The Magic, Miracles and Joy of an Artist: Photograph Storage

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Photograph Storage

Well, friends, I've had a lousy cold for almost 2 weeks and it is finally on its way out. You all know that miserable state of not being able to breath through your nose and coughing, coughing, coughing. Thank goodness, I didn't feel too bad other than those inconveniences, but I'm so happy it's almost gone. I slept through the night with little coughing last night so I feel better than I have for quite a while.

A while back, I mentioned I was having computer problems. That issue is resolved as I got a new computer about 3 weeks ago. I went with a laptop this time and I'm very happy with it. I had Vista before and Windows 7 is a little different. I've already adjusted to those changes, but my email system is quite different and it is taking some getting used to. But, everything in the tech world changes on a daily basis so I'm sure just about the time I get used to this system, there will be a newer and better one. Unfortunately, I am finding the more they change things, the more complicated they become. So, now that I have a computer that works properly and this cold is almost gone, I can post more than just a photo and a few words.

I would like to share a problem with you. I am at a loss of what to do about my photographs. The photos on my old computer have been transferred to my new one ~ ALL 27,200 OF THEM!!!! I need to do something with them. I had an external hard drive that I was backing them up on, but it wasn't working properly so I lived in fear of losing those photos. I feel a little more secure having a new computer, but that really is no guarantee. Plus, I keep adding photos.

I toyed with using Carbonite, but I really want to remove most of the photos from my computer and have them elsewhere. I was going to put them on CDs, but I've been told that CDs don't always last. I'm just not sure what direction to go. I would be so unhappy if I were to lose these photos. There are many family photos and other photos that I want to enlarge, frame, and possibly sell. Unless I come up with some kind of storage system for my photographs, my computer is going to get bogged down with them. It's ok right now, but I keep taking photos and I see no end in sight.

I feel certain someone else out there has been faced with this dilemma and has found a solution. I welcome and would be grateful for any suggestions. ♥

8 comments:

Jan said...: Can you get an external hard drive to copy your photos to? It would be separate from your computer so if you did have a computer crash your photos would still be safe over there. Also I would put them onto DVD's, not CDs. They might not last but I'll bet they will last longer than you need them to. They say old VHS and cassette tapes will disintegrate also but I've had some for 30 years and they still work. If you make copies in several places and formats you will be okay. It is an ongoing process and a lot of work but if you want to save them you will have to do the work. I'm sure more tech savvy people will have better suggestions for you but there is my two cents worth. and I believe I shall go back up my photos too! Haven't done that in 6 months or so.; November 17, 2011 at 1:12 PM
OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...: yep, what Jan says is what I do as well. I would hate to loose my pictures more than anything as well. Glad you're on the mend.; November 17, 2011 at 1:32 PM
Anonymous said...: I agree with Jan, a separate hard drive just for photos....don't know much else beyond that. I thought I had a lot of photos at 6,000 but you rock! xox Corrine; November 17, 2011 at 6:01 PM
yoborobo said...: Audrey - take a look at Picassa (from Google). That's what we use. We have A LOT of family photos (mostly the DH's), and he loves it. He said that if Google goes out of business, we're all in trouble - hahah! Happy weekend - xo

PS I would back up to CD AND do Picassa, because I am paranoid like that. ;)); November 18, 2011 at 8:47 AM
yoborobo said...: Audrey - It's Picasa (one 's'). Glad you're feeling better!; November 18, 2011 at 8:50 AM
Tricia Scott said...: oh, i have this same dilemma! i am so glad you posted about this, maybe it will spur me on to do something about it. i bought a tower of CDs at Sam's the other day but i like the comments about Picasa. i may look into that too. thank you!
and so glad that you are feeling better!; November 19, 2011 at 9:04 AM
Jan said...: Audrey, glad to see your blog is back!
I also use Picasa for my photos. It is free and easy to use although I'm sure you have some other photo editing software for those tasks. But Picasa will store your photos, not sure of their size limitations since you are talking about so many thousands. External hard drive and DVD's seem more reliable.; November 19, 2011 at 3:24 PM
Gail H. Ragsdale said...: Audrey, I have my photos on a CD/DVD's plus an external hard drive.
I'd be horrified if I lost my photos!; November 23, 2011 at 10:41 AM

For in that sleep of death, what dreams may come!

I AM A "SEARCHER"

"I am one of the searchers. There are, I believe, millions of us. We are not unhappy, but neither are we really content. We continue to explore life, hoping to uncover its ultimate secret. We continue to explore ourselves, hoping to understand. We like to walk along the beach, we are drawn by the ocean, taken by its power, its unceasing motion, its mystery and unspeakable beauty. We like forests and mountains, deserts and hidden rivers, and the lonely cities as well. Our sadness is as much a part of our lives as is our laughter. To share our sadness with one we love is perhaps as great a joy as we can know - unless it be to share our laughter. We searchers are ambitious only for life itself, for everything beautiful it can provide. Most of all we love and want to be loved. We want to live in a relationship that will not impede our wandering, nor prevent our search, nor lock us in prison walls; that will take us for what little we have to give. We do not want to prove ourselves to another or compete for love.

For wanderers, dreamers, and lovers, for lonely men and women who dare to ask of life everything good and beautiful. It is for those who are too gentle to live among wolves."

~ James Kavanaugh

I am THE LOVERS Tarot Card

Motive, power, and action, arising from Inspiration and Impulse. THE LOVERS represents intuition and inspiration. Very often a choice needs to be made. Originally, this card was just called LOVE. And that's acually more apt than "LOVERS." Love follows in this sequence of growth and maturity. And, coming after the Emperor, who is about control, it is a radical change in perspective. LOVE is a force that makes you choose and decide for reasons you often can't understand; it makes you surrender control to a higher power. And that is what this card is all about. Finding something or someone who is so much a part of yourself, so perfectly attuned to you and you to them, that you cannot, dare not resist. This card indicates that you have or will come across a person, a career, challenge, or thing that you will fall in love with. You will know instinctively that you must have this, even if it means diverging from your chosen path. No matter the difficulties, without it you will never be complete.