Like many of you I love putting the latest high-tech gadgets to work in the field. Arguably, one of the best innovations in outdoor sports was the advent of digital cameras. While these little wonders won’t improve your hunting or fishing, they do record the moments that mean the most in a convenient and cost-effective way.

Unfortunately, this same great technology has left some major holes in my outdoor history. These so-called “holes” went unnoticed for years until my son and I dusted off the photo albums one rainy afternoon and discovered a severe gap in my outdoor memories.

Our goal that evening was to place several seasons’ worth of past hunting and fishing permits into their rightful spots in our albums and scrapbooks. What soon became obvious was that I hadn’t added many new pictures in well over five years.

It’s not that I hadn’t been taking them; I’ve got a camera in my phone, several smaller cameras strategically placed in my truck, tackle bag and hunting pack, and for special occasions I pull out my Cannon Rebel EOS. I’ve been taking thousands of photos, far more than I ever did with film cameras.

Let’s face it, the advent of digital technology has made taking pictures easier then ever. With the availability and low cost of current point-and-shoot cameras and the ability to instantly see your images, there’s no need to worry about wasting money on film and developing. Snap a photo you don’t like, and all you have to do is hit the delete button and start over.

Being able to delete the rejects and then go home and neatly file the “keepers” away in electronic storage is wonderful. Unfortunately, I’ve gotten really good at this process and like many of you, just stopped taking pictures in to be printed.

Sure, you can run all sorts of fancy slide shows on your computer or digital photo frames, and it is ultra-convenient to email photos to friends and family or post them to the internet, but it’s just not the same. Nothing beats an evening sitting around the fireplace on a rainy day or a cold winter evening while re-living and sharing some of your favorite outdoor memories.

While I’m learning to be a little more regimented in my photo printing, I’ve come up with a few suggestions that will help anyone who’s found themselves in the same boat.

First, don’t wait for months until you’ve amassed several hundred photos before heading to get them printed. If you’ve been out and grabbed some good shots, head back home and do a little post production and editing to determine which photos you actually would like to have as prints.

While they all may be worth saving for posterity, often you’ll find that only a handful deserve a spot in the album. For the others, make sure you file them in your computer in a way that allows you to locate them quickly later on. I’d also recommend periodically backing these files up to CDs, DVDs, or an external hard drive of some sort.

Once you’ve narrowed down the list of photos to be printed, you’ve got to decide who’s going to be tasked with printing your outdoor memories. For those with internet access and a hectic schedule, try uploading your photos directly to a photo printing retailer online.

According to the website www.toptenreviews.com, an electronics and technology rating service, there are several good ones to choose from, including; Snapfish, York Photo, Shutterfly and Clark Photo — all of which rated in their top four for quality and price.

For those wanting to work face-to-face with a business, Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy and Walmart also made the top-10 list, and Sam’s Club was given an honorary No. 11. All of these national retailers with local facilities offer the chance to upload photos online and pick them up locally.

Rates for these printing services average between 8 and 20 cents per photo and many of these services offer discounts and free printing for first-time customers as an incentive for choosing them. Many offer additional products to showcase your prized photos, like calendars, mouse pads, mugs or even pre-printed photo albums.

Gone are the days of heading to the photo desk in anticipation of opening an envelope full of pictures developed from film. While modern technology may have removed some of the mystery, a great picture benefits no one sitting in an obscure electronic file somewhere back in the deep recesses of your computer.

“I think a photography class should be a requirement in all educational programs because it makes you see the world rather than just look at it.”

—Author Unknown