Flawed Workflow

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The more progress I make with this cleanup the more I realize how much is yet ahead of me. It isn’t as if I had dumped files on random hard drives with no system at all; still, I have found my system woefully wanting. Part of my problem is that I got completely shutter-happy for several months this year and my shaky system was overwhelmed. It was overwhelmed partly because the system was weak, but mostly because I got took hundreds of pictures and began rushing to the next batch of photos before I completed the workflow on the previous one.

As for my filling system, it isn’t as if I hadn’t spent hours reading articles about workflow and organization. But, not surprisingly, if you read twelve experts on organization of files you get twelve different plans for surefire solutions. At this point, I am more convinced than ever that some of this flailing about it is an inevitable part of the process. I suspect that ultimately, each of us has to establish a system that works for us. For example, I remember studying the workflow of one individual who organizes all his files almost exclusively by numbers, assigning each project a unique number. Ugh, my head hurts just thinking about it. Though I learned early on that some numbers, dates and file numbers for example, are essential, that expert’s methods would turn me into a whimpering wreck in less than a month.

My method of organizing my files is still in flux and that is the major problem. The biggest problem was procrastination. I put off the drudgery work and had fun. Am I contrite? Not really. Yes, I now face an unholy mess. But, I had a grand time creating it, and I learned a great deal. It will be a long slow process, but I am getting closer to sorting out the chaos.

And then, there’s the anxiety about some of the photos I am tossing. Believe me, in spite of my jokes about machetes and General Sherman tactics, I am proceeding somewhat cautiously. Confidence in my editing abilities has grown in the last year, but I have a ways to go in that department. I still consider myself a near-beginner at this photography thing and a hungry student.

There were some interesting comments on my last post about editing old files and I noted the anxiety others face when deleting old photos. I would love to hear some ideas on workflow systems.

Cleaning Digital Closets

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From yet another box in the bottom one of the closets.

Rummaging

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Each of the external drives lined up on my desk contains a somewhat orderly collection of files—all sorted and labeled in what seemed at the time to be a quite logical hierarchy of file storage. However, with the passage of time, my system (even basic philosophy) of organization has shifted multiple times. Fitting all those folders and files into the new system continues. The image above is another from that crowded and rather messy “closet” I have been rummaging around in lately.

Hearing Voices

In terms of photography, I haven't been all that productive the last couple of days. I was determined to keep my focus on my backup project. "Tedious work, but essential", the serious side of me kept repeating.

This evening, I couldn't stay with the file work and wandered outside to take photos of something—frankly, anything. There was that familiar brief flash of doubt, since I had no idea what I planned to photograph. Then, of course, as soon as I stepped out the door I found more than enough to fill my eye and soon lost track of time. Once I am looking through the lens, I find the process so relaxing and satisfying that I always kick myself for allowing my camera to gather dust even for a couple of days. I chose these shots to share with you since these tiny white blossoms had, after all, beckoned to me on another day when I thought I was much too busy. On that day, I had listened to the adult voice and focused on the back-up work. Today, I heeded a different voice.

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Digital Housekeeping Chores

I am immersed in the massive task of backing up files—not exactly exciting and creative, but part of life with computers. No one likes to back up files. You do it because you're terrified you will wait until it's too late. I run across this phrase constantly: "It's not a matter of 'if' your hard drive will fail, but 'when it will fail'." Comforting, right?

At least this time around, I ran into some super bargains when picking up external hard drives. Best Buy had Western Digital and Seagate drives on sale. Both those sales are over, or I would recommend them to you. Unfortunately, I caught them late in the cycle. But, not to worry. The prices on storage are plummeting. For example, I got a 500GB Seagate for $129.00. And, I remember how steep prices were when I bought my first 200GB drive a few years ago. With these low prices, it has now reached a point where external drives offer a far superior backup system, in my opinion. I would never go back to that laborious procedure of burning DVDs.