I'm thinking it's going to take me months to sort out our family photos and organizing the files on my computer and external drives.
Just when I thought I'd finished scanning photos, I found these. These boxes contain photos I'd sent my parents and Art's parents for a couple of decades. I used to take at least three photos of different occasions so I could send them to California and Hawaii.
So even though I've scanned similar photos, I had to go through these that I'd sent away to make sure I had them.
I found myself scanning many of these because even though the situation was the same, there was a slight change of expression or moment that I couldn't part with.
Then I had to throw them away.
It was hard... really hard.
In the digital age, we might take 10 photos of the same moment so it's not difficult to delete them.
In the past, the roll of camera film was either 24 or 36 exposures. Therefore, each one was precious.
Each hard copy photo seems imbued with the spirit of that moment.
This is going to take me the whole year to do.
And then I'm saving all the photo files onto these flash drives and giving them to my kids. It's a back up of my back ups.
I feel good about this. It really is a work of love.
Just when I thought I'd finished scanning photos, I found these. These boxes contain photos I'd sent my parents and Art's parents for a couple of decades. I used to take at least three photos of different occasions so I could send them to California and Hawaii.
So even though I've scanned similar photos, I had to go through these that I'd sent away to make sure I had them.
I found myself scanning many of these because even though the situation was the same, there was a slight change of expression or moment that I couldn't part with.
Then I had to throw them away.
It was hard... really hard.
In the digital age, we might take 10 photos of the same moment so it's not difficult to delete them.
In the past, the roll of camera film was either 24 or 36 exposures. Therefore, each one was precious.
Each hard copy photo seems imbued with the spirit of that moment.
This is going to take me the whole year to do.
And then I'm saving all the photo files onto these flash drives and giving them to my kids. It's a back up of my back ups.
I feel good about this. It really is a work of love.
Oh my gosh, that is daunting but as you said a work of love. I also find it hard to throw things away, you have your work cut out for you on this project!
ReplyDeleteGood for you.
ReplyDeleteI went through hundreds of slides from my mom, and had some digitized.
I've sorted and burned mine, post-scan. They don't want hard copy photos, it's just not their generation. My kids are all in their 30s.
You are very dedicated. I have only scanned a select few.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great job you do.
ReplyDeleteDo you have a scanner that you prefer to use? I'm thinking of buying one, since we got rid of our printer and don't know when we might get another.
ReplyDeleteWhat a large project! You are going to be so happy that you did this though!!! And your children will cherish these! Lovely! Annster's Domain
ReplyDeleteI feel so guilty. You are doing what I need to be doing:-(
ReplyDeleteYes, like DJan asked, go share with us what equipment you are using. This job would be daunting with our current equipment, and I really should b doing some of this.
ReplyDeleteAh photos and what to do with them...always a problem. And if they are on our blogs are they backed up? I finally made a photo poetry book to capture and save my work but it's costly to do.
ReplyDeletePlease share what scanner you are using? It is a whole job of it's own shopping for one!
ReplyDeleteIt took me a long long time to get many generations of photos scanned, but I am so glad I did. I have a lot of pictures of the one grandmother I didn't know. Pictures of my mother and father from the time they were babies till they died. It's very nice to have these.
ReplyDeleteYou're fantastic. I could never do this .Scanning once was enough. I'm not sure how many my kids really wanted.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that this is a chore you love for it looks quite daunting. Have fun, it will be worth it.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good scanner and the patience to do each one! I have flash drives but the problem is that I don't know what is one them. My next post will be about photo storage - my son taught me about Google photos because I didn't understand icloud stuff and didn't know how to access it, etc. Unlimited and free. I will be going to the Apple store tomorrow to learn how to edit and upload "clips" and then I will post about the new techie stuff I learned. Meanwhile - I, too, have boxes of photos that need to be scanned.
ReplyDeleteAll the printed ones of mine are at my mom's house.
ReplyDeleteYou are impressively organized Kay. We have boxes and boxes of old photos. I have copied many but stopped for a while. You have inspired me to open those boxes again.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly are the busy AND organized one, good for you. It's good that you're getting so much done. I know that does feel wonderful. Way-to-Go Kay!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a great weekend!
I have just sent a away a batch of VHS and 8mm video tapes to get digitized. I do not think I will ever digitize my hundreds of slides. Way too much work.
ReplyDeleteI have color slides my husband took through the years I’ve intended to digitize but haven’t gotten to yet. Parting with photos would be hard. Probably collectors items in a few generations.
ReplyDelete