Greener Photography

The storage doesn't take much energy, it's the displaying that does...
Stick 'em on the hard drive...view 'em when you want.
I have tons of stuff on Photobucket...dunno how they store 'em?
That's one grumpy critter in your pic.
Del

Hi Del,

Thanks for the reply. Was just wondering about the whole life-cycle energy use thing. Maybe I should just get more sleep.

I do have most of my photos on the hard drive, but for some reason am a bit leery of keeping them there.

The groundhog pictured is a bit leery of feral felines in the area...

Have you thought about the resources required to produce the tons of newspapers and colour magazines every week.

Don't worry about your photos, do whatever is cheapest/most convenient for you.

I, like you, are worried about losing my pictures. So I've employed a three step management system.

1. Hard drive

2. backup drive

3. compact disk, sealed, labeled and stored.

If any one device fails I have two other copies to restore from.

I agree with what the smart guys said. Can't you copy your (very nice) pix onto a DVD or three?

Your, my, our hard drives will all die sooner or later so best to back up often.

Yes, back up has been done. Was just musing over the energy costs of the options. Guess its trivial.

NOT NEARLY AS TRIVIAL AS MANY, MANY POSTS HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry Sue, got carried away there.

Your question was intelligent, well put and thoughtful.

I could also throw in understandable, unlike almost every Guest-Edgar who comes along.

Stick around, you'll see.

LL

Hum, hard to say if you include:

- energy cost to manufacture the photo paper, whichever it is.

- energy cost to manufacture camera film, the camera itself.

- energy cost in your house consumption.

- energy cost to recharge your digital cam batteries.

- energy cost to transport all that stuff from China to the local stores then selling it...

- energy cost that you spend yourself in your work to get the money to buy all those things.

-...

After all, I don't think its possible to get to a final answer in a simple analysis. But, thinking about being greener, and based on the number of photos we are able to store in HD and DVD ( I also being an enthusiast of at least three copies... ) it really seems that avoiding using paper anyway is better. Paper industry is not that environmental friendly...

Sue,

Apart from the question of paper used for the occasional print (of either kind of picture), the chemicals involved in processing film are pretty noxious, and it is generally accepted that getting rid of that processing step is the big plus for digital.

For the question of print or display on a screen: depends on the context. Suppose instead of making a print to hang on the wall, you opted for a flatscreen and used it to display images 24/7 as part of your decor. The humble paper print is soon environmentally cheaper.

SD cards have become an affordable storage medium and I guess they use less raw materials than a CD.

We're living in a world of virtually unlimited images. No roll of film to buy, no processing fees: guilt free, budget free photography. Such riches for the senses. Enjoy it, please.. and thanks for the groundhog!

Dear Sue,

I would reccommend that you upload your photos to the Kodak Gallery or another similar storage site. Not only is this a greener alternative because they maintain their servers in a controlled environment, but they also utilize the latest in dry processing when you want your pictures processed. This cuts down on environmental contamination from caustic photo processing chemicals as well as eliminates the need for silver reclamation from the recycled film.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Welcome.jsp

Good luck!

Rock1

Greener? Paint or sketch

Then there's the chemical and energy costs of paper, paints, pastels, inks....(and I can't paint or sketch, but it's a nice thought).

C is best choice at about two hundred watts.

Okay, new technology is allowing manipulation of your computer by power of the mind. How far away do ya think downloading your minds eye is?

Scary maybe