Self Timers

OK, you are the designated creative historian in your family. How many times have you looked at all of the pictures in your family album only to find no pictures of you? Do you get a little nervous at handing your expensive new camera over to a stranger asking them to take a picture of you?

With the self timer feature on most digital cameras, you can now put yourself into the action along with everyone else in the family, without fearing someone you don't know will drop your camera.

So, set up your portable tripod (the one that fits in your back pocket), set the self timer, and get in the picture. Make sure the focusing sensor is aimed at the people in the group or you may end up with clear mountains and a fuzzy family. You may also want to turn on the flash, but be aware of that 10-foot flash limit on digital cameras and don't get too far away.

Self timers are great for other kinds of photography, too. You can make long exposures of the Northern Lights if you visit Alaska. Or, if you know of a great spot in the mountains that looks down on a highway at night, try getting one of the car lights at night.

Set up the tripod and secure your camera, and then trip the shutter using the self timer. This way you prevent jarring the camera while you do the long exposure. You can take pictures of waterfalls or a running stream that look like the water is standing still using the self timer on your camera.

Set up your tripod and aim it at a body of water, then use the timer to force the shutter to stay open for a second or two. It creates a soft, flowing effect in the water while all of the other items in the photo stay sharp and clear.