Using Your Camera as a Digital Archiving Tool

It is the age of the digital camera, a wonderful device that not only allows you to take great pictures but also allows you to digitize all that is sacred to you. But even if you don't own a state of the art digital camera and are still using film you can use your film camera to digitize all that is important to you. Cameras are used to take pictures and most people take pictures of other people, places and events but if you think outside the box you start to move beyond the obvious uses and begin to realize the true potential of this versatile device.

For example you can take pictures of documents, artwork, musical instruments, your valued collections, the toaster; anything that has sentimental value to you that may not endure the test of time.

You may be asking yourself is the author nuts, why would I want to take a picture of my toaster? We'll get to that later. In the meantime let's look at some interesting ways to use your cameral as a digital archiving tool.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a collection of your most important personal documents; wills, living wills, insurance information, investment information all in one safe and secure place? If you take well lit, focused snapshots of documents with your camera at high resolution you can then import the images to your PC or Mac and burn them onto CD or DVD media; that way your documents can be stored in one place and easily accessible. If you don't own a digital camera or a computer for that matter don't worry, you can simply ask for your images to be put on a CD when you get your pictures developed. Once your pictures are on CD they can be saved and output later if needed. Photos that have been digitized in this manner remain intact and unchanged. They do not fade, yellow, or degrade with age. And since CD media is said to have a shelf life of 50 years or more when stored correctly you are basically future proofing your images as well.

This same logic applies to other physical items such as artwork, posters, furniture, trinkets, etc.

Now about the toaster; taking pictures of all of the items in your house can be a great way to recall what you actually own in the case of theft or vandalism, fire or other such disaster. It is often hard to remember all of the items you own and this is especially true when under a great deal of stress. My insurance agent told me once that claims can be settled much quicker with this kindof documentation because you have proof of what you owned.

I strongly recommend having a number of copies made and storing two copies in a safe deposit box at your local bank. These storage facilities are generally fire proofed, temperature and humidity controlled but you should inquire just to be safe. Another option is to give a friend or family member a copy. They should store the CD in its case in a cool, dry place in the home; the more people who store a copy of your digital archive, the greater the chance that it will remain undamaged over time.

There are definitely more uses for your camera as an archiving tool than have been covered here. If you use a little imagination and ingenuity you will find yourself coming up with all kinds of ways to put your trusty old or new camera into service.

About the Author

Jay Corrao is the founder and president of Memory Archivers, a video production company based in Apple Valley Minnesota. His company specializes in wedding and event videograpy, video biographies, and consumer digital archiving.

www.memoryarchivers.com
jay@memoryarchivers.com
Written by: Jay Corrao - Copyright 2005