This is how I used to chronicle my memories.
I’d take my roll of film to CVS, wait patiently for the photos to be printed, look at them with excitement when they were finally developed, and then sort through them – picking and choosing which ones would be salvaged for an album.
My six month study abroad trip was so long that I practically made a scrap book, at least as far as my pitiful level of craftiness allowed. I saved coasters and welcome letters, receipts and bus passes, all to go along with my photos.
The photos in my albums are wearing now and in the oldest ones, the actual pages are slipping away.
I was a late bloomer with buying a digital camera, but when I finally took the dive, I thought it was magical. The ability to take as many photos as I want without having to worry about film running out is amazing to me and the fact that I can store the photos in one place in an organized way, makes me happy.
However, the other reason why I was ecstatic about having a digital camera was the ability to choose which photos to print. No longer would I sort through a pile of photos in search for ones that would make an album, I was searching for those that would evolve from digital to physical form.
The thing is, having this luxury has actually turned the act of getting photos printed into a daunting task. The excitement and thrill of getting to sort through a fresh roll of photos for the first time is gone.
The most updated prints I have are on my wall, and the incentive for that was simply decoration. The second most updated set of prints I own are from my study abroad trip. Considering how long ago that was, I think that’s pretty sad.
I don’t think that Flickr and Facebook albums, no matter how accessible, can really replace the real thing.
Do you?
I so, so, soooo agree with you on this!!! My friends made fun of me for years because I’d lug around my big, old-school Cannon camera. But, I’m also the only one who has real, printed-out, framed photos of some of our greatest get-togethers over the last five years.
Flickr, Facebook, iPhoto—none of it can replace the real thing.
I agree that people don’t print out photos often enough. I’ve also found that film cameras force you to think about the shots you take and people these days just take the most random, poorly framed shots of anything and everything.
i was just talking about this with a friend today. i LOVE my digital camera, but i miss the old school film, and albums. it’s now a chore to sift through and pick out which pics i want to print.
B just told me he’s getting me a FAHN-CEE camera for my birthday! Excite!
i still love printing out photos and putting them into albums. that reminds me i need to print out pictures for the 2009 album, as i haven’t printed out any since christmas!
and i’m also a scrapbooker, but so far behind. i’m just now working on my college one and i’m only on the freshman photos!
and the picture makes me laugh because i have a whole windowsill of photo albums!
I’ve been thinking about this lately too. All of the pics I have framed are at least 3 or 4 years old. Which is sad!
I totally agree. I still need to print all of my photos and have them in my hands.
I feel the same way you do about Flickr and FB items. It makes me sad that I no longer really print out photos for myself, and, three years later, I’m trying to figure out how to make an Italy scrapbook. So sad.
I loved waiting for my photos to be developed and wondering what was going to be on my roll of film. I miss those days.
I’m so with you. My pictures live on my hard drive. Hence, why I haven’t put toghttp://bonbonrose9.blogspot.com/ether my little man’s baby book yet. Sad.
Ooops, somehow I put my website in my comment. Rookie mistake. Ah ha