Embracing the Past in the Digital Age: The Charm of Analog Timestamps on Digital Photos

And how I built a time machine.

The analog timestamp this publication is talking about…

In today’s world of photography, where all the digital ultimate insta-crap offer the utmost convenience and technological advancements, there lies a growing appreciation for the nostalgic elements of yesteryears. One such element is that analog timestamp detail with that orange-ish calculator font type — a simple, yet profound feature that reminisces the classic era of film point-and-shoot cameras, common in the 80's and 90's.

The analog timestamp, typically found in the lower right corner of a horizontal picture canvas, carries a certain timeless charm that wasn't added in the developing phase, but instead, burned into the film at the time the photo was taken. Because of that burn aspect, the look of the analog timestsms had what I call "the Japanese class", which is brought by a very good taste from every Japanese manufacturer of some sort.

So I thought: can I have all my digital photos timestamped like that? To me, incorporating this feature into digital photos would be more than just add a date - it would infuse a sense of history brought by nostalgia, combined with convenience.

The best of both worlds. A win-win. Especially if paired with Fujifilm recipes from FUJIX Weekly, some grain, and prints.

The Reason

I recently made a trip to South Korea with my family, and after reflecting about everything you just read (or listened), I made the decision of buying a Canon CP1300 printer with that exactly goal in mind: transform the leisure moments with my family into a nostalgic time machine, a.k.a., a physical photo album, with the timestamps, of course.

To me, printing photos, especially those adorned with an analog timestamp look, enhances the tactile experience of photography. It allows me to hold a piece of the past in my hands, making the digital memories tangible, rather than scrollable on screens that may represent different colors.

South Korea has some very nice 7-Eleven stores. This one is this exact one, taken in March 31st, 2024.

Printed photos can be displayed, gifted, and preserved in ways that digital images simply cannot match. With this analog timestamp, I built a time machine.

My Solution

Curiously, my solution seems to be the most gen Z and least effective way of doing this. It turns out that it was the best choice between coding a solution myself using Python and Imagemagick, or messing up with Photoshop actions and Javascript code, which would take me forever and potentially defocus my goal. My solution is able to do it with one click, on a batch job!