How to Find Your Lost Photos! First, a photo list ...

The Challenge
I am now hunting for photos of a Toastmasters International event I organized for a report, using a slide show about that event. The event was a workshop last September, 2019 (the workshop subject being the new Toastmasters International speech training programme called Pathways).

The needed photos could be on my Facebook page. They are not. At least one group photo could be on my phone  - but I cannot find one. Where is it? I tried looking on my laptop's desktop. I searched the folders on my desktop. I looked on my Facebook page. I looked all over Facebook searching for the date, the venue, the subject.

The Solution
Eventually, I found the photo os my external disc. By process of elimination I worked it out. If the vital photos were not on this computer, which was in use a year ago during the event, where else could the photos be? Answer, moved to a separate disc to create more space for photos on my laptop.

To locate specific photos, I needed help, going through search everything, my name, pictures (not photos) and the dates. Now I plan to re-name every photo. At least I shall label one or two photos from the event. And to keep a note outside the computer and disc saying where to find the photo.

New Year's resolution. New year, new leaf - starting today May 5th 2020.

Photo List Book
An A4 size would be ideal, keeping many photos listed in one place.

I shall start a photo tracking book. It must be a large book, at least A5, normal paperback book size, so it does not get lost on the study shelves. For the same reason it must have a spine I can label. So a spiral binder will not do.

An A6 book, small diary size, pocket sixe, would be good for recording photos would be good if you kept it in your pocket whilst travelling on one trip. You might not want to travel with it and risk looking it. A loose leaf book would work. You could record your photos when travelling, then put them in the binder when you get home. A Filofax would be good.

Yes it will take up five minutes a day.  Why?

I need to record photos:

On a mobile phone.
On a lap top.

Printed Pictures
In frames in the house
In frames in the homes of others

Shared
Photos sent to others by Whatsapp.
Photos shared from other friends' Facebook pages.

Photos on old laptops.

Photos used in slides (Powerpoint).
Photos used in documents (Word).

Photos take from Wikipedia.
Photos in folders on my desktop.

Wow. I could spend alf an hour a day looking.

Alternatively I could be more careful listing the source of every photo I use. Is that photo of a lemon from Wikipedia, or from the bowl in the lounge, taken on my mobile, shared to blogger.

If I kept to this system, I would lose twenty minutes a day listing photos. On the other hand I would save thirty minutes a day looking for photos.

Wedding and Baby & Holiday Photo Books
One way to preserve photos and have them all in one place is to create a photobook. I did this for all my paintings and drawings.

Photographer's Books
Books designed for photographers contain handy sub headings reminding you to note whether you used a flash, a tripod, the camera, setting, the time of day, weather, and so on. One page per photo. That is too detailed for me.

Useful Websites
http://www.ebook-editor.com/how-to-use-bullet-points-and-numbered-lists-for-a-professional-ebook-conversion/
https://www.amazon.com/Photo-Notes-Log-Book-Photographers/dp/1451521111
https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/travel-apps-to-log-your-trip/
https://www.amazon.com/Camera-shooting-log-book-Photographers/dp/B08418PYRJ
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/114183606/galaxy-photographers-planner-and-handbook
http://www.tabletopstudio.co.uk/Pages/BooksDVDSoftware/DigitalPhotographyLogBook.htm
Notebooks with numbered pages and index choice of lines, grids or dots
https://www.amazon.com/Leuchtturm1917-Medium-Dotted-Hardcover-Notebook/dp/B003G6YFWY/ref=sr_1_2?crid=R9RSNH69257F&dchild
Looking for waterproof books or tear-proof pages: It's sometimes quicker to look on Amazon than on Google.
Book with good cover for rainy days and boat trips or skiing
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0797H5SMG?tag=liviandtravin-20

The Indestructible, Waterproof, Tearproof, Weatherproof Field Notebook - 3.5"x5.5" - Combo Colors - Lined Memo Book - Pack of 4

by Elan Publishing Company

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer. Please save your favourite posts and share links

How to Blow up Photos to illustrate a travel story

Here's a problem which has been bothering me for some time, finally solved. I was mentoring a friend who is giving a speech to a Toastmasters International speakers' club. His speech is about climbing a mountain (something he actually did) and reaching your goal.

At the top you see the A5 size photo, printed on A4 paper. The paper can be cut using a safety guillotine to make A5, which uses less of your colour ink. 

Below in the centre is the photo as an A4 picture. To the right is the A4 of the right hand half the picture. Finally, you see the two pieces of the left and right half of the picture in A4 stuck together to make A3.

I suggested that he use a photo of the mountain. I was going to suggest he use an A4 picture. I typed A 5 and then thought he could use A5, which is book size, at the start of the speech, and end with A4, twice the size, the size of typing paper. At the end.

But A4 is really too small for a speech to a large room. The feedback speakers often get is to print A3.

Years ago when somebody I knew worked in an office, they had a printer which printed A3. It looked great.

I keep suggesting that somebody could print a picture in two halves A4 and sticky tape them on the back down the seam. But I've never done it.

Today I decided to try it. How do you cut your photo in half? Easy. Any photo programme enables you to select part of your photo. So you simply pick a mid-point and copy the right or left, then print it. (Rotate the picture if needed. Alternatively cut it vertically.)

Then print the two halves.Stick them together. The larger the paper the flimsier it is. You might want to leave it flimsy in order to roll it up. If not, stick it on the back of a piece of card.

Still too large to carry? Then take two pieces of thin card (eg from the back of a shirt, or even a cereal box, or a large card envelope. stick one on the back of each of your A4 pieces and fold where the original fold is. You could even display the A3 photo on a table like an open book.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.