Choose a book that has these features. Most casual do-it-yourselfers will have needed items around house and/or garage. Only low cost and no cost materials are needed. Most items are made from small pieces of wooden boards, coat hanger wire, paper, used containers, and discarded household items or low cost items found in hardware stores. There are no kits to buy. The projects require common tools such as a scissors, hacksaw, screwdriver, pliers, knife, file or drill.

Books are available on a wide variety of projects. Books can be choosen that deal mostly with items that are mechanically interesting, clever or useful. The items may be toys or playthings. They may be simple mechanical curiosities, appealing because of their shape or structure.

Building homemade items is fun for tinkerer who enjoys improvised devices. It is fun for anyone who wants to have ingenuity to use tools and materials that happen to be available. Building homemade items lets you enjoy mechanical devices and therefore more enjoy world around you.

* Plan your photos before you shoot! While it is always a good idea to study an area first, this is crucial if you are planning on snapping photographs around dusk! You will not have much time to plan, and if you spend five or ten minutes just getting a perfect angle or framing perfect shot, overall lighting will change as sun slowly sets. And of course, remember when composing your photos that sun sets in west.

* Be prepared for environment. If you're heading out by yourself, especially in a semi-deserted wilderness area, always carry a map so you remember how to get to your home, camp, or hotel. Check weather before you go and wear a poncho or coat if necessary. Carry a flashlight, or, in most extreme environments, a flare, to help others find you if you become lost. Also, bring along a WELL-CHARGED cell phone in case of emergency! You're taking photos at night to have fun and create spectacular results. Be prepared for unexpected situations so they don't ruin your experience.

While results can be outstanding, night photography presents its own unique benefits and hazards. Not just any digital camera will do; lower-end models may not have capability of taking spectacular shots. Timing is crucial, especially when taking pictures in brief time between dusk and total darkness. And, environment and weather can play havoc with your plans. By purchasing correct equipment, studying subject area before nighttime falls, and dealing with unexpected situations with correct nighttime gear, you can be better prepared to take amazing nighttime photos.

Copyright 2004 Andrew Malek.