Cleanup
May 12, 2016 20:15:17 #
I have spent about 20 hours looking at my stored photos. Using my increased skill level I have started to delete the photos that are no longer representative of what I can do. So far I have deleted 150 gb of 500gb I have on my hard drive. The criteria I have been using is "Would I print it". Does any one else do this? I normally delete photos as I first examine them, but I still have way too many.
May 12, 2016 20:31:53 #
I think "would I print it" is one useful criterion, but maybe that standard wouldn't apply to photos of loved ones and memorable times of your life. I hope your parents are well, but, for this discussion, supposed you'd lost one of them. Would you keep the best couple of pictures of them, or keep all that you had? Same thing for weddings, births, graduations, first steps, etc.
May 12, 2016 20:33:26 #
May 12, 2016 20:33:42 #
jrb1213 wrote:
I have spent about 20 hours looking at my stored photos. Using my increased skill level I have started to delete the photos that are no longer representative of what I can do. So far I have deleted 150 gb of 500gb I have on my hard drive. The criteria I have been using is "Would I print it". Does any one else do this? I normally delete photos as I first examine them, but I still have way too many.
I have only been into photography digitally since 2001, and have just began scanning old printed photos, but have amassed about 700 GB worth of digital files..... my older shots definitely are well below skill wise where I am today, and while I have NOT began getting rid of low quality images yet, it is something that I have started thinking about doing and something that I fully intend to do, or at least archive the older sets and lower quality shots to DVD, CD or off site.
May 12, 2016 20:44:40 #
Dngallagher wrote:
I have only been into photography digitally since 2001, and have just began scanning old printed photos, but have amassed about 700 GB worth of digital files..... my older shots definitely are well below skill wise where I am today, and while I have NOT began getting rid of low quality images yet, it is something that I have started thinking about doing and something that I fully intend to do, or at least archive the older sets and lower quality shots to DVD, CD or off site.
Don, I did that about a year ago, and it took a lot longer than I thought it would. That's because it takes an iron will to just go through your photos and decide to keep or delete. It was almost impossible to resist re-editing, adding key words, trying to identify that bird or butterfly, or spend time thinking about how I could have shot it differently! Also, as I mentioned above, having multiple criteria slows you down, too. Should I keep this so-so picture of this rare bird? Or, how many pictures do I need to remember a place by?
May 12, 2016 20:44:54 #
Great point on the family photos. As it happens I did not delete any of those, nor do I expect to.
May 12, 2016 20:50:52 #
DWU2 wrote:
Don, I did that about a year ago, and it took a i... (show quote)
:) I hear ya! I have backups of everything off site, so after deletion from my hard drive they ARE still available for re-import, but...
May 12, 2016 20:54:49 #
When I first started into photography, I asked my mentor out of a roll of 36 shots how many did he feel were keepers. He answered '3 and then in a month I look them over again and usually throw about 1/3 of them away. Now with things being digital I'm finding that I throw a whole lot more than that away; but I haven't gone back for a second look.
May 12, 2016 21:08:06 #
May 12, 2016 21:14:14 #
Personally, you never know how your future tastes will change. Unless it's a horrific shot (the ground, with lens cap on, etc) I leave them in the folders. You never know.
May 12, 2016 21:58:05 #
Dngallagher wrote:
:) I hear ya! I have backups of everything off site, so after deletion from my hard drive they ARE still available for re-import, but...
Ha ha I heard it once said that a "bureau cat" when cleaning a file cabinet will make a copy of a file before throwing the original away.
So how is what you do any different? Lol
But who cares? If you like to keep old photos that's your business. Keep them all! Let your ancestors throw them away.
May 13, 2016 06:16:38 #
May 13, 2016 06:54:01 #
jrb1213 wrote:
I have spent about 20 hours looking at my stored photos. Using my increased skill level I have started to delete the photos that are no longer representative of what I can do. So far I have deleted 150 gb of 500gb I have on my hard drive. The criteria I have been using is "Would I print it". Does any one else do this? I normally delete photos as I first examine them, but I still have way too many.
Your children and Kin will trash all of them.
May 13, 2016 07:37:49 #
DWU2 wrote:
Don, I did that about a year ago, and it took a i... (show quote)
Man, you really nailed the gut-wrenching nature of this dilemma.
May 13, 2016 07:41:51 #
jrb1213 wrote:
I have spent about 20 hours looking at my stored photos. Using my increased skill level I have started to delete the photos that are no longer representative of what I can do. So far I have deleted 150 gb of 500gb I have on my hard drive. The criteria I have been using is "Would I print it". Does any one else do this? I normally delete photos as I first examine them, but I still have way too many.
I regularly go back through old files since I use to save everything. My criteria for removal is OOF If the photo is in focus I keep it Storage is cheap
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