The choice has been made
In the times before my digital cameras, I produced “real” pictures. A minimum of a negative, matched with a tiny proof on a contact sheet. Sometimes, a full paper-based picture. And with the simple math skills I’ve acquired, I can quote simple statistics. I have somewhere in excess of eighteen thousand negatives from one particular period.
I mentioned that I could (perhaps, probably, OK I’ll try…) put together a short presentation for our reunion this summer. Today, I decided that eighteen thousand might be excessive – imagine sitting through the weeks of blurred B&W images. Instead, I’d harvest. And, with a spreadsheet to assist, I chose a preliminary 76 photos. Yes, the number is significant.
Except, these are landscapes. These are pics of people that I know, or have known. Far too many have already passed on, which gives you an idea of what lies ahead for me; for all of us, I guess. I tried to keep my choice as one of interest to a general audience, but it does reflect my own experiences. If others want to bring out their albums, we could turn this into an event to be remembered!
Now comes the hard part. Technically. I’m going to have to copy those negatives (35mm) over to a digital camera and then “Lightroom” them in a way that emulates what happened when I used to “Darkroom” them. Great fun for those who are meticulous by nature. I just wish I’d started earlier in the summer. My procrastinatory nature will have the best of me yet.
