To print or not to print?

I love prints. There is something special about holding the physical product (especially if it's on a high quality paper). It's the same sort of appreciation you get when holding and looking at a quality book.

The wall above my desk is fast disappearing.

There is a distinct possibility that I may be a tad biased. I think the chemicals of the darkroom are permanently in my system...seeing an image appear, as if by magic, on what was a blank piece of paper is almost impossible to describe.

But, and yes there is a but, I am guilty of not printing. I have hard drives full of images I would love to print but I have no wall space. I'm not sure how I combat that. It may be that I combine my love of prints and my love of books...at least then there will be a hardcopy record of my images.

I think having a hardcopy is very important, especially as a historical record. How many people are likely to trawl through your files after you die? Who will even know how to access your computer or phone? (regardless of whether you choose to print or not...make sure you back up your image files).

My grandparents. Obviously I didn't know them as young people...this photo gives an insight into who they were and how happy something as simple as a walk on the beach made them.

I'm sure most of you have at some time found yourselves rifling through a shoebox full of photographs (one of my favourite pics is a black and white shot of my grandparents on the beach in their youth). And how many times have you found an image and asked "who is that?" Do your ancestors a favour and write info on the back of your prints...future genealogists will love you.

Who are these people? What is the dog's name? Why was the photo taken? All of this information could be valuable in the future.

Photographs are historical records. Without them there are only memories, and if the memory keeper dies so do the memories. I need to follow my own advice and get printing. I will keep you posted.