Zen Artistry in the Modern World
Digitizing Photos for the Home
I can remember the last photo album my family and I created. The year was 2007; the same year that the first Apple iPhone
came out. Suddenly, the need for traditional photo processing went away as did the need for creating photo albums. The first generation iPhone and the multiple versions since then allow today's photographer to take as many photos as the user might want whether it be little league baseball games, travel and/or a group photo with family or friends. Fast forward to the year 2011 and these same photo ages could be shared across multiple devices ranging from smartphones to tablets to computers. Photo albums are great. But when was the last time you sat down for an hour and scrolled through the "trip to the British Isles" photo album neatly tucked away in your closet? It so happens that I have saved every negative of every photo I have ever taken. Now, to be clear, we're talking some 40 plus years' worth of photos. I didn't plan this. I just happen to have them. The starting point for me was the question of how to best transfer those many negatives into a digital format. After some research, I selected the Magnasonic FS71 film scanner that converts slides and negatives into digital images.
Digital Scanning and Transfer
The goal was to fully digitize the best photos that could be later used on any number of digital devices. The scanner captures images in both color and black and white, saving them as JPEG files that can be transferred to a computer.
Here are a few takeaway lessons in learning to digitize photos.
1) Be sure to have enough memory in the device, so you can view before you upload. I purchased an additional
Secure Digital Card (SD) card just so I could store and delete those photos not worth uploading.
2) If you are working with film negatives be sure to have a holder that keeps the negatives in place when they
are being scanned.
3) Be sure your screen is large enough so you can view the photos easily.
First you view the photos on the devices screen. This device has the ability to adjust the coloring and shadows of the photo image before you save it. This proved to be particularly helpful if you decide to change the highly distinct Kodachrome photo look which is known for its rich, saturated colors. It's also worth noting that older negatives tend to yellow somewhat over time.
Digital Photo Frame Display
This project took several months to complete; but is so worth it. The old memories were now digital. The subsequent question then became; what are the best ways to actually view such photos? Viewing photos on a smartphone has it limits starting with the fact that they're too small. And passing around your smartphone featuring your most recent travel photos to friends and dinner guests just doesn't cut it. And while we're at it, viewing your photos on a computer isn't necessarily the most fun or satisfying way to share family photos either. Computer tablets are somewhat better. So my kids helped with the solution by purchasing an AURA digital photo frame to display our photos. Instead of a traditional framed picture on a countertop, imagine a continually changing photo display via a digital photo frame. As with any technology , I had to be clear in terms of my expectations. I needed something that was out of the way, but visually engaging. I have my digital photo frame tucked away in the corner of my kitchen on a counter top. The Aura and equivalent digital photo frames does not require any effort on my part other than to select which photos are to be displayed by personal preference or theme. This device turns on with sunlight and scans automatically. I wanted the transfer of new photos to be simple going from my phone to the display monitor via Wi-Fi. I also needed to be able to delete photos without any worries or concern.
Every 20 seconds, a new photo appears bringing with it images of family and friends as well as memories of the past. I have to admit that it sometimes take me 20 minutes to make a cup of coffee as I think about the many places that my husband and I have traveled and the people we have met. The combination of the Magnasonic scanner and the AURA display monitor now make it possible to have a photo album operating in real time. And more importantly, these photos do indeed get seen. This is the digital photo album for the 21st century that brings with it a host of memories, that would otherwise have been forgotten. The Zen artistry found in digital photo frames lies not in the technology itself, but in how it can be used to evoke a quiet steady source of beauty.