K Marie Studios

One of those qualities we all love but find difficult to be consistent at. (Yes, there’s a slight irony there in case you thought that sounded weird.) And it’s something I’m being challenged with…..yet once again.

This last week I’ve spent a good deal of time backing up my images — and not just to an extra hard drive. I learned that one the hard way. Last year, my long-time friend and faithful co-laborer (*cough* slave) gave up the ghost. At least his connectors did. And when they did, they blew the life out of the drives (unfortunately they were not RAID). So all my images from the previous five — no, make that eight — years became history……though not the accessible kind pictures are meant to be. Ya know, it was one of those instances where I wasn’t worried about a second or third back up copy OFF the computer ’cause I was definitely going to do that…..one day…..I really was…..no question about it……at all.

Which is all fine and dandy, unless, of course, your beloved hard drive doesn’t have as much faith, and decides to move on without you. If I wasn’t listening to him while he yet ranked among the spinning, I’m listening to him now……..as he sits still and silent in the next room with a scarred remnant of my “inheritance” that I’ll never get back. Or be able to give to my family — which is the clincher.

Because pictures — though we love making them — are not about us. They are ultimately about others. (More on this some other time.)

So, in an effort to faithfully and more fully preserve the history preserved in the images we’ve made, I have spent a painful number of hours waiting for my computer to burn gigs upon gigs of pixel groupings. They’re sitting here on a spindle next to me.

And ya know what?

It’s a good feeling.

I’ve got nearly all of last year backed up three ways, and in this instance, they’re all off the computer. Three sets of data DVDs, each set to be stored in a different place (haven’t figured out where yet, but it’s a start!) to guard against the next threat — fire.

So my exhortation to you would be to do the same, whether you’re a committed photographer, or an unsung family historian (which, to me, is the same thing).

And yes, in X-number of years we’ll have to copy these same discs to new media because the technology will have changed dramatically and ’cause CDs and DVDs don’t last forever anyway……but I didn’t just bring that up and you didn’t just hear that ’cause we’re all supposed to be excited about getting THIS round done! lol

So be encouraged as you do the seemingly tedious — you’ve been faithful to TAKE the pictures for memories’ sake, now you extend that effort of faithfulness as you further preserve those images for viewing sake.

Happy disc burning!

~Kayleen