Photo Collection As a Family Hobby

Every photograph has its own story to tell thereby connecting you to the past. It makes you feel like you are in the scene when you took the picture and captured the unique and special moment. It is a visual link to treasured memories and emotions of the days-gone-by.

Cherished and colorful photos add warmth and brighten a room no matter where you place them. Photographs taken during vacation trips, beach holidays, birthday and wedding celebrations, graduation exercises, school events, baptism rites, visits to a zoo, festivities and other special events may be placed in photo albums, scrapbooks or book projects to be enjoyed and remembered especially in the later years of your life. A classroom picture during your elementary or high school days, pictures of your pet dogs, cats, love birds, doves or parrots, family orchids, beautiful sunset or sunrise, clouds, waterfalls and other landscapes or cityscapes may be displayed prominently in your living or bedrooms.

Beautifully framed photos of your family such as a graduation picture, a wedding portrait or portraits of your ancestors bring nostalgic or glorious moments of the past and these usually occupy the most conspicuous place in the house such as on the center or side tables of your sala set, on the piano, on your corner stands, or are showcased in your bookshelves or hanged on the walls of your living room.

Your collection of beautiful pictures, particularly landscapes, trees and flowers, can also be a good source of income. These can be displayed to be admired at or bought in art shows, galleries and local venues.

Family photographs, especially ancestors' portraits, are subject to deterioration, fading and yellowing. To preserve a black-and-white prints, scan them and print copies with a printer that uses pigment inks because these withstand light, humidity and temperature variation. Moreover, print only on good, acid-free photo papers which are usually available from office supplies stores. If the photos were taken by a digital camera, get them off your camera and onto your computer then burn them onto a compact disc (CD) to ensure greater longevity. For insurance, duplicate the CD and store it in a separate location. However, see to it that only high-quality archival CDs that are intended for long-term storage shall be used. As technology changes, be prepared also to update your digital storage medium.

Photo collection, as a family hobby, allows you to share your joys and passion for capturing beautiful moments and events that can be relived, enjoyed and shared to your family, your future generations and friends.