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Archiver > STEWART > 2003-02 > 1046103353


From: "Carolyn Shell" <>
Subject: Re: [STEWART] Old Photos
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 11:15:53 -0500
References: <001001c2dbe0$fe43ab00$be45d918@newhp> <3E5A3949.5D804045@ix.netcom.com>


Thanks Lauren,
I am worried about old pictures and finding the best way to preserve them
also so I appreciate the advise. This emails on this topic have been really
informative and I'm saving them all for reference.
Carolyn

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lauren Boyd" <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, February 24, 2003 10:24 AM
Subject: Re: [STEWART] Old Photos


> Dear Stewart listers:
>
> Nora Yahl wrote some informative stuff that I snipped and also said:
>
> "Yes buy color, because it costs an arm and a leg to have black and white
developed. "
>
> I do not agree with Nora's advice for type of film. Experience has
> shown that color film and color photos do not archive for as long
> a time period as black and white. Many wedding photos from the
> 1960's were yellow and off color by the 1980's. High School Senior
> Portraits taken in the 1980-90's were degrading withing 6 years and
> they were done by "proffessionals." My daughter's baby pictures
> from the 70-80's are purple and magenta. Color degrades. And
> those of us (most) that rely on processing by other than private
> photographers can be assured that the processing company will not
> be refreshing their chemicals at a rate that will cost them more.
> The result is that if your film and images hit the tail end of
> the chemical batch life, they will not be as reliable as when the
> first batch was processed. The chemical bath is the most critical
> thing done to our photos. Their longevity relies upon it.
>
> When thinking of preserving old photos by copying, or preserving
> a momentous occassion on film, one is advised to use black and
> white film. If you need a more light senstive film, purchase
> ASA 400. If you don't, then you can get a lower ASA 100 or ASA 32
> which will be less grainy, if you are trying Nora's method of
> copying the photos yourself. It has been said that we should
> all take one roll of black and white photos per year to include
> in our life chronicles.
>
> Black and white film, if need be can be, processed at your kitchen
> sink with not much difficulty in about 20 minutes or less. This
> presumes you will be making an investment in chemicals and equipment
> that you plan to use over time. OR you can take your film to your
> local history museum, or to students of photography and have a discussion
> re your preservation project and see what can be arranged.
>
> I would prefer and suggest to explore that method, not only for cost,
> but because the work would be custom work. And unlike the processing
> companies will use paper designed to be used with black and white
negatives, rather than
> printing on the paper designed to be used with
> color film. The museum volunteer will be certain to treat the development
and printing
> process with an eye toward longevity of the images. The Photography
classes would be
> learing hands on pracitcal methods to preserve the art they will create. A
photography
> teacher would likely welcome the opportunity to include this in the lesson
plan. When I
> studied photography we were taught archival methods in theory, but had no
occasion to put
> them in effect at that time.
>
> For retention of the sepia tone effect -- this can be duplicated in the
> photo lab when printing photos.
>
> REMEMBER: the object of this process is to preserve the photos, to create
> archival copies and a method to reprint time and again over the next 100
> years. Saving the photos are the object of the process, *not* saving
money. Don't find
> later that you have been penny wise and pound foolish.
>
> Scanning is good for a quick save and reprint for more temporary use
> and distributon of the photos. However, keep in mind that data storage
> and access electronically depends on the fickle nature of consumerism
> and the electronic industry. Need I say more than 8track tape or BETA
> to get this point across? Which of you still owns a 78 record player?
> Yet a pen or pencil is still readily available and people know how to
> operate them. The same is true for the Science and Art of Phography.
>
> Yours Aye,
>
> Lauren
>
>
> ==== STEWART Mailing List ====
> Have you ever attended the Scottish Games and visited the Stewart tent?
> Find an event near you: http://www.maclachlans.org/games.html
>
>


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