Hi Everyone,
I know I have depressed you all with the idea of closing shop, but if there's a current need, and we will. Hop holpefully our hard core volunteers are still up for the challenge.
I got an email today of woman whose photos were damaged in a fire. My first thoughts were they can't be restored. So I asked the woman with the non-profit who was helping her to send me some samples as to what they looked like. All of the ones she sent could be restored.
Stay tuned.
Good news!
(https://i.postimg.cc/dLJQ15N9/banana.gif) (https://postimages.org/)
Yeay!!!! We are ready!!!
We're here, Margie.
Just happened to check the site today and saw this! I'll be checking back for that batch once it's available.
Will be glad when I can tell all of you that there are pictures in the gallery. Right now the owner is planning on going to her house and seeing what pictures to have copied.
Stay Tuned.
Margie
We're here and ready Margie. :)
I'm a bit late to all this (and still a bit in shock after reading Margie's July post) but I am absolutely ready to work on restores if the owner can get damaged pictures to us.
Did the folks change their mind?
I am here!!!!! hopefully we can stay open - i just love this place!!
Well I thought that we would be hearing back from this person as she wanted to go through the damaged photos, but so far I have heard nothing back. At this point it is like have permission paperwork signed and taking it to FedEx or any printing place to have the photos scanned is too much work. I have only had 1 person who has done this. I'm afraid at this point I'm not a fan of waiting for cob webs to from around my computer waiting for a reply.
Before Covid, OPR went to locations hit by storms to acquire (make photos) of damaged photos for restoration. During Covid, OPR travel stopped for obvious reasons. Why hasn't OPR resumed going to locations for acquisition of damaged photos. Lack of funding, volunteers?
Just curious. I've enjoyed being a volunteer and restoring precious memories for people.
Kdcintz
Well let's try this one out for size: Covid never went away! I went on a vacation this June to Canada and came back with Covid. It just isn't worth the risk every time the virus mutates.
Going to locations is EXPENSIVE. There is the cost of airfare for those at a distance and those close can drive. There is the cost of shipping the copy stand, motel cost, and the list goes on.
And now there is the fun behind the scene with DreamHost. Every time they do a change we end up with a host of problems for our two webmasters. Sometimes is something that Dreamhost accidentally deleted. Here is the next one scheduled. New upgrade new cost. PhotoShelter annual fee of $900 for photo storage has come due. So all this piles up.
We appreciate all of you that have volunteered, but it looks like things have run it's course. And there are less volunteers with the lull of no photos to restore and that is a problem as you need to keep your experienced volunteers.
Here is from Dreamhost:
QuoteHello, Margie!
As mentioned in our previous email, we've recently made some changes to our MySQL VPS service that will impact your current MySQL VPS. Please read this email carefully to understand how these changes will affect you.
On October 5, 2023 beginning at 6am Pacific time, we will start work to modernize your DreamHost MySQL VPS, (psmysql8301):
We will move your MySQL VPS instance to newer, more powerful hardware that uses lightning-fast NVMe drives (rather than older, traditional HDDs) for storage.
Once the move has been completed, the MySQL version will change from 5.7. to MySQL 8.
Your pricing will change as we migrate your account to a current VPS pricing tier.
Another thing to note is that we need local cooperation to do a copy run. Usually we receive a request from a flood damaged community and then they help organize a location to use and local volunteers to help.
Since Covid-19 began, there has been an overall change in how people at large are behaving with regards to community involvement and dealing with crowds. Even without mask mandates many people prefer social distancing, etc.
Also there have been fewer requests for help. I think more and more people are aware of the need to back up their photos electronically, hence have less need of a copy run. And more and more people (even the elderly) are using computers more fully in their lives. So they are more comfortable with seeking their own digital solutions.
Perhaps it is time to close the doors, Margie. It seems no one really needs this kind of help any more and people, over time have become voluntary shut-ins for various reasons. Not to mention it is expensive to travel and being hosted always brings on the possibility of health issues that might or might not happen. Perception is everything.
Is there any record of how many pictures we as individual members have done for OPR? I've got folders full of restorations. I'm curious since I'm one of the old timers. Have been here when the call went out in DP Review and your doors opened soon after.
Curious Candy
Candice, I believe you are right. While we did cancel PhotoShelter, we will continue to pay to have our website up for awhile.
Unfortunately since PhotoShelter was closed no way of going into individual folders. You are right up there for the most restorations done and I came in after you in 2007. What was originally for those hit by Hurricane Katrina ended up with OPR branching out and helped other disaster sites. Then years after Hurricane Katrina we made a return visit and believe or not people still had plenty of photos for us.
Thanks to the "old-timers" like you Candice and all the volunteers that would finish one photo and on to the next. I am very grateful for inner team as I could never have done without them. Wish Tess could have made it as she is often in our thoughts.
They say it isn't over till the Fat Lady sings and so far I haven't tried the vocal cords, but the day will come.
Thanks again everyone.
Thanks for letting us know. I have all my pictures on an extra drive and backup discs. You never know when they would be needed for some reason.
My all time favorite was General Patton
(https://i.postimg.cc/2yJkzDhY/General-Patton-S.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4H6k5jW2)
It came in 5 sections! In the end we had to knit them back together.
Of course every military picture had a place in my heart.
Sad to see that there's no news since I last checked about OPR being able to continue. I wonder though if anyone knows of any other volunteer restoration groups that might been in need of volunteers?
I found a group called Random Acts of Photo Restorations on Facebook and joined to see what it was about. Not really the same mission as OPR.
Another group called National Disaster Photo Rescue hasn't replied to email sent, so it may be defunct too.
Hi Jo Ann,
I'm afraid things are coming to a stand still. The one called National Disaster Photo Rescue simply goes out and gathers up the photos off the group and tries to reunite with owners. I know the guy who started it in Joplin, MO. I wish they hadn't taken a name so similar to ours.
Margie
Quote from: Mhayes on November 13, 2023, 06:59:10 PMHi Jo Ann,
I'm afraid things are coming to a stand still. The one called National Disaster Photo Rescue simply goes out and gathers up the photos off the group and tries to reunite with owners. I know the guy who started it in Joplin, MO. I wish they hadn't taken a name so similar to ours.
Margie
So they reunite the pictures but do not restore them?
Yes. They only reunite the damaged photos to the owners. After the Joplin tornado we worked with them, but that was only a one time thing for Joplin.
That explains why National Disaster Photo Rescue never replied to the email :)
A report on Random Acts of Photo Restorations after participating there for a bit, in case others might want to keep their skills in shape restoring photos. I have enjoyed restoring damaged photos and I just don't work on requests to remove an ex-boyfriend or put Christmas bandanas on the dogs! The group moderators keep saying that it isn't an editing service...
One nice aspect is that you get to know a bit more about the photo or the person in it because the "owner" is the one asking
Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on November 26, 2023, 06:04:53 PMThat explains why National Disaster Photo Rescue never replied to the email :)
A report on Random Acts of Photo Restorations after participating there for a bit, in case others might want to keep their skills in shape restoring photos. I have enjoyed restoring damaged photos and I just don't work on requests to remove an ex-boyfriend or put Christmas bandanas on the dogs! The group moderators keep saying that it isn't an editing service...
One nice aspect is that you get to know a bit more about the photo or the person in it because the "owner" is the one asking
I've seen some great work there. I saw you worked on the same picture I did, but I'm not staying. I guess I missed the part in ALL the RULES, where you couldn't use manners. "I'd love to work on this". 2 notifications stating.... I couldn't do that. Was told that you are to get the picture and do the work.