Contemplating Katrina
There's a lot to think about in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It seems right to step back and consider the fragility of life and all the things around us that we take for granted. Most of us are so focused on getting and having more stuff. But a new camera doesn't seem so important when I see people on TV who've lost their homes and don't have water to drink or food to eat. It's a powerful reminder of what really matters - food, water, shelter, and compassion. I've been thinking a lot about the social, political, and spiritual issues stirred up by Katrina. But since this is a photography site, I'm going to restrict my editorial to disaster-related photo issues. That said, I hope New Orleans and the rest of the affected Gulf area comes back quickly and healthier than before. I'm sure we can all stand to learn something from this tragedy.
So - to stick to my area of supposed expertise - Hurricane Katrina should be a wakeup call for all photographers and anyone who stores anything on a computer. Do you have a disaster plan for your photos? I don't. I don't know what I'd do about all the binders of old negatives and the hundreds of boxes of slides stored in my house. The digital images would be easier as they're all stored on external hard drives. But what if I wasn't home when disaster struck? All digital photographers should have at least two copies of each image, stored in different locations. Redundancy is the only way to really protect your digital photos.
I'm no expert or example when it comes to archiving photos. I have all my digital images on external hard drives, but I only have one copy of each. I should have at least one backup copy of each drive, stored in a separate, safe location. And I should have all my old film stored in a fire safe. Really important film images should have high-res digital backups stored in multiple locations, just like digital originals. Like most people, I think this is a task and expense better put off until another day. I'm sure that's what people in New Orleans thought about water, food, gas, and their photos - before the hurricane struck. You're either prepared or you aren't. You don't get to plan for these things.
There's a whole other dimension to Katrina's destruction that occurred to me. Think about all the original photos that were lost in the hurricane. How many prints, negatives, slides, and hard drives did Katrina destroy? Not only did Katrina wreck homes and lives, she also took out photographic records of places, people, and events. One-of-a-kind historical and family photos have surely been forever lost. And so the damage goes deeper - unique buildings, lives, and whole communities have been destroyed, and their photographic records with them. Never to be seen again.
Community member, JerryLi, has been shooting in New Orleans for years. After the hurricane he started uploading more images of New Orleans and Biloxi to show places that may never be the same again. His photos take on new meaning after Hurricane Katrina. While I was looking at Jerry's photos I realized that I'd been putting off a trip to New Orleans for years. It's not going anywhere, right? Wrong. That New Orleans is gone. It's a good thing Jerry has his photos.
Jerry's Photos >>
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Immediately after the hurricane, Janie reminded us about eBay Giving Works, a service that allows people to buy and sell for charity. This is a great way for photographers to contribute to hurricane relief, or any other charity.
Janie's eBay Giving Works post >>
The most important lesson to learn from Katrina is personal emergency preparedness. Everyone should have a supply of water and food safely stored, in case of emergency. I have about 5 gallons or water and plan to add to my stash. I also have protected, survival food. I've been thinking about buying a small generator and a portable water purifier. Matches, batteries, a radio, and a good flashlight are also good things to have around. Take responsibility and protect yourself! A survival kit in the car isn't a bad idea, either.
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