How do I get to my "inaccessible" precious memory

I deleted some files and had to reinstall iox, from what I read on the apple site, this doesn't affect my computer, I should still have everything, but I don't, it's like I got a new computer but everything is still there, when I go on to see how much memory I have it say the 280gs odd memory I used up, I have pictures of my family from every 4 years, and school cause work. The mac itself is less than a year old, late November I got it. Everything is still there how do I get too it, if I only get my 14000 odd pictures I'll be content.