Abstract:
A digital still camera is designed so that even a beginner can acquire photographic technique. To this end, picture-taking advice conforming to the subject of photography is displayed, in a shooting mode, on the display screen of a liquid crystal display device with which the camera is provided. By viewing the displayed picture-taking advice, the user becomes aware of the essentials of photography. The user is prevented from making picture-taking errors by shooting in accordance with the picture-taking advice.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a digital still camera equipped with a display unit for displaying the image of a subject and to a method of controlling operation of the camera. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     When a beginner takes a picture, poor composition may be the result, as when a picture is composed with the horizon cutting across the neck of an individual who is the main subject of the photo or with vertical lines in the background seeming to emerge from the head of the individual. There are also camera users who capture the image of a subject at an angle because of the particular way they hold the camera. 
     Thus, a beginner who is not accustomed to taking pictures with a camera does not possess a skilled photographic technique. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to improve the photographic technique of a beginner who is not accustomed to taking pictures. 
     According to the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing a digital still camera equipped with a composition advising function, comprising: an imaging unit for sensing the image of a subject and outputting image data representing the image of the subject; a display unit for displaying the image of the subject represented by the image data output from the imaging unit; a display controller (display control means) for controlling the display unit so as to display advice on composition for the purpose of taking a picture of the subject; and a recording controller responsive to depression of a shutter-release button for recording the image data, which is output from the imaging unit, on a recording medium. 
     The present invention provides also an operation control method suited to the apparatus described above. Specifically, the present invention provides a method of controlling operation of a digital still camera equipped with a composition advising function, the camera having an imaging unit for sensing the image of a subject and outputting image data representing the image of the subject, a display unit for displaying the image of the subject represented by the image data output from the imaging unit, and a recording controller responsive to depression of a shutter-release button for recording the image data, which is output from the imaging unit, on a recording medium, the method including a step of controlling the display unit so as to display advice on composition for the purpose of taking a picture of the subject. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the image of a subject is displayed on the display unit. The aforementioned advice for composing the picture also is displayed on the display unit. 
     The user decides the composition of the subject while following the advice being displayed on the display unit. Even a beginner, therefore, can be prevented from making an error in composition. By repeating photography while following the advice, even a beginner can acquire a variety of photographic techniques. 
     The camera may further include a display command switch for applying a command to display the aforesaid advice. In such case the display controller displays the advice on the display unit in response to the display command applied by the display command switch. 
     The advice can be displayed only when necessary. Thus, it can be so arranged that bothersome advice is not displayed for a user who has acquired photographic technique. 
     The camera may further include an icon display controller (icon display control means) for controlling the display unit in such a manner that an icon representing the image of a subject that is applicable to a composition is displayed in association with the advice. 
     By observing the icon, the user can tell to what composition the displayed advice applies. 
     The camera may further include a device for setting a photographic skill level. In this case the display controller causes the display unit to display advice, which conforms to the photographic skill level set by the skill level setting device, from among advice that difference for each photographic skill level. 
     Thus, advice that conforms to the photographic skill level of the user can be displayed. This makes it possible for the camera to accommodate users having a variety of photographic skill levels. 
     Data representing the advice may be recorded on the recording medium in correlation with the image data. As will be described later, the advice can be displayed together with the image of the subject when the image of the subject is reproduced. 
     An image reproducing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a reading unit for reading advice data and image data from a recording medium, wherein the advice data represents advice regarding composition for the purpose of taking a picture of a subject and the image data represents the image of the subject, the advice data and the image data being recorded on the recording medium in correlation with each other; a first display controller (first display control means) for controlling a display unit in such a manner that the image of the subject, which is represented by the image data that has been read by the reading unit, is displayed on a display screen of the display unit; and a second display controller (second display control means) for controlling the display unit in such a manner that advice indicated by the advice data that has been read by the reading unit is displayed on the display screen. 
     The present invention provides also a method suited to the apparatus described above. Specifically, the method comprises the steps of reading advice data and image data from a recording medium, wherein the advice data represents advice on composition for the purpose of taking a picture of a subject and the image data represents the image of the subject, the advice data and the image data being recorded on the recording medium in correlation with each other; and displaying the image of the subject, which is represented by the image data that has been read, and advice indicated by the advice data that has been read, on a display screen of the display unit. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the advice data and the image data are recorded on the recording medium in correlation with each other. When the advice data and image data are read from the recording medium, the image of the subject represented by the image data and the advice represented by the advice data are displayed on the display screen of the display unit. 
     By observing the advice displayed on the display screen, the user can tell that the image of the subject being displayed has been captured in accordance with the advice. 
     Preferably, whether the displayed image of a subject has been captured with a composition that is in accordance with the advice is determined and a warning is issued in response to a determination to the effect that the image of the subject has not been captured with a composition that is in accordance with the advice. 
     Thus, when a picture has not been captured with a composition in accordance with the advice, a warning is issued. If a picture has not been captured with the desired composition, therefore, the subject can be re-photographed as necessary. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a back view of a digital still camera; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating the electrical construction of a digital still camera according to the present invention; 
         FIGS. 3 to 8  show examples of images displayed on a display screen of a liquid crystal display device; 
         FIGS. 9 and 10  are flowcharts illustrating the processing procedure of the digital still camera; 
         FIG. 11  shows an example of a display screen of the liquid crystal display device; 
         FIG. 12  is a code table indicating the correspondence between advice modes and advice codes; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates the data structure of a memory card; 
         FIGS. 14 to 18  are flowcharts illustrating part of a photographic processing procedure; 
         FIG. 19  illustrates an example of a display screen; and 
         FIG. 20  is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of processing for judging and displaying portrait composition. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     (1) First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a back view of a digital still camera  1  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     A shutter-release button  2  is disposed on the top of the digital still camera  1  on the right side thereof. The shutter-release button  2  is capable of being pressed through first and second stroke lengths. 
     The back of the digital still camera  1  is formed to have an optical viewfinder  3  at the upper left corner thereof. 
     The back side of the digital still camera  1  is provided at its upper right corner with a mode setting dial  4  for setting a set-up mode, a shooting mode, a playback mode and other modes. An index mark  6  is at the left side of the mode setting dial  4 . The mode setting dial  4  is capable turning freely. A desired mode among the various modes formed on the mode setting dial  4  is set by positioning the desired mode at the index mark  6 . 
     An up, down, left, right button  5  is formed within the mode setting dial  4 , and the button  5  is formed to have up, down, left and right arrows. Each arrow mark is capable of being pressed as an individual button. 
     A liquid crystal display device  9  is provided on the back of the digital still camera  1  on the lower side thereof and displays the image of a subject obtained by imaging. 
     Various operating buttons are formed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9 . The operating buttons include a shift button  10 , a display button  11 , a power switch  8  and an execute button  7 . 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating the electrical construction of the digital still camera  1 . 
     The overall operation of the digital still camera  1  is controlled by a CPU  21 . 
     Signals S 1  and S 2  indicative of depression of the shutter-release button  2  through its first and second stroke lengths, respectively, enter the CPU  21  from the shutter-release button  2 . Also input to the CPU  21  are signals indicating operating commands from a control panel  20  including the operating buttons, which include the shift button  10 , display button  11 , power switch  8  and execute button  7 , and the mode setting dial  4  and up, down, left, right button  5 . 
     The digital still camera  1  is capable of autofocus and auto exposure adjustments. An AF and AE circuit  19  is provided for this purpose. If the shutter-release button  2  is pressed through its first stroke length, autofocus and auto exposure adjustments are made by the AF and AE circuit  19 . AF and AE signals from the AF and AE circuit  19  are input to the CPU  21 . 
     The image of a subject is formed on the photoreceptor surface of an image sensing device  14  by a taking lens  13 . An analog video signal representing the image of the subject is output from the image sensing device  14  and enters an analog video signal processing circuit  15 . 
     The analog video signal processing circuit  15  executes analog signal processing such as a gamma correction and white balance adjustment. The video signal output from the analog video signal processing circuit  15  enters an analog/digital conversion circuit  16 , which converts the signal to digital image data. The latter is input to a digital signal processing circuit  17 . 
     The image data that is input to the digital signal processing circuit  17  undergoes digital signal processing such as processing for the generation of luminance and color difference data. Image data output from the digital signal processing circuit  17  is applied to the liquid crystal display device  9 . Thus the image of the subject is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9 . 
     If the shutter-release button  2  is pressed through its second stroke length, the image data output from the digital signal processing circuit  17  is applied to a memory  22 , where the data is stored temporarily. The image data is read out of the memory  22  and input to the digital signal processing circuit  17 . The image data is compressed in the digital signal processing circuit  17  and then applied to a memory card  25 . The image data thus compressed is recorded on the memory card  25 . 
     The digital still camera  1  contains a ROM  18  in which data representing picture-taking advice has been stored. 
     The digital still camera  1  has a playback function as well. If the playback mode is set by the mode setting dial  4 , the compressed image data that has been recorded on the memory card  25  is read. The compressed image data that has been read is expanded in the digital signal processing circuit  17 . The expanded digital image data is then applied to the liquid crystal display device  9 , where the reproduced image is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9 . 
       FIGS. 3 through 8  illustrate examples of images displayed on the liquid crystal display device  9 .  FIGS. 9 and 10  are flowcharts illustrating processing executed by the digital still camera  1 . 
     The user turns the mode setting dial  4  to set the set-up mode (step  61 ). When the set-up mode is set, a set-up image shown in  FIG. 3  is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9 . 
     The set-up image includes an item for setting compression rate, an item which displays the number of pixels, an item for setting picture-taking advice, an item for setting the date, and an item for designated reset. When the set-up image is being displayed on the liquid crystal display device  9 , a setting window  31  is moved up and down between items by pressing the up button or down button on the up, down, left, right button  5 . Whenever the left button or right button is pressed while the setting window  31  is enclosing the picture-taking advice, the picture-taking advice is switched on and off. Settings are entered by pressing the execute button  7 . Here it is assumed that the picture-taking advice has been turned on (step  62 ). 
     The user turns the mode setting dial  4  to shift from the set-up mode to the shooting mode (step  63 ). When the shooting mode is established, a subject is imaged by the image sensing device  14  and the image of the subject is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , cross hairs (which are composed of a vertical line  32  and a horizontal line  33 ) are displayed on the image of the subject (step  64 ). Icons  41  to  45  are displayed at the bottom of liquid crystal display device  9 . 
     Icons  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  and  45  represent cross hairs, the face of single person, the faces of several persons, mountains and the face of a person together with a mountain, respectively. 
     An icon among the icons  41  to  45  that corresponds to picture-taking advice displayed on the liquid crystal display device  9  is lit (indicated by the hatching in  FIG. 4 ) so as to distinguish it from the other icons. 
     By aligning a vertical or horizontal portion of the subject in the picture-taking area with the cross hairs, it is possible to prevent the photographic image from being tilted at an angle to the left or right. 
     If, while the cross hairs are being displayed, the execute button  7  is pressed (step  65 ) and the up, down, left, right button  5  is pressed (step  66 ), the vertical line  32  and horizontal line  33  constituting the cross hairs are moved in the direction in which the up, down, left, right button  5  was pressed (step  67 ). The vertical line  32  moves to the right when the right button is pressed and to the left when the left button is pressed. The horizontal line  33  moves up when the up button is pressed and down when the down button is pressed. 
     By pressing the right button on the up, down, left, right button  5 , the user causes the next item of picture-taking advice to be displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9 . By pressing the left button on the up, down, left, right button  5 , the user causes the immediately preceding item of picture-taking advice to be displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9 . 
     If the right button is pressed while the cross hairs are being displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9  (step  68 ), portrait picture-taking advice is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9  in the manner shown in  FIG. 5  (step  69 ). 
     The icon  42  is lit to notify the user of the fact that the advice relating to portrait photography is being displayed. A balloon  52  is displayed in association with the icon  42 . Noteworthy picture-taking advice is displayed in the balloon  52  when portrait photography is performed. Here advice is displayed so as to avoid “GROWING HORNS” (a picture in which lines emerge from the head of a person, making it seem that the subject is growing horns) and “HEAD CUT OFF” (a picture in which the horizon cuts across the neck of a person). 
     If the left button is pressed when the cross marks are being displayed, picture-taking advice shown in  FIG. 8  (described later) is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9 . 
     If the user presses the left button (step  70 ) when portrait picture-taking advice is being displayed, group picture-taking advice of the kind shown in  FIG. 6  is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9  (step  71 ). 
     The icon  43  is lit to notify the user of the fact that the advice relating to group photography is being displayed. A balloon  53  is displayed in association with the icon  43 . Picture-taking advice is displayed in the balloon  53  so as to avoid “FACING MISSING” (meaning that the face of a person on one end is missing). Further, arrows  54  are caused to flash in order to call the attention of the user to the ends of the picture-taking area. By taking a group photograph while taking note of the picture-taking advice, the user is prevented from leaving out the face of a person in the group. 
     If the left button is pressed while portrait picture-taking advice is being displayed (step  70 ), the cross hairs are again displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     If the right button is pressed while the group picture-taking advice is being displayed (step  72 ), two horizontal lines  34  for dividing the picture-taking area into three sections vertically and two vertical lines  35  for dividing the picture-taking area into three sections horizontally are displayed on the liquid crystal display device  9  (step  73 ) so as to obtain a composition that is in accordance with the intersection-of-thirds method, as shown in  FIG. 7 . A monotonous composition of scenery can be prevented by deciding the composition in accordance with the two horizontal lines  34  and two vertical lines  35 . The icon  44  is lit to notify the user of the fact that picture-taking advice relating to a scenic photograph is being displayed. 
     If the left button is pressed while the group picture-taking advice is being displayed (step  72 ), portrait picture-taking advice is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9  in the manner shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     If the right button is pressed while the scenic advice is being displayed (step  74 ), advice relating to photography of a combination of scenery and people is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9  in the manner shown in  FIG. 8  (step  1175 ). In a case where a person is photographed together with scenery, a vertical line  35  for determining the proportion of the person in the picture-taking area is displayed so as to avoid a situation in which the size of the person becomes too small. The icon  45  is lit to notify the user of the fact that the advice relating to photography of a person is being displayed. A balloon  55  is displayed in association with the icon  45 . “PERSON SHOULD BE CLOSER” (prevents the image of the person from becoming too small because the person is to far away) and “FOCUS LOCK” (draws attention to the fact that the camera is focus on the person) is displayed in the balloon  55 . 
     If the left button is pressed while the scenic advice is being displayed (step  74 ), group picture-taking advice of the kind shown in  FIG. 6  is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9  (step  71 ). 
     If the right button is pressed by the user while the advice relating to photography of a combination of scenery and people is being displayed (step  76 ), the cross hairs shown in  FIG. 4  are again displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9 . If the left button is pressed by the user while the advice relating to photography of both scenery and people is being displayed (step  76 ), the two horizontal lines  34  and two vertical lines  35  shown in  FIG. 7  are again displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9  (step  73 ). 
     By pressing the shutter-release button  2  after deciding composition in accordance with this picture-taking advice, the image data that has been obtained by photography is recorded on the memory card  25 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates another example of a display presented on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9 . 
     The data representing the above-mentioned picture-taking advice is stored in the ROM  18  in advance. However, it is also possible to adopt an arrangement in which data representing other picture-taking advice is read in the camera and displayed on the liquid crystal display device  9 . In this case, picture-taking advice is divided into advice for beginner, intermediate and advanced users and the required picture-taking advice is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9 . The memory which stores the data representing the picture-taking advice would employ a RAM rather than a ROM as a matter of course. 
     By way of example, data representing picture-taking advice that has been stored in the memory beforehand serves as picture-taking advice for beginners. Data representing picture-taking advice added on later serves as advice for intermediate users. The data representing picture-taking advice for intermediate users that has been stored on a memory card is read from the memory card and written to a RAM within the camera. 
     In the set-up mode, a screen of the kind shown in  FIG. 11  is displayed on the liquid crystal display device  9 . In a case where the up, down, left, right button  5  is used to display picture-taking advice for beginners on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9  in the manner described above, the pertinent setting is turned on (indicated at  31 A in  FIG. 11 ). In a case where advice for intermediate users is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9 , the pertinent setting is turned on (indicated at  31 B in  FIG. 11 ). 
     By establishing the shooting mode in the manner described above, picture-taking advice for beginners and picture-taking advice for intermediate users is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9  in accordance with depression of the up, down, left, right button  5 . Thus, picture-taking advice in accordance with the photographic skill level of the user is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9 . 
     It goes without saying that only one type of advice, namely the picture-taking advice for beginners or the picture-taking advice for intermediate users, can be displayed at one time. 
     (2) Second Embodiment 
       FIGS. 12 to 20  illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the construction of the digital still camera can be the same as that of the first embodiment. 
     In the second embodiment, advice codes indicating the types of advice described above are recorded on a memory card in addition to the image data representing the image of a subject. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a code table. 
     The code table indicates the correspondence between advice modes and advice codes indicative of the advice modes. The data representing this code table is stored in the ROM  18 . Here the advice codes employ hexadecimal numbers. 
     Advice codes “01H”, “02H”, “03H” and “04H” indicate portrait picture-taking advice, group picture-taking advice, scenic picture-taking advice and advice relating to shooting of a combination of scenery and people, respectively. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates the data structure of the memory card  25 . 
     The memory card  25  includes a header recording area and a data recording area. 
     The header recording area stores attribute information and file management information. The attribute information is information that pertains to the memory card  25  itself. For example, this includes data representing the capacity of the memory card  25  and the speed at which data can be written to and read from the memory card  25 . The file management information is information pertaining to the data that has been recorded on the memory card  25 . For example, this includes data representing the amount of data that has been recorded in the data recording area. 
     The data recording area includes an advice-code recording area and an image-data recording area. The above-mentioned advice codes are recorded in the advice-code recording area, and image data representing the images of subjects is recorded in the image-data recording area. 
       FIGS. 14 to 16  are flowcharts illustrating the procedure of processing executed at the time of photography. 
     If the set-up mode has been set in the manner described above (“YES” at step  81 ), it is determined whether picture-taking advice has been set to the ON state (step  82 ). If picture-taking advice has been set to the ON state (“YES” at step  82 ), then an advice flag FA is set to 1 (step  84 ). If picture-taking advice has not been set to the ON state (“NO” at step  82 ), then the advice flag FA is set to 0 (step  83 ). 
     It is determined whether the advice flag FA has been set to 1 (step  85 ). If the advice flag FA has been set to 1 (“YES” at step  85 ), icons  42  to  45  among the icons  41  to  45  shown in  FIG. 4  are displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9  (step  86 ; advice mode display). It is of course permissible to display the icon  41  as well. 
     If the icon  42  is selected in the above-described manner to set the advice relating to portrait photography (“YES” at step  87 ), then advice code “01H” is read out of the ROM  18  (step  88 ). The picture-taking advice conforming to portrait photography is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9  in the manner shown in  FIG. 5  (step  89 ). 
     If the icon  43  is selected to set the picture-taking advice for a group photograph (“YES” at step  90 ), then advice code “02H” is read out of the ROM  18  (step  91 ). The picture-taking advice conforming to group photography is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9  in the manner shown in  FIG. 6  (step  92 ). 
     If the icon  44  is selected to set the picture-taking advice for scenery (“YES” at step  93 ), then advice code “03H” is read out of the ROM  18  (step  94 ). The picture-taking advice conforming to scenic photography is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9  in the manner shown in  FIG. 7  (step  95 ). 
     If the icon  45  is selected to set the picture-taking advice relating to a combination of scenery and people (“YES” at step  96 ), then advice code “04H” is read out of the ROM  18  (step  97 ). The picture-taking advice conforming to photography of a combination of scenery and people is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9  in the manner shown in  FIG. 8  (step  98 ). 
     If no icon is selected (“NO” at steps  87 ,  90 ,  93  and  96 ), code “00H” indicating photography without picture-taking advice is set (step  99 ). 
     If the shutter-release button  2  is pressed by the user (“YES” at step  100 ), the image data obtained by shooting the subject in the manner described above is stored in the memory  22  temporarily (step  101 ). The image data is read out of the memory  22  and applied to the digital signal processing circuit  17 , where the image data undergoes data compression processing (step  102 ). The compressed image data is read out of the digital signal processing circuit  17  and applied to the memory card  25 . The compressed image data is recorded in the data recording area of the memory card  25 . 
     The advice code “01H”, “02H”, “03H” or “04H” read out of the ROM  18  or the advice code “00H” that has been set is recorded in the advice-code recording area of data recording area of the memory card  25  in correspondence with the image data (step  103 ). 
     Thus, image data and advice codes are recorded on the memory card  25 . 
       FIGS. 17 and 18  are flowcharts illustrating the procedure of processing for reproducing images.  FIG. 19  illustrates an example of an image displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9 . 
     Compressed image data and advice data that has been recorded on the memory card  25  is read (step  111 ). The compressed image data read out of the memory card  25  is applied to the digital signal processing circuit  17 , where the data undergoes data expansion (step  112 ). The expanded image data is applied to the liquid crystal display device  9  so that the image of the subject represented by the image data is displayed on the display screen (step  113 ). 
     Advice codes have been recorded on the memory card  25 . If an advice code is read out (“YES” at step  114 ), the content of the read advice code is evaluated (steps  115 ,  117 ,  119 ,  121 ). 
     If an advice code is “01H” (“YES” at step  115 ), this indicates that the subject was shot in accordance with portrait advice. As a consequence, an icon  141  indicating that shooting was performed in accordance with portrait advice is displayed in addition to the image of the subject, as shown in  FIG. 19  (judge that composition is portrait composition; step  116 ). 
     Further, it is determined whether the image of the subject being displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9  has been captured with an appropriate composition that is in accordance with the picture-taking advice (advice relating to portrait photography in this case). When the image has not been captured with the appropriate composition, a warning  142  is displayed. 
     Part of the face of the image of the subject shown in  FIG. 19  has been cut off (“FACE MISSING”). For this reason the warning  142  to the effect that part of the face is missing is displayed. By observing the warning  142 , the user is capable of shooting the subject again as necessary. 
     If an advice code is “02H” (“YES” at  117 ), this indicates that the subject was shot in accordance with group picture-taking advice. As a consequence, an icon (not shown) indicating that shooting was performed in accordance with group picture-taking advice is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9 . In this case also it is determined whether shooting has been performed with an appropriate composition that is in accordance with the group picture-taking advice. When the image has not been captured with the appropriate composition, a warning is displayed (step  118 ). 
     If an advice code is “03H” (“YES” at  119 ), this indicates that the subject was shot in accordance with scenic picture-taking advice. As a consequence, an icon indicating that shooting was performed in accordance with scenic picture-taking advice is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9 . In this case also it is determined whether shooting has been performed with an appropriate composition that is in accordance with the scenic picture-taking advice. When the image has not been captured with the appropriate composition, a warning is displayed (step  120 ). 
     If an advice code is “04H” (“YES” at  121 ), this indicates that the subject was shot in accordance with picture-taking advice relating to a combination of scenery and people. As a consequence, an icon indicating that shooting was performed in accordance with picture-taking advice relating to a combination of scenery and people is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9 . In this case also it is determined whether shooting has been performed with an appropriate composition that is in accordance with picture-taking advice relating to a combination of scenery and people. When the image has not been captured with the appropriate composition, a warning is displayed (step  122 ). 
     Thus, regardless of the type of composition, it can be ascertained with comparative ease whether photography is being performed with the appropriate composition. If photography is not being performed with the desired composition, then the user can perform photography again. 
       FIG. 20  is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of processing for judging and displaying portrait composition (the processing of step  116  in  FIG. 18 ). 
     First, the portrait icon  141  is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9  (step  131 ). Next, from the image of the subject being displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device  9 , the outline of that portion of the image that is flesh colored is extracted (step  132 ). In the case of portrait photography, the flesh-colored image portion is considered to be the face portion of the person who is the main subject. Accordingly, the face portion of the person is extracted by this outline extraction. 
     It is determined whether the extracted outline extends to the image frame that bounds the liquid crystal display device  9  (step  133 ). If the extracted outline extends to the bounding image frame of the liquid crystal display device  9  (“YES” at step  133 ), then it is construed that part of the face of the image of the subject being displayed on the liquid crystal display device  9  is missing. As a result, the user is warned, by the warning  142  “FACE MISSING”, of the fact that part of the face of the image of the subject being displayed on the liquid crystal display device  9  is missing (step  134 ). 
     Though the above-described example relates to a case in which a “FACE MISSING” warning is issued, other warnings can be presented in a similar manner. 
     For example, if the condition of the displayed image is “GROWING HORNS”, the flesh-colored portion of the image is extracted and so is the outline regarding the overall image of the subject, and an evaluation can be made based upon whether a rod-shaped image portion is being displayed above and projecting from the flesh-colored image portion that has been extracted. Further, if the condition of the displayed image is “HEAD CUT OFF”, the flesh-colored image portion is extracted and so is the outline regarding the overall image of the subject, and an evaluation can be made based upon whether a line extends horizontally with respect to the flesh-colored image portion. 
     Further, with regard to whether photography is being performed with a composition suited to scenic photography, the brightness and color distribution of the overall image of the subject are evaluated and an evaluation can be made based upon whether the overall image of the subject has been divided into approximately three portions in the horizontal or vertical direction. Furthermore, in regard to a combination of scenery and a person, the flesh-colored portion of the image is extracted and an evaluation can be made based upon the size of the extracted flesh-colored portion of the image and the size of the overall image of the subject. If the extracted flesh-colored portion of the image is smaller than the size of the overall image of the subject, then it is judged that the photography being performed does not apply to a composition that is a combination of scenery and people. 
     As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.