<p>I undertook a similar project and found it to be a labor of love. My mother was the photographer in my family as I was growing up. She shot 127 black and white film. I had many boxes of her photos after my parents passed. I was and still am the photographer in my family as my kids were growing up. I scanned my mother's black and white snapshots and my color slides and some black and white negatives. The project took me over a year. I used a Nikon Coolscan 5000 for the slides and an Epson 4990 for my mother's prints. <br /> What I would give today to have a conversation with my relatives captured in those snapshots my mother took, or to have my kids once again be toddlers. Here's the nice secret about doing a project like this. Yes, scanning is meticulous. But while you are scanning, your relatives speak to you. You relive your time spent with parents, relatives, and your kids. And when the project is complete, I have in front of me those people that meant and mean the most to me today. I have over 1000 scanned images in my family folder. I always enjoy looking at them, although some images make me sad. <br /> I'm 62 now and shoot mostly digital. I no longer scan unless I shoot the occasional roll of remaining slide film. I enjoy photographing my grandson. However, my scanned family images are the ones I cherish the most. <br /> My suggestion: put on some music, scan the pictures yourself, and revisit your family while scanning. You'll find yourself wishing the project never ends. Ignore the clock and calendar; enjoy the memories. <br /> Jerry</p>
