Default Photo is accidentally deleted?

Question

When I set up my Macbook, I took a picture. Just now, System Preferences/Accounts/Picture, I clicked on a different picture and now I can't get back the original one I had- the one that appears on my emails. Where did it go. I thought I had to click on the lock to change it.

Answer 1

Yes, you saved that one, pattijor ...
... However, when you made the "different" account picture as you explained in your original post, the first picture was deleted and the new picture was saved in its place. You cannot get the first one you made back, but you CAN take other snapshots until you get one you like. You can even try to duplicate the original if you want.
When you get one you like, if you want to keep it even if you eventually change your account picture, go to picture file in the Caches folder Steve told you about above. (To be certain you have the right picture, you can view the Account picture with Preview by double clicking on it.)
After you find your current Account picture, you can use Preview's "Save As" menu command to save a copy to your Home/Documents or Home/Pictures folder for safe keeping. You could even use iPhoto's "Import" command to save it in iPhoto if you like. (However, NEVER manually put this or any other file in your iPhoto Library. Let iPhoto do that work for you or you risk damaging your iPhoto database.)
Be aware that the Library folder Steve writes about is your computer's Library file in the top level of your Hard Drive. The "Library" folder Steve identifies is different from the "Library" folder in your "User" or "Home" folder. In general, be careful when working outside your Home/Documents. Follow directions carefully because it is generally a bad idea to move, modify, rename, or delete any item outside your User > Documents folder unless you are an experienced OS X user.
By the way, Mail always uses your account picture, so your "email picture" will change whenever you change your Account Picture. As you probably know, only YOU see the picture in your Mail. Unless you add a copy to your Mail, that picture is ONY on your Mac's Mail and is NOT sent with your Mail.
Please let us know if you need any other info before you can mark your topic "Answered."
Cheers,
EZ Jim
PowerBook 1.67 GHz w/Mac OS X (10.4.11) G5 DP 1.8 w/Mac OS X (10.5.1)  External iSight