reviewed by Ken Beattie

ick a page, any page in this book and you will find something that will enhance your photographic experience. This book is chock full of interesting and creative ways to hack digital photography problems. Hacking is now often incorrectly considered breaking into others computers for malicious purposes. But originally a “hack” was a “quick and dirty” solution to a problem. So “hacker” was a compliment, referring to a creative ability at problem solving and the technical expertise to make it work.

Exploring this book is like diving for treasure. If you start at the first chapter you will be introduced to the various things you can attach to a camera. Individual tips cover tripods and other supports including how to make do without one. The last tip in this section is a substitute for something we all have used at least once, duct tape. The tape to use instead is called Gaffer’s Tape. The big advantage is it never leaves a residue. Great when it accidentally sticks to the lens. OOPS.

"O'Reilly's Hacks Series reclaims the term "hacking" for the goodguys--innovators who explore and experiment, unearth shortcuts, create useful tools, and come up with fun things to try on your own."

Like a treasure hunt reading the table of contents can take us off on tangents from our original direction. I went looking for a tip dealing with different “quality” of lights. But my eye caught the “Painless” Infrared Photography tip #25. That made me think about Colour correction. And off I went again to tip #71. “Intelligent Colour Correction” in Chapter 6 - Photoshop Magic.

You get the idea? I found this book is not to be read like a mystery novel, from cover to cover, although it could be. No, it is better, sampled like a recipe book—picking out the tips that match the ingredients of your current photo project—building your photographic experience as your interests change and grow. Today you may not be ready for the Hand Colouring of Photos with the History Brush. But next week, when you are presented with the family history project and a box of old photos, you might be eager to try it out.

The one drawback I found was the only offering for creating slide shows was QuickTime Pro software. There are many other similar video programs that can create presentations suitable for use on DVD players and your TV. Even some that can play on a computer that does not have QuickTime player. Experienced web searchers can find alternatives but, for those just starting out, it is discouraging.

How up-to-date is the material and information presented? I am glad you asked. It is ready for tomorrow--with a special chapter on Camera-Phone tricks that can also be used on any less-than-perfect camera. Tips that give you a reason to like low-res images. At 0.33 mega pixels these images are off the bottom of the chart for digital cameras but they are perfect size files for emailing from a mobile phone.

The last chapter is for everyone. It challenges us with fifteen weekend photo projects and gives a method to achieve success at every level of expertise. You choose how far to take the project and the book will be there ready for the next time you want to expand your photographic horizons.

Overall this is a “must have book” for digital photographers who want to extend their knowledge and photo quality from initial image to final print.

“Digital Photography Hacks”
Author Derrick Story, Published by O’Reilly
Price: Canadian $43.95
ISBN:0-596-00666-7

20% discount for BB&C members.