Andrew Darlow is a New Jersey-based photographer, inventor, author, and digital workflow coach. For over 25 years he has helped people preserve, protect and back up their irreplaceable photos, videos and other digital files. His photography, tips and reviews have appeared in many publications and media outlets, including: People magazine, Animal Planet, Reader’s Digest and Professional Photographer Magazine. He is the author of four award-winning books, including his newest book: Focus and Filter.
Andrew talks with me about what drew him to photography, what we lost and gained in the shift to digital photography, the improvements in phone cameras in recent years, how best to preserve your photos—and weed out the junk—and more.
Episode breakdown:
00:00 Introduction
01:22 Creativity explored in childhood, grandparents encouraged art.
03:57 Transition from drawing on walls to discovering photography.
05:30 Fascination with darkroom photography and its magic.
07:00 Different methods in darkroom, use of contact printing.
10:00 Engagement with photography, schools in Washington D.C.
11:27 Shift from film to digital, instant access vs. patience.
14:41 Improvement in phone cameras, use for scanning documents.
15:59 Loss of thoughtful consideration with digital photography.
19:16 Exploration of aperture and shutter priority.
21:39 Impact of phone cameras on traditional photography.
23:44 Usefulness of phone photography courses.
24:25 Concept of the best camera being the one with you.
26:11 Ethical considerations in photography, respecting subjects.
28:06 Dangers of distractions, selfies, and phone use.
30:01 Tips for safely backing up digital images.
34:06 Managing and organizing digital photo collections.
38:12 Strategies for dealing with physical photo preservation.
40:27 Importance of online backup services like Backblaze.
43:39 Overview of local and cloud backup solutions.
47:31 Andrew's upcoming projects, including course platform.
51:19 Insight into unique, personalized photography prints.
Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack.
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