New poll this morning, this one about cameras. I carry a digital in the truck at all times, so I thought I'd find out how many of you use one. Besides, it was suggested I post this as a new thread by another member here, so here it is.
Cameras, IMPO, are a necessity these days. As soon as I'm done with about any major portion of a job, I take pix. A lot of pix. Every wall, every panel, every ceiling. Inside & out. If it's a big job, I take pix 2-3 times a week. I just walk the job and take anywhere from 50 (if it's resi) to 100 or more (commercial) each day.
I download them on to the computer, both laptop & desktop. This can save your butt some day. I remember working in a restaurant and having to run conduit above the grid. When we got done the plumbers came in and tore the grid up. GC blamed us, and wanted us to pay. I pulled out the laptop and said, "Here, look. On this day, there's no grid..... now on this day, here it us. Do you see any conduit up there? No? OK, here's the same area the following week. See all the conduit we ran? OK, do you see any damage to the grid? No. Now, two days later, here's the plumbers, and look what's happened."
When all is said & done, I burn a lot of photos onto CDs for the owner. They really appreciate having them, and it a great PR tool (especially with writable-CDs being what, 20??).
Cameras are also great for documenting damaged shipments, vehicle accidents, on-the-job accidents, etc.
Another use is for finding boxes the drywallers buried. Case in point: Now you see them....
Now you don't!
The trick is to get into a routine, and use a pattern as you take the photos so they all have the same viewpoint. On residential, I walk along with the wall to my right. When I reach a corner, I turn and take a shot of the wall opposite the one I just walked along. Then I turn to the left, go to the next corner, and repeat. (I hope this makes sense) So after I take these photos, I would walk over to the doorway on the right, and take a shot of the wall that's on the left in the photos above.
Cameras, IMPO, are a necessity these days. As soon as I'm done with about any major portion of a job, I take pix. A lot of pix. Every wall, every panel, every ceiling. Inside & out. If it's a big job, I take pix 2-3 times a week. I just walk the job and take anywhere from 50 (if it's resi) to 100 or more (commercial) each day.
I download them on to the computer, both laptop & desktop. This can save your butt some day. I remember working in a restaurant and having to run conduit above the grid. When we got done the plumbers came in and tore the grid up. GC blamed us, and wanted us to pay. I pulled out the laptop and said, "Here, look. On this day, there's no grid..... now on this day, here it us. Do you see any conduit up there? No? OK, here's the same area the following week. See all the conduit we ran? OK, do you see any damage to the grid? No. Now, two days later, here's the plumbers, and look what's happened."
When all is said & done, I burn a lot of photos onto CDs for the owner. They really appreciate having them, and it a great PR tool (especially with writable-CDs being what, 20??).
Cameras are also great for documenting damaged shipments, vehicle accidents, on-the-job accidents, etc.
Another use is for finding boxes the drywallers buried. Case in point: Now you see them....
Now you don't!
The trick is to get into a routine, and use a pattern as you take the photos so they all have the same viewpoint. On residential, I walk along with the wall to my right. When I reach a corner, I turn and take a shot of the wall opposite the one I just walked along. Then I turn to the left, go to the next corner, and repeat. (I hope this makes sense) So after I take these photos, I would walk over to the doorway on the right, and take a shot of the wall that's on the left in the photos above.