Can you expect to buy an automatic-everything camera, load it with colour film, and take good pictures immediately? Well, yes and no. Point-and-shoot cameras, simple or complex, are somewhat like computers or VCRs. They do amazing things and make life easier, but you must learn how to work with them to guarantee good results. This book aims to show you how, no matter what your ability or subject. Intended for photographers with creative ambitions, as well as casual snapshooters, the fully illustrated text covers the basics of point-and-shoot lenses, shutters, exposure, and autofocus. You will learn how to choose the right film for your purposes, what electronic flash options you have and how to use them, and the basics of photographic composition. It features how to photograph people and pets, scenics and travel subjects; action and close-ups are also covered, as are shooting at night and making time-lapse exposures. Special camera features and how to buy and care for a point-and-shoot camera are discussed and explained.