RESEARCH TIPS
USING A CAMERA FOR RESEARCH
Tarja Moles offers advice on making the most of your smartphone camera as a research tool
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n our digital age, the smartphone camera offers a powerful tool for research: you can easily take snapshots of locations, artefacts, human interactions and even use it as your personal notetaker.
You don’t need to be an expert photographer. Unless you’re planning to use your photos to illustrate your writing, you can forget about the rule of the thirds or making your photos look interesting. The main thing is to take photos that are clear and they capture what you want to record. Using your camera for research can help create a richer, more detailed knowledge base for your writing.
RECORDING OBSERVATIONS
Your smartphone camera can act as an extension of your notebook and allow you to record observations beyond simple notes. Whenever your research involves observation, have your camera handy. It’s a lot quicker and more convenient to take photos or videos than to jot down every aspect of what you see. Admittedly, photos/videos won’t contain all the different sensory details you experienced, but they can act as reminders.