More displacement writing

Still chaining myself to the keyboard. See prior blog.

I can be a bit of a Luddite in some respects. Okay, a lot of respects. I still carry a Daytimer (bought in 1984) instead of a PDA. My favorite touring paddle (kayak) is wooden. And “American Pie” had it right about the day the music died.

But, photography is one area where I tip my fedora to new technology. Sure, it’s impossible to beat the subtleties of black & white print making. But digital is so much easier (and cheaper).

In days of yore, I would pack four or five rolls of film and use them somewhat sparingly. After the trip, it would take me a day or two to get them to a processor, and another couple to pick them up (forget about low quality one-hour services). I’d have maybe 100-150 prints and/or slides, and be pressed to remember details about 20% of them.

If they were slides, they’d be loaded into a magazine and viewed maybe twice before they were shelved. Prints went into albums and were stored in some remote corner of the basement. Out of sight, out of mind.

By contrast, I’ll probably shoot over 300 pics in the next three or four days. There’s no cost for being thorough. The day I get back, I can select and upload them to my photo site before I forget the significance of anything. At that point, they’re only a mouse click away for me and any of my friends or relatives. I can go back and enjoy the moment again anytime I want.

I’ll stick with my cellulose calendar and paddle, but I’ll take all the digital visuals available.