Projects to do if you have an additional camera

Question

So I bought my 7D a while ago meaning my older 30D gets very little use and it could definitely have a better life. I would like to find some projects that would put this extra camera back to work. I'm open other suggestions but I've primarily thought of projects in these two directions:

A project that requires two cameras
I can't really think of anything here. Maybe something along the line of capturing a moment with both cameras, at different angles/focus/etc, at the same time.

A project that modifies the additional camera
I would be open to suggestions such as Magic Lanter, CHDK and such things but I assume the 30D may be a bit dated for such mods, as I haven't found any that support the 30D. I'm also open to suggestions such as infra-red modifications

And of course "just keep it as a backup" is a perfectly valid answer.

I am looking for answers more precisely for the 30D but to keep the information as useful as possible, feel free to give more general answers.

Asked by Vian Esterhuizen

Answer

Things to do with two or more cameras:

• 3D Photography: You can setup both cameras with remote triggers with them mounted using a tripod accessory that holds both cameras. Then you can take photo simultaneously from two points (you would have to scale down the one from the 7D) and merge them together into a 3D image.

• Time-Lapse are great to do with a second camera because it keeps you camera busy for a long time. Actually, if you do not mind have both cameras busy, feel free to do a 3D timelapse!

• A DSLR can be modified for infrared photography. This is a costly modification and renders is not easily reversible. So most people do it with a second camera.

• Create How-To Photography tutorials :)

• Stop-Motion videos can be done with one camera but with two you can make a stop-motion video and a making-of-stop-motion stop-motion video. OK, I'm running out of ideas!

Answered by Itai

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What are good photography projects?

Question

I am currently in the middle of a year long photo a day project, and am beginning to think about what I will do once this is done.

What types of photography projects have you done?

Please keep answers to a single type.

Answer

Do the opposite: A day a photo. You are only allowed to take a single photo each day, so choose wisely. :)

This would not be something for a long running project, but you could try it for a few days, just to get a completely different view on photography.

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How can I hold my face in the same place for a month long daily self-portrait?

Question

I want to take a self-portrait every day over a period of a month. I want to turn these photo's into an animation so it is important that the face is in the exact same position on each shot (the background may vary). Ideally I would like to use the built in webcam on my Mac for this (quality is sufficient).

Are there any tips, techniques or props to make this easy ?

Answer

I have seen complex setups involving rings around your body/head to make sure you are positioned perfectly in the frame. You could also do something simple like mark the position of your webcam(monitor) with tape and mark the position of your chair, then simply sit up straight.

Personally my favorite option is simply to use a ruler or similar measuring device, and position your eyes so that they are directly aligned at that distance. Pretty simple procedure, and you will be close enough to see the daily-self-portrait progression

All of this may be unnecessary though, you can use software to remove any of the jittery frames and balance out the slight imperfections if you wish.

Check more discussion of this question.

How to hold face in same place for a month long daily self-portrait?

Question

I want to take a self-portrait every day over a period of a month. I want to turn these photo's into an animation so it is important that the face is in the exact same position on each shot (the background may vary). Ideally I would like to use the built in webcam on my Mac for this (quality is sufficient).

Are there any tips, techniques or props to make this easy ?

Answer

I have seen complex setups involving rings around your body/head to make sure you are positioned perfectly in the frame. You could also do something simple like mark the position of your webcam(monitor) with tape and mark the position of your chair, then simply sit up straight.

Personally my favorite option is simply to use a ruler or similar measuring device, and position your eyes so that they are directly aligned at that distance. Pretty simple procedure, and you will be close enough to see the daily-self-portrait progression

All of this may be unnecessary though, you can use software to remove any of the jittery frames and balance out the slight imperfections if you wish.

Check more discussion of this question.