So, for those of you that remember back in “the day”, we had the Age of Aquarius. Today, we have the Age of Digital. They’re everywhere…..on your phone, on your IPad, on tiny cards that come out of your camera. Just on phones alone (using those ever reaching selfie sticks), we are the most photographed generation that ever lived. My granddaughter (who is a teen) takes more selfies, on any given day, than photos that I have of my entire life so far.

This may be old and tattered but I do have it! Not sure what my mother was THINKING with the curls though.

I mean, I think it’s GREAT that we always have our phones on us and they have advanced in such a way that the cameras in them are REALLY good. There are even classes now on how to take better photos with your phone. You don’t always have to carry your camera which can be cumbersome. Yet if an unexpected photo op arises, you’ve been able to capture it. It’s AWESOME.

Families can take tons of photos of the little one and then sort through to find that perfect shot. You can’t do that with film. You may take a lot of photos but it’s expensive to develop and print all of them to find that ONE that you like. That is, if you do find it at all. With digital you can also “fix” any flaws in Photoshop or any other image adjusting program.

You can share your photos with ease whether it’s on Facebook, Instagram or simply email. There is no wait to send a print to Aunt Bessie. Who hasn’t been in a conversation with someone and pulled out their cell phone to show a photo? It happens all the time.

So, what’s the problem? Is there a downside? Perhaps. Many of these photos never get printed into a hands on photograph. This means that you will always have to look at them on a computer or some other device and without that interface, you have nothing.

Technology changes so quickly. I remember when my parents took movies that ended up on big reels. I can’t even watch these movies now. I suppose they can be converted but at what cost? Floppy discs went by the wayside a while back. You can hardly find a computer to use them in.  How long will it be before DVDs will be obsolete?

Unless you download photos from your phone to something else more permanent, they will be gone. This means that the memories you’ve captured will be gone as well. Each one of these memories are the thread that, in the end, weave together to create your life.

If you are part of this Digital Age, it’s wonderful. There is so much to be said for it. However, DON’T leave your memories on a phone or computer or card. Get the photos out.  Print them and tell your story. Put them in albums and actually tell the story in words by journaling. These photos are something that will pass from generation to generation.

For all the visuals like me, it helps to SEE that old farm house that grandma grew up in or SEE me when I was a baby. You get the pix (no pun intended). LOL.

Don’t be part of the generation that has TONS of photos but nothing to actually SHOW for it. Yep, digital has a lot of advantages but once the memories are lost, there is no replacement. Something to think about.

Digital:

-more photos to choose from
-ease of sharing
-less expensive
-no missed photo ops
-keep many photos in small space
-portable     BUT

-possibility of them (and memories) being gone forever

Any more you can think of?

Thanks for reading.
Please leave questions and/or comments.
~Debbi
Founder of Scrapbooking for Anyone