Will Digital Images Pass The Test Of Time ?

I have just read an interesting article about a photographer who took some review shots of Bob Dylan back in 1979. After three decades he found an exposed roll of Ilford HP5. This was a favourite film of mine in those days.

He had the film developed and the images were crystal clear. Now, having had to go digital myself due to client requirements some six years ago, I recently had a very scary experience with my first external hard dive. I won't bore you with the techy bit but I nearly lost three years of stored images. Apparantly it had become "corrupted" and it was an expensive process to get them reclaimed and I had to purchase another hard drive to store them on.

Digital photography is undoubtedly fantastic but I find myself wondering about its archival ability. The problem for me is that I have no idea how it all works whereas I do understand the old silver halide photography. I have around 250,000 negatives on file going back to the early seventies and as an experiment, I scanned the one of this green keeper at the Hong Kong Open from 1980. It was in perfect condition and had been shot on Ilford HP5.

I wonder if my digital images will still be as good in 2040 if they haven't already disappeared in the ether. The old romance of going into the darkroom is sadly gone.

Hogmanay In Helmsdale.

I spent this New Year in Helmsdale and had a great time. Helmsdale lies about seventy miles north of Inverness and about forty miles south of the most northward tip of the UK, John O' Groats.

We have just had the coldest period in Scotland since 1963 and I remember that well as you can see by the old photo of my mum, sister and me on a frozen Loch Lomond.

It is all very nice but I had three burst pipes as a consequence and given the choice, I think I would rather have it a wee bit warmer.

Uses For Snow.

We have just had the coldest Christmas for twenty years here in Scotland.

I was thinking of all the various benefits that snow brings. Looks great, you can build snowmen, go sledging but most important of all, keeps the beers at the right temperature.

Sign Of The Times.

I have been asked by a journalist colleague, to look out for signs where the message is clear but taken literally, make no sense at all.

It didn't take me long to find one.

Christmas Eve.

Well it's here again and this year we've got snow, lots of it.

For you bloggers who are in sunnier climes this is how cold it is here right now. Spiders must have built in anti freeze at least I hope they do the forecast is for -10C over the next few days. The coldest it's been here for twenty years.

I hope you all have a great time over the festive season.

New Kid On The Bloc.

A few months ago, I got a familiar phone call from a doting mother telling me that her daughter was the best looking young lady in the world. I know what she meant as my two sons are the most handsome young men on the planet.

When young Robyn arrived at the studio, I immediately knew she would be great to photograph. In her case it was a bit more serious though. She was here to get a portfolio of photos that she would be submitting to become the "Face of Sophie Teenwear"
a UK wide competition run by high street fashion chain Internacionale.
They were looking for young, attractive, cool hip girls to promote their brand image.

It was difficult to believe that she had never been in a studio before and to cut a long story short, she won. Another interesting fact that came out of the competition was the other two winners were from Inverness. A hat trick for Scotland.

Robyn has now been signed up by top agency Superior Model Management and is looking to pursue a career in beauty therapy or hairdressing.

Not a bad wee start I'd say.

Tam O' Shanter.

I left a foggy Glasgow en route for a job in Ayr earlier today. On arrival, the sun was splitting the sky and the town centre was buzzing.

It got me thinking about the last time I had been in the town centre and I worked out that it must have been over twenty years ago at least.

The high street is now one way and there is the obligatory shopping centre with multi - story car parking.

I was glad to see that the Tam O'Shanter pub was still the same. It must be the only pub in Scotland with a thatched roof.

I'm always saying that nothing is forever but it is nice to see some things are determined to buck the trend.