In this new series of articles, we bring you boredom buster ideas to keep you busy and happy during Covid-19 confinement.
Is it time to transform your digital catalogue into a lasting legacy piece?
When was the last time you took a photograph? And when did you last print one out to put in an album?
Since idle hands make light work, a period of isolation is the perfect opportunity to take charge of your digital photographs while creating a legacy piece, gift, or home decoration. Here are some tips on how to approach the task and ideas on what to do with your pictures.
The trick is to break down the task into simple steps. First, create a file on your computer desktop marked something actionable such as ‘print these keepsakes’.
Put a complete-by date on that file name, too, as this gives you a deadline to work to. To add extra motivation, decide what you want to create with the photographs. It might be a classic family album. You may want large-scale canvases to decorate your walls, or maybe you want to create a picture book with text.
Your only limits are budget and imagination. So, take a moment to consider what you want to create as this will guide your selection.
It’s time now to cull hundreds down to a manageable few. Do this activity in the company of friends or loved ones to prompt conversations as you meander down Memory Lane. So, if you’re self-isolating with family, it’s time to gather around that computer screen as you click through hundreds of images. This will lessen photo-fatigue, too.
Settle down and go through all of your images. Be critical by invoking your inner editor. For the pictures you want to print, copy them to the file you created earlier.
This task can take up as much or as little time as you want. Once you’ve finished going through your archives and filling up the Print file, it’s time to walk away. Come back to the task in a few days then set yourself a goal of culling a third of your selected favorites. This will leave you with the best of the best, the ones that count.
With your photographs set to print, and if you haven’t already done so, it’s time to decide what to do with them.
If there’s a standout sunset image from your favourite Algarve vista point, it might be worth printing onto a canvas. International companies such as Blurb or Photobox or Lisbon-based Floricolour offer home delivery service and a huge selection of print choices. The best thing? You don’t even have to leave home: you can upload your photographs and set your print options online. Now, all you need to do is start.
By ANNA LOEWY
