Retrieving information on old CD/DVDs

Assuming you originally created these disks on a Mac, then they are likely in the original HFS file format (before HFS+, otherwise know as Mac OS Extended).

Mojave was the last version of macOS that could read HFS. So, you could use any Mac running that OS or older to access them. Copy everything off and transfer the data to a newer device.

Mtfotonut wrote:

One last question. If I open the cd/dvd then store on an external hd will I have to reformat them to use on my current OS which runs my photo software?

It depends which "photo software" you use. Photos.app libraries must be stored on APFS or MacOS Extended (GUID) case-insensitive volume (remember to backup to other disks because all disks fail sooner or later). Non-Mac formats like exFAT and network shares are not supported and might corrupt the library.

If you store images on plain folders, you can use a wider variety of disk formats. Movie codecs and formats and metadata are still a somewhat moving target and might need conversions once in a while.

High Sierra is before Mojave, so that will indeed work.

I'm not sure how much longer Apple is going to support HFS+. Personally, at this point I wouldn't use anything on an external drive other than APFS.