Digital Preservation

With the proliferation of born-digital photographs the concept of preservation has been redefined. Unlike traditional print photographs, which can be stored away in climate controlled spaces for long-term preservation, born-digital photographs require continual upkeep to ensure their integrity and authenticity. To someone who is not exactly tech-savvy this may not make much sense because they may think, "well what is the difference between storing photographs in boxes and storing them on hard drives? Both are physical mediums that store information and that must be protected from environmental hazards." Although this is true, it is important to recognize that the information stored within the two physical mediums is in completely different formats:analog and digital.

The preservation of analog photographs is well documented and understood. After all, that is what we have been working on for decades. Conversely, the preservation of digital photographs is a new area of study that has only recently begun to take shape.However, what is clear is that preserving digital photographs requires continual maintenance. This is due to the transitory nature of the digital environment; technology is constantly evolving. Thus, to counter obsolescence and preserve digital photographs for posterity, some archivists, in conjunction with photographers and companies such as Adobe, are trying to establish standards that will persist into the future.1 This is one way in which archivists can try and impose order on an otherwise unruly environment. Other possible solutions include migration, transferring files to new mediums when old ones become obsolete, and emulation, using software to mimic obsolete technology.2 Of these three solutions, archivists are most likely to favor the first one because it allows them to regain control, however it is difficult to develop standards that will remain relevant going into the future, especially in a digital environment. Thus, it is perhaps more important for archivists to pay attention to current technological developments instead of trying to dictate the future.

Despite this minor critique, it is reassuring to know that there are multiple solutions to the preservation issues raised by digital technology. If universal digital photograph preservation standards are not adopted in the future then at least migration and emulation are still viable alternatives. In any case, it is important for archivists to be flexible and optimistic. The problems that have resulted from digital technology pale in comparison to the wealth of benefits it has the potential to provide.

1. Jessica Bushey, "He Shoots, He Stores:New Photographic Practice in the Digital Age,
" Archivaria 65 (2008): 125 -149.
2. Elizabeth Shepard, "Digitizing a Photographic Collection in a Midsize Repository: A Case Study,"  Journal of Archival Organization 2(4) (2004):67 - 82.