Odd uses for digital camera?

Question

What sort of things do you use your camera for (even if it's a cell phone) that are not really considered "photography" in an artistic sort of way? I have taken shots of appliances and things that I take apart so I will know how to put them back together or how to take them apart the next time. You know... Things like those "secret" latches on the front of the dryer cover.

I've taken pictures of drapery rods in a store so I can show my wife what they have in stock. If she didn't like what I picked out, at least she can show me which ones to exchange them for.

What else???

You people are both clever and hilarious! You have substituted an expensive digital camera for the most mundane objects, but - why not? You have used them instead of a watch, a pencil, and even a flashlight!

I forgot about the wiring behind my TV which Dawg mentioned.

Keep the ideas coming!

Failed - Anyone can take pictures. Get a digicam and put it on "AUTO" and in no time at all, you'll be shooting like a pro. Don't be discouraged.

Answer 1

I have taken pictures of a NON expired meter, and the ticket on my windshield, so I can fight it in court.

Answer 2

I do stuff like that all the time. I'll be in the store and see something I want for Christmas and take a picture of it so my family will know exactly what I'm talking about.

If I'm somewhere unfamiliar and I'm hiking or something, I'll take pictures of interesting objects every few feet. That way I can find them on the path back.

This is probably not what you're thinking about, but my camera has video on it. This summer I worked at a summer camp and one night the guys were out on their campout and the girls were having a girly night. The theme was Hollywood, and we had all kinds of Hollywood activities. I had each cabin come up with a 30 second - 1 minute skit, and I filmed them on my camera. That night we watched a movie, but before the movie, we had a "screening" of all the skits. The kids LOVED it!

Also at this camp, my office was clear across camp from my cabin, through some very dark woods. I was always forgetting my flashlight, so I'd use my camera phone flash to light where I was going, not so much so I could see where I was going (I had that route memorized) but to watch out for rattlesnakes.

Answer 3

Well I have used my point and shoot cameras' live preview screen to test remote controls that don't seem to be working. The camera sees the infra red signal from the remote if it present.

When studying in college, I was somewhat legendary in not taking notes from the white board. instead I would photograph it. Many was the time I caught the lecturer out saying "I didn't write that!" .... well actually you can see from this picture, that's exactly what you wrote.

Many times I work on the car, I photograph parts as I disassemble them, to make sure I can reassemble them in the same order. for this I keep a plastic bag near the camera, and put the bag over my hand before picking up the camera. I often do something similar when working in my IT job as well.

I often take my camera out on the rescue boat, I have some amazing shots of the carnage caused by people who had no idea what they were doing in a boat.

I know I'll think of more when I hit the post button.

teef_au

Answer 4

Firstly.. remind me never to go shopping with Lucien !

My husband is into electronics etc., the other week he had me put together front and back photos of a circuit board thingy he was repairing (making top layer semi-transparent so you could see both at once) so he could see what bit matched up to what on the other side. You should have seen his eyes light up when I did it !

I also photograph paintings most weeks for advertising and my own records. I photograph antique and vintage dolls and dolls clothes for my daughter's business

Then there's the photographs for insurance records.

My favourite is the one I read on here a few weeks ago about a guy who used his flash to make a sandwich in a blackout, just kept flashing away intil it was made.. woo-hoo.

EDIT:
Tonight I used it to photograph my computer screen when a weird thingy placed itself in it. I did manage to shake it loose eventually. Got the pic too. Oh no, maybe now it has gone into my camera !? Better get the damned pegs out again! (in-joke)
Woooo, that was scary :o(

Answer 5

I photographed the wiring when I was swapping out stereos in my vehicle. I've taken a snapshot of a map so I could leave the map with it's owner and I've taken shots of plumbing under the sink so I could make sure I got the right shapes of replacement parts at the store. Catalogued onto CD the serial numbers of things in the home and of my home contents for insurance records. Taken pictures of things to sell on craigslist.

Answer 6

I once was on a road trip and found directions for a place i wanted to go visit in a park billboard.

I did not have a paper and pencil with me, so I used my camera to take pictures of the map and directions, then used the playback LCD to look up the directions as needed.
Worked quite well.

Answer 7

I have used my digital camera to take pictures (without the flash) of people's e-mails in the library, to read them just for fun lol
It's kind of stalker sounding, but I know the people, so it's just funny sometimes, and sometimes I find out things I don't want to know! I have also used my camera to take pictures of a piece of paper with a "to do" list on it, so I can remember to do those things next time I use my camera. I sometimes take pictures of people's phone numbers, like I would write them down on paper, then take a picture of it to remember to call them later =)

Answer 8

I have taken photos of business signs, with phone numbers, or sales info, so I could contact someone about it later when I have time. I've done that to contact "in case of emergency" numbers when wanting to use a location for a shoot.

I once took a photo of a suspicious car and driver, in back of a restaurant, when the passenger got out and started snooping around other cars. The flash gave me away, and they left soon after. I gave the pic to the local patrol guy later that night.

I use it a lot, if I dont have paper and pen handy, to jot down info, signs, interesting spots to shoot, ideas for backgrounds, props, etc....

Answer 9

this is one of the most amazing questions i've read here...
you people never cease to amaze me...i could write a book...these answers are just as amazing as the question,
though i have taken pictures at the store for my wife to view and decide...and i'm taking pics of a mural we are working on so she can put some input when she is not there...i take pictures of my faux finishes and gilded ceilings and the likes of that and the progression thereof.
and just a couple of weeks ago i took a picture of the circut board in the furnace so i could show them what i needed at the furnace parts store...the guy behind the counter took one look at it and told me what kind of furnace i have and what it is and how much it is going to cost me and went and got it....simply amazing. (ofcourse there was a smartallek kid next to him that wanted the serial number, the older fellow just rolled his eyes)

Answer 10

I have been flipping houses the last few months. So I've been taking pictures of before, during , and after pictures. After the job is done, I go back a look at the job, before and after....WoW...what a difference. Also a way for me to promote what I do.

Answer 11

Following my husband's lead, every time my kids beg for something at a store, I snap a pic with my cell phone. When we're at the mall, I also get a pic of the outside of the store. Quick and easy wish list.

Oh yes, and when we got new doors installed in the house, while husband was away on business, I snapped a pic to send him.