Photographic Memory

Over the last few days, I’ve been going through the archives of my photos, all the way back to 2002. In many ways it’s been quite interesting, looking at the way things have developed (pardon the pun) over that time, and the differences in the way I take photos.

At the same time, though, it’s also interesting to see that even back at the start, I was getting images that I was (and still am) proud of, and happy to have prints of up on the walls. I guess that that’s the real sign of being able to get the essential images – that it doesn’t matter what gear is being used, whether it’s a low-end digital compact, a super-zoom ‘bridge’ camera, or a semi-professional DSLR. And I suppose the corollary is that it’s also just as easy to get ropy images whatever equipment you use – god knows, I’ve got any number of those!

I suppose I could go back through the archive and spend some time deleting the really bad stuff, the blurred fuzzy out-of-focus ones and so on. But sometimes even those can bring back memories, regardless of how much I wince and wish I’d taken a better shot at the time. At the same time, it’s good to go through them, and firstly get a reality check – while the majority of the stuff I’ve taken is at least ‘OK’, there’s still a lot that’s really bloody bad, and maybe one in ten, or one in twenty that’re really good, but also to look at ways I can improve in the future.

The archive as a whole has its uses. It reminds me of ideas and locations, and gives me inspiration for future ideas. There are at least two complete sets where I just want to go back, revisit the location and/or client, and do a better job with the improved gear I have at my disposal. Also, it gives me a huge repository of files that I can work on to improve my skills with either Photoshop or PhaseOne.

Does my archive depress me? Hell no, even with the seriously bad photos. And even then, I know there are also plenty of really good ones that are certainly of printable quality, and that people (either ourselves, or others) like to have on their walls. And to me, that’s what it’s all about.