Fell Gate

Just after the occasion of my 100th blip I wrote a few words which I never got around to finishing. It's been a long day at the office. I have not taken a single shot and have really no idea as what is going to appear as my blip tonight - which is actually quite exciting, albeit a little bit worrying too as what little light we've had on this cold and gloomy day is fading fast! While on the train home I thought I'd complete what I started to write some 3 weeks ago.

When I first found out about this site on the first of May this year, posting my very first blip that same day, I honestly can't remember if I had any expectations. There was an immediate resonance with the idea because about eighteen months before I had met up with someone on a 10 day cycling event who was posting an image a day on Facebook and was attracting quite a following as a result. It struck me then that the discipline of having to choose just one image each day was a good one. I was getting fed up with people sending me links to albums of their holiday snaps on the web. I simply don't have the time to wade through hundreds of shots to enjoy the couple of good ones. Harsh but true! Indeed, I thought the idea was so good that I even registered a domain name (photothisday.com) with a mind to building (in my non-existent spare time) a site to function just like blipfoto - but, of course, several years too late as it turned out! It's good to know that I don't have to bother now. Although I take a fair bit of pride in my programming and design abilities, I doubt I could have done as a good a job with this idea as the guys have here. Chapeau my talented virtual friends.

At the beginning of 2010, starting on January 1st, with one of those grand new year resolutions, I did start to take pictures with a mind to select just one each day to save to a folder. I wanted a visual record of my year. But I only just got into February before the momentum was lost. A work deadline meant that I was housebound for a couple of days and two consecutive images of the mess on my desk somewhat killed my enthusiasm. There wasn't a strong enough driver to keep the discipline going. What has been entirely unexpected here is the community aspect, which elevates the experience to a whole different level. I think it's reasonable to say that I wouldn't still be blipping now, very nearly 4 months on, if it wasn't for you lovely people out there who follow me and comment on my blips. The knowledge that people are interested in the world as you see it and interpret it makes all the difference. I think that provides the incentive that so many of us need. It is what fuels my drive to get out with the camera as well as the determination to improve my technique. I feel like I'm contributing to something much greater than just my personal journal. I love the feeling I get when I see a possible candidate for a good blip and a name pops into my head of someone here who I think will appreciate it if I can do the shot justice.

Later ...

Well I found my blip during a run on the moor tonight, heading out West, a direction I haven't taken for quite a while. On cue, the sun came out from behind the clouds at the perfect time. And someone did pop into my head when I saw this! You might possibly be able to guess that this one is for Dotty.

PS While on the subject (loosely) of 100th blips, I feel compelled to point you to the very best ton-up blip I've ever come across here.

Later still ...

I was hoping to catch up with lots of people tonight, but I seem to have only got around to a few of you. I could try to use less words, but I've never been very good at that! Bear with me.