Avoid the Digital Graveyard

Much of photography today has migrated from film onto the memory card.  While viewing a picture on a camera, cell phone, or computer screen is nice, nothing quite compares to the hard copy secured in a family photo album.  Too often I find myself taking pictures and never putting forth the effort to have the picture printed.  Perhaps too much emphasis is placed on the façade of recalling memories and not on truly appreciating a photographed memory.  While the digital age may present the idea that printed pictures are not necessary, it also diminishes the worth of the pictures by granting access by many different vehicles.  The exclusivity of the use of film increases the value placed on each frame.  While a digital photographer (such as myself) may take 5-7 frames of a similar pose, a film photographer would take 1-2.  The film photographer places great value on each frame because the manipulation and development of film requires a bit more time and resources.  Printing pictures demonstrates the value assessed in the photograph.  And as we place great value on our fond memories gone by, we begin to place greater value on our present experience and memories yet to be made.