I like to tell stories, either in person or with photographs. I’ve learned (the hard way) that people don’t like to listen to – or see – boring stories. Think about this before you insist that everyone sit down to see your photos, whether they’re on your computer, in an album or on a slide projector.

(Shown: Olympus FE 350 Digital Camera)

The most important part of story telling is that you edit your work. Think like a novelist and be sure that each image moves the story forward, as does a novelist with his or her paragraphs. Some writers, after they’ve finished a story, apply an interesting technique: they cut out each paragraph and mix them together on a worktable. Then, one by one, they rebuild the story by fitting the paragraphs together. Usually, they fall in place as first written, but, at the end, authors often discover a handful of paragraphs (usually their favorites) that no longer fit.

Storytelling photographers should practice similar disciplines.

And, yes, it’s difficult to eliminate a favorite photo. It’s always the one you worked so hard to get. Still, to not be a bore, you must think critically. If the photo doesn’t move the story forward, set it aside. I’ll give you another use for it in a minute.

Another critical part of story telling is to set the scene. You’ve used your camera to shoot the sites, but use it, also, to tell parts of the story. Use photos of signs, for example, to set the location, or labels to recount the wine you one Paris evening.

Another practice is to photograph sections of a map or guidebook. Include these in your collection, to emphasize information or tell of the place.

Further, if you’re like me and find yourself in places where you wish a copier were on hand. Worry no more — if a copier isn’t handy, use your digital camera’s close-up option to record documents you can’t take with you.

Digital cameras are generally suitable for copying documents. Many offer close-ups options (Macro Mode) and will create photos that are easily downloaded into computer programs. I use my digital camera to record pages from friend’s books (see copyright information, below) or to copy photos they don’t want to part with.

If you shoot in high resolution and straight on, you’ll get more pleasing copies. My 8MP Canon S5 IS (see photos with this story), set on high resolution, works better, I think, than most desktop scanners.

Use your digital camera to copy a photo, then import it into your computer and transform it with software — Adobe Element 6®, for example. You can also repair the new photo, should the original have been torn or have age-related damage.

You can also photograph a sketch or drawing and import it into such software as CorelDRAW® or Adobe Illustrator® and modify it even more. Some artists begin their work this way, adding color and effects with the software. Try sketching with a Sharpie, for example, then photocopying the image and loading it into an art software.

As with scanning, clean, flat, high-contrast images copy best.

Many new cameras have a “Text” selection system that switches the camera’s capture system to Macro and either kills the flash or reduces the amount of light. It also boosts the image saturation and contrast. Other camera models automatically amend the system’s white balance.

(Many new cameras have a “Text” or “Document” setting as shown here.)

Canon, Olympus, Pentax, Fujifilm, Panasonic, Ricoh, Samsung and Kodak advertise cameras with text-only selections.

I own several cameras with Macro settings (see photos with this article), but not the text choice. As an alternative, I drove to Best Buy to see what was on-the-counter. I found the Olympus FE-350, 8.0MP camera that has the text option, a 4X optical zoom and image stabilization. It’s a nifty little camera with an F2.7 lens aperture, a 3-in.-LCD viewing screen and an in-camera help guide, in case you misplace the handbook.

The FE-350’s Text selection button is in the camera’s menu (not the mode dial), which makes it slightly more difficult to access, but clicking on it promptly sets the camera up for copying text and drawings.

When photographing other’s documents or designs, be sure to ask for permission. Librarians, you’ll soon note, are suspect of people with cameras. Be cautious, or you can become embroiled in a copyright issue and, also, don’t forget today’s security measures. Always ask first and comply with copyright laws. For more information, visit www.photolaw.net.

For best resultrs, place the document in bright light. Lay it as flat as possible and shoot straight on, to minimize distortion. Don’t use flash for close ups (it washes out the shot). If your photo is too dark, try even brighter light or adjust the ISO up one or two stops.

(Here, the too-close flash washes out the image and, because the camera is set on macro and close to the subtect, it also catches the camera’s extended lens shadow.)

(This Jerusalem map shot displays how document copying can add to a story. Include such shots in a photo album or slide show, to add depth to the story by showing the locations. I included the coins to give you an idea of the camera’s closeness.)

Every book on copying advises that you use a tripod or copy stand, which is great if you have one in your pocket. I usually don’t and have learned to rest my camera on whatever is available, a stack of books, for example. Another method is brace yourself against something and slowly exhale while you click the shutter.

(This copy of a book’s text was photographed with Canon’s S5-IS camera on its macro setting. The light was an ordinary desk lamp using a CFL lamp with camera’s light balance was set on automatic.)

Once you shoot, study the photo in your camera’s viewing screen (use the zoom-up feature) to see that the shot is in focus and properly exposed. If not, try again. It’s okay to capture several shots, even if the first one appears fine. In the group, one shot is always sharper than the others.

(This shot of uncopyrighted artwork was also obtained with the Canon S5-IS. The image is from an artist’s book of uncopyrighted images. Books such as this can be found at many book and art stores. You can use the image in anyway the books author specifies. Usually, there are no restrictions other than copyrighting them for yourself.)

As promised, here’s what you do with your favorite photos, the ones that didn’t fit: Include them as out takes, at the end of the show. Put them after the ending title, of course, and with a new “Out Takes” title. Remember the same rule applies as before – you need to limit your selections.

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Source: Darek Johnson for EndlessYears.com