Lexmark International SA today announced that according to a recent survey undertaken in Europe, billions of forgotten photographs are lying unseen on hard drives, disks and cameras.
The research commissioned for the launch of Lexmark`s new photography Web site Print-fotos.com, indicates that as the boom in digital photography continues, fewer and fewer of the millions of photographs taken every year are ever seeing the light of day.
The digital revolution
In 2001, 12.4 billion pictures were taken worldwide on digital cameras, according to IDC research. However, the Lexmark survey shows that on average only a quarter of all digital pictures taken are currently printed off. With the number of digital photographs taken every year forecast to grow to nearly 30 billion by 2005, this means an estimated 22 billion images will be lost/unprinted per year by 2005.
Interest has been voiced about this change in photographic habits as Russell Roberts, Curator of the UK`s National Museum of Photography, explains: "As digital photography increases, people are taking far more images and it would appear that the number of hard copies printed of these images is declining. Across Europe people are beginning to have more photographs languishing on their hard drives than displayed in their homes.
"However, photographs play an important role in documenting social history and it would be a great pity if new digital technology limited the printing of photographs, especially as modern printing technology has made it more accessible than ever for these photographs to be created and enjoyed, and passed down for future generations."
"Conversely, while people are printing a smaller proportion of the photographs they take, it`s never been easier to print off our photographs in the comfort of our own homes," commented Mark Hiller, MD of Lexmark International SA. "New printer technology makes it cheaper and more convenient than ever before so it`s a shame more people aren`t taking advantage of this."
The Print-fotos.com site features information and advice on photography plus further details of the Lexmark photography survey. Articles and exclusive, printable photographs by the world`s most famous photographer David Bailey are also available on site.
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Lexmark International, Inc is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of printing solutions -- including laser and inkjet printers, associated supplies and services - for offices and homes in more than 150 countries. Founded in 1991, Lexmark reported more than $4.1 billion of revenue in 2001, and can be found on the Internet at www.lexmark.com.
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