This May Seem Like a Sad Story
It begins with a boy who has few memories of his father, who died when he was seven years old. Mitch Goldstone cherishes his only picture with his dad – a snapshot at Disneyland taken in the late 1960s, when smartphones didn’t exist. But this story isn’t sad at all. Goldstone has turned his passion for rediscovery into a career with ScanMyPhotos, a company that digitizes analogue photos from the pre-smartphone era and brings forgotten memories back to life. “There’s nothing else like it, there are so few businesses doing something that makes people cry when they get the product back,” Goldstone says.
Converting analogue photos to digital allows people to relive their past and share their memories easily. For many, it’s a gateway to understanding their own identity. The process isn’t cheap, but the experience is priceless.
An Actor’s Final Encore
Ed Asner, known for his roles as Lou Grant in TV series such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show and an eponymous spinoff, kept hundreds of undeveloped negatives. After his death in 2021, his son Matt decided to digitize them along with a collection of printed pictures. Looking at his dad’s photos rekindled Matt’s buried memories of his childhood. “Some of these pictures haven’t been seen for 40, 50 or even 60 years,” Matt Asner marvels. “It’s like opening up a strange world for everyone and it draws you closer as a family.”
A Diplomat’s Journey
Lyne Paquette, a retired US diplomat, digitized 3,500 out of 12,000 photos she had taken during her travels around the world. Looking back at her images brings back both happiness and sadness, but it also gives her a greater appreciation for her rich life.
A War Correspondent’s Portfolio
Photographer Russell Gordon, who covered wars in 20 countries, had 200 of his favourite analogue photos digitized. The memories embedded in the photos are even more precious to him because he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. He encourages everyone to digitize their analogue images before it’s too late. “When you are gone, unless you are leaving behind some money, the only thing you are leaving behind are some photos.”
A Geologist’s Discovery
Clifford Cuffey inherited a love for geology and photography from his father. He digitized over 100,000 photos, including 70,000 Kodachrome slides. The collection captures his childhood, his shared experiences with his father, and his passion for geology. Looking at the photos brings him great joy and he is glad he made the investment to preserve them digitally.
Conclusion
Digitizing analogue photos is a way to bring back forgotten memories, understand one’s identity, and strengthen family bonds. It’s a process that can be emotionally rewarding and provide a sense of joy and rediscovery. Preserving these memories through digital conversion ensures they can be enjoyed and shared for generations to come.
Credit: The Star : Tech Feed
