual ways to utilize them:
• When you see books, CDs or movies you are interested in but don’t want to purchase, take a photograph. Later you can reference the photos and find them at the library or video store.
• Take a photo of your parking space location or sign at the airport, mall or garage to help find your car later.
• Have a collection of old photo prints you’d like to digitize? Most point-and-shoot cameras have excellent macrocapabilities. Use that feature to copy your photos or anything else you want digitized.
• For insurance purposes, take photographs of your possessions, room by room. Burn the photos to a CD, DVD or hard drive and put a copy in a safe-deposit box or give to a relative.
• Shopping for home furnishings? Take photos of your rooms and color schemes. Then take the camera along to the store and compare and match with possible purchases.
• If you’re a businessperson who exchanges business cards, take photographs of the cards with your phone camera and store there rather than in your billfold.
• When you make a reservation online for a hotel, snap a photograph of the statement and important numbers off your computer screen. Now you have the pertinent information in your phone for later reference.
• If you move TV and stereo equipment and want to remember how to rewire the connections, a photograph of the scene can help you reconstruct the set-up later.
• Can’t remember your license plate number when checking into a motel? Take a photo of it with your cell phone and store it there.
• Here’s one of the silliest uses. I was in the waiting room of a doctor’s office without my reading glasses. It occurred to me that in a real pinch I could have taken a photograph of a magazine article and then enlarged it in my phone to read.
For more ideas and tips check out this Web site: http://cameras.about.com/od/cameraphonespdas/a/emergency.htm
Comments
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Logan72 (Alia Ahmed) says…
Mike,
Those are some interesting suggestions. I especially like digitalizing photos. I've been scanning a lot of old photos but think the method you suggest might be quicker as long as the quality doesn't suffer.
davehahn (anonymous) says…
Mike,
It's so true! As a professional photographer, I still use my iPhone for all kinds of stuff - remembering where I parked at the mall, taking a picture of a poster so that I can check it out on the web later, you name it! I rarely use the camera for traditional photos, but constantly use it for nontraditional purposes.
Thanks for the Behind the Lens section - it's a pleasure to read :)
Sincerely
Dave Hahn
Professional Wedding Photography in Kansas City