Steven Zahm@ eseone
Yes, in >= 8.1 Connections will now move the files to ../wp-content/uploads/connections-images/{entry-slug} This was done as part of the complete image handling/processing that happened in 8.1. The reason for the file move it to confirm to Wp best practices, something that didn’t exist when the image support was originally added to Connections.
Can you copy them back? Unfortunately the answers is no, because Connections first checks for the image in that folder, if it there, it moves it. So if you put it back, Connections will move it again.
Unfortunately the only suggestion I have is to update the old URL/s to the new. Or use an undocumented beta feature.
This feature is the result of the need to test the new image processing code and the requests to be able to use the logo or photo outside of Connections. The solution I came up with is a new shortcode. Here’s an example:
[cn_thumb type='X' source='Y' width='Z']Caption[/cn_thumb]
X = photo or logo
Y = The entry ID number.
Z = The image width in pixels or percentage. Example: 300 or 50%.
Hope that helps!