Photography

cshimokita
[Photo Forum Moderator]
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Thanks Mike, here's how I manage my photos...

Q1) Do you scan all the prints you make, or do you scan from slides or negatives?
A1) I don't make prints.  When I shoot color / B&W negatives or color reversal film (slide film) I just have the film developed without prints and cut in strips of six frames.  For "slide film" I don't mount the frames, rather leave the film in strips of six frames like color / B&W negative film (two images per strip for my 120 format film as I shoot in 6x7 format).  I scan all frames.

Q2) When you have a scanned photo database to manage, as well as cabinets full of slides and prints! how do you do it?
A2) I don't have a database per se... I store the scanned images, 36-38 frames per roll of 35mm film (10 frames per roll of 120 format film) in one folder.  The folder name is the "date that the roll was scanned_type of film_camera and lens_subject", for example 20150412_KG200_F350_Ginza (Kodak Gold ISO 200, Nikon F3 with a 50mm lens).  The film is stored chronologically in binders with a matching label.

Q3) Are you able to manage which digital images come in via which scanner and then recall patterns in which settings you used?
A3) Note: dSLR camera files are stored by date the photo was taken with a similar folder name (obviously no film type and no hard copy in the binder).  The folder contains the original scans or RAW files and the subfolder (P00, P01, P02...) contain the post processed images grouped by subject or if posted in the grouping that was posted as one set.  The film is either 135 or 120 format, so the camera name tells me what scanner was used (in the case of the X5 scanner, the folder name was specific for that test drive).  The scanner set-up is obviously different for each type of film... however I scan (1) all B&W, (2) all Color Negative, and (3) all Slide film as the type of film, not specific to each mfg.  Thus Kodak Gold 200 is scanned the same way as Fujicolor 400... I don't use presets in the scanning or post processing workflow. I typically use around six types of film and can remember post processing tricks for each film...  Normally the film is chosen based on the planned shoot, so there is already a good match in play...

I backup my folders by year, thus I have a 2012 backup, 2013 backup, etc.  There are two physical backups on different media (I use usb external hard disks, which hold about three year each).

For portfolio and important images, I keep copies on my daily use PC by year and same folder name.  I have a dedicated PC for 35mm film scanning and another dedicated PC for 120 format scanning.  All post processing and current year folder storage is on the 35mm scanning PC.

What I am missing is a "key word" system, but with years of photographs, it's too much to keep on one online-PC... so I don't use an application such as LightRoom.  To be honest, if I remember the image or the event I can somehow pull the date out of my hat and then it's just looking in the archives... sometimes I rescan rather than go to the backup disk if the photo was on film... my scanning and post processing skills have improved over time so it's "better" to rescan/reprocess...

Works for me... thanks for asking...
Casey