Hi folks. I just lost a year worth of photos... I am sure it's my own fault, but I am hoping there is some miracle solution to get the images back somehow.

I am using Digikam on Mac. This used to be my setup:
Local library folder: consisted the database, where used to be a few albums but was empty when the issue occurred
WD passport hdd: the actual photo library

Here were the steps:
I dragged a few images to the parent album on the Digikam application, then cancelled. I realized my database is stored, so I changed the database location. I clicked on "copy" option thinking it will merge the two locations, definitely not just remove one and keep another.

Then the app hanged up. I couldn't access my WD passport, as in when I tried to browse it, it showed empty. I ejected the harddisk, then reconnected. And bam, my library folder was empty! No database files, no folders from before! Please tell me there is a way to recover everything

When I opened Digikam again, it asked me where to put the database. It's as if everything related to Digikam just vanished. I created a new database, it doesn't have anything of course.

EDIT: I just remembered, the old database was still in the same place when I opened Digikam after data loss, I didn't have to create any new DB. I was so shocked I don't know what the dialogue box was about.