Photo of the day

Most people I know have photos neatly arranged in albums or, more likely, stacked haphazardly in boxes, and every now and then they look through those photos and remember days and people (and pets) gone by. Wouldn’t it be great to share your photos and your memories with the rest of the family? If you agree, read on for ideas about preserving and then sharing your photos with others.

Steve and his brother Goatboy on the Lushton farm, sometime in 1960

*** Whoever is able please clarify where on the aerial photo this photo was taken,
which direction it is looking, and which buildings are visible in the background. ***

Paper, even high-quality photographic paper, fades and degrades and ultimately crumbles into dust. A digital image, however, will last nearly forever. It only makes sense, then, to convert all printed photos into digital images as soon as possible. If this is something you would like to pursue, there are two ways to go about it.

1. Send the photos to me and have me scan them. I promise to take good care of the photos while they are in my possession (scanning does not damage photos) and to return them to you using some sort of trackable shipping method.

2. If you have access to a computer with a scanner, you can also scan the photos yourself. Scanning is not terribly complicated, but you want to keep several things in mind:

• Scan the photo in color mode, even if it is a black and white photo. This will preserve the feel and depth of the original better than scanning it in black and white.
• If your scanner allows you to choose the type of color settings, select CMYK if you have it, otherwise RGB.
• The first goal of scanning is to preserve the photo, so it is best to scan it at a high resolution, even though this creates a larger file. If possible, scan your photos at their actual size and 600 dpi (dots per inch). If you must scan it at a lower resolution, 300 dpi is acceptable.
• If you have options for saving the file, choose the tiff format first, or, if that is unavailable, jpeg (at the highest quality: 12). The tiff format will result in a larger file, but it will also preserve the scan with a greater degree of accuracy and depth.
• If, after scanning, you want to send me the high-resolution version, I can guide you in using a free (!) online file transfer service.

Once a photo has been scanned, it is ready to be used however you want (with a little adjustment): you can archive a copy on your computer hard drive, use it as your screen background, send copies to family and friends, and, I hope, share it with the rest of us on this blog.

If enough of us are willing to have our family photos scanned and shared, we might even create a Buller Archive that could be distributed to everyone who wants a copy on CD or, if needed, a DVD. This archival source might contain other items of interest, such as a copy of the Buller Family Record, reminiscences from family members, historical documents, and so on.

At the very least, I hope many of you will begin to look through your family photos and consider putting them into a digital format. Everyone who visits this blog would love to see your photos and share your memories—I know I would!