Starting to scan my Dads 1000s of slides....

[DNG]

+++++1!!!!!


1) First, be sure all the slides are neatly arranged in neutral boxes and keep them in very good condition : dry and cold (constant) place - slides might be damaged in less than 70 years.
2) Select some of them (maybe 300 or 500) for the web, then scan them in jpeg
3) Select the very best ones (50? 80?) and scan them in top quality (high res, Tiff or DNG files) and produce something with (an auto-edition book, prints for an exhibition…).

You know, editing (selection + production) is always the best job we can do with pictures : magnifying artistic works, telling stories, showing results…

I like very much those you shown to us; it seems like a Casavetes's movie

I'm placing all of them in archival slide pages after I scan them. Not back in the box... I do have Portfolio Page holder that keeps them in the dark, and I do keep them in the air conditioned apt.
My dad kept then in an indoor storage building that was air conditioned also... it looks like an office building from the outside, but, inside, had 1000's of units.
Is there a reason why I should put them back in the original boxes? It's easier to store them in slide pages with cross references to the folder name.

Thanks for advice. And comments. I guess a few years easy...maybe more ...But the memories and photos I have never seen before is worth it.

 

[ricnak]

These are great!

Thanks for posting.

 

[gekopaca]

Is there a reason why I should put them back in the original boxes? It's easier to store them in slide pages with cross references to the folder name.

Archival slide pages are not hermetic, so you might put the pages in special boxes.
The slide pages might be made with neutral pH and acid free materials; some of them could attack the slides (e.g. PVC). What about yours?
For the references, the best is to number the slides, then using LR as a database in order to consult those you have scanned.

 

[DNG]

Archival slide pages are not hermetic, so you might put the pages in special boxes.
The slide pages might be made with neutral pH and acid free materials; some of them could attack the slides (e.g. PVC).
What about yours?
For the references, the best is to number the slides, then using LR as a database in order to consult those you have scanned.

I use Clear File,
NO PVC, Acid Free,
and a black Portfolio box. as a photography portfolio, but with a ring binder added.

External Drive (1Tb)
H/Dads Old Photos/1968 Jamaica
as an example...
Each roll gets their own sub folder with the year and location as the main name.

The file name get the parent folder name as a prefix, and than a little detail with a number.
The file names are related: 1968 Jamaica-Raft Guide-0001
Each Sub Folder/Roll, starts with 0001
I get the Sub Folder name off the Slide Box that my Dad marked 95% of the time (Yeah)

In my ACDSee Pro 3 database, I use categories and sub-categories with the SAME order and names as the Hard Drive Folder Tree.
So, when I highlight a sub-category I get all the scanned slides from that folder on the HD. Or, I can highlight the parent category
(Dads Scanned Photos), and get all the scanned photos to date.... My Archive page has a duplicate location printed on the page header.
(Parent Folder/Sub-Folder/Archive Volume)

 

[bo_lorentzen]

DNG

Awesome project,

I just finished scanning all my grandfathers negatives, and am now working on my fathers. My grandfather kept them all rolled up in cans, and they did scan pretty easily.

This have been a fantastic adventure for me, as I got to follow my grandfather from a young army officer to a retired officer and teacher, through a war, through love and grand children, almost entirely in B&W, the fresh scan's of the negatives are neutral, and clean, look like something we could have shot yesterday which give them a very timeless effect, I found it very easy to identify with the people in the images.

One difference in the scope of the project, I made a choice to not edit, and have scanned everything, I am glad I did, because I have also learned how he handled scenes, how many times it would work a shot (2-3 frames) and how he would keep trying the same shot of grandmother over the years.

Finally I have stored the complete scan on a stack of small hard-drives and this year gifted them to sibling related to him, son/daughter and grand children with a complete unscaled set of images.

Scanning my grandfathers negs have been one of the most challenging and also most satisfying projects I have done lately. I am possitive you will have the same experience.

Bo

 

[porktaco]

Ektachrome Slides

that one is really great

 

[rickp]

In 2009, I scanned a number of family slides from the late 70's and early 80's. I bought a 10" x 12" lightbox to preview batches of slides before scanning. It made a huge difference. I'd probably still be scanning if I hadn't vetted the slides first!

+ 1 for andy's approach. i used a lightbox and peak loupe to sort out the memorable (people and places), then started scanning. it's difficult at first but becomes easier, especially if you are the only one in the "audience" for the new, downsized slideshow.

greetings from hamburg

rick

 

[gekopaca]

I use Clear File,
NO PVC, Acid Free,
and a black Portfolio box. as a photography portfolio, but with a ring binder added.

External Drive (1Tb)
H/Dads Old Photos/1968 Jamaica
as an example...
Each roll gets their own sub folder with the year and location as the main name.

The file name get the parent folder name as a prefix, and than a little detail with a number.
The file names are related: 1968 Jamaica-Raft Guide-0001
Each Sub Folder/Roll, starts with 0001
I get the Sub Folder name off the Slide Box that my Dad marked 95% of the time (Yeah)

In my ACDSee Pro 3 database, I use categories and sub-categories with the SAME order and names as the Hard Drive Folder Tree.
So, when I highlight a sub-category I get all the scanned slides from that folder on the HD. Or, I can highlight the parent category
(Dads Scanned Photos), and get all the scanned photos to date.... My Archive page has a duplicate location printed on the page header.
(Parent Folder/Sub-Folder/Archive Volume)

EXCELLENT!

 

[LeicaFan]

that one is really great

I agree. That one really caught my eye.

What a great photograph.

 

[DNG]

A couple "Arty" ones..

From 1960's
Margate, Florida.
Kodachrome 64

More scanning this weekend to do... will post again...
Thanks for the kind commandments on my Dads Photography.

 

[DNG]

Charleston NC 1996

Charleston NC 1996

I have an album of the photos here...
Dads Photo Archive

Not all the photo's are in the galley, but a nice selection representative of the areas.

 

[DNG]

A few from 1958, San Fransisco, Calif. USA

 

[nlevasseur]

scanner to slide copier with a DSLR

scanner to slide copier with a DSLR

For my wife's family slide project,

I tried the scan route with scanner but it was too time consuming and then I read about using a macro lense, an extension tube and a slide copy holder in front of my older D200. NowI can do a 100 slide carousel in about an hour. For small prints and viewing on a 42" TV they look great. Only a few of them are good enough for considering a better scan.

 

[j j]

that one is really great

Isn't it! Great shot to take when most people would put their camera away.

Is that fungal attack on the SF slides? Looks like you got them scanned just in time.

 

[dave lackey]

So, how is the scanning project coming along?

 

[DNG]

Been shooting some film lately, and it has taken up the scanning time..But, I started "Italy 1984" (4 carousals), look here My Dads Vacation to Italy, 1984

I also just bought a Contax G1/45mm f/2 from Bob M. lovely camera with stealer results.

But, I will get back to the Italy slides now that I have passed the newness of the Contax G1 out of my system.

 

[efix]

DNG, how do you rate the Plustek's image quality? Can it cope with the high density of slide film?

I'm asking as I've been rather frustrated with scanning slides using an Epson V330 flatbed scanner lately. Great for negs, but the light source is too weak to penetrate the darker parts of the slides. I'm considering either a Plustek 7400 (slightly updated version of the 7300 you have) or a Reflecta CrystalScan 7200. So, what can you say about the Plustek?

 

[Darshan]

classic, feel good to look at them

 

[dave lackey]

Loving the Italy gallery! Thanks for sharing and keep them coming!

It really gives me a reason to think about scanning all my 4 boxes of slides, prints and negatives for the last 40 years...