My Cranberry Quest, The Beginning

What happens to a picture with data loss.

It was late 2005 and I had just finished a meal with Jeff Barr at what used to be one of my favorite restaurants in Bellingham, the Big Fat Fish Company.  Why that establishment used to be my favorite is a topic for an entirely different blog post.

As we were leaving I asked Jeff what kind of digital camera he used. What I’d hoped would be a quick recommendation for a replacement camera turned out to be an eye opening experience.  Jeff said he didn’t like the concept of digital pictures and digital video because he didn’t know of any viable way to store digital files for the long term.

What?  Nobody told me that. I’d been using a digital camera for years. Was he saying that all of my pictures were in jeopardy?  Turns out that’s exactly what he was saying. Jeff works for Amazon as a technology evangelist and is a pretty credible guy in my book.  I paid close attention and felt compelled to do some research of my own. Read more »