Pondering

Today I hit 200. Yesterday, for the first time in 200 days, I didn't take a photo and consequently didn't post anything. I felt amazingly liberated, and I've done some serious soul searching about this Blipfoto addiction and where I'm letting it lead me.

When I first discovered the site, I intended to use it to force myself to use my camera every day so I would get familiar with it's various controls. My second objective was to be inspired by the photographs other people were posting and possibly learn some new techniques. My third objective was to become a better photographer. I've met the first two objectives, but I have serious doubts about the third.

Along the way, I've learned a lot of other things from all of you--about other places and people, about nature, about camera equipment and software, and about having fun with photography. I also learned a lot about myself. I stopped caring so much about perfecting my photos and stepped into the role of journal keeper. The blips became a record of my activities, and I began to enjoy reading and commenting on your journals. But this transition came at a price that you all know and appreciate--TIME. I've spent unknown hours on this site.

I need to refocus. Consequently, I will be commenting less in the future. I may also drop and add subscriptions from time to time (although on one forum I learned that some consider it rude to drop subscriptions). I very selfishly will be taking what I can from as many people as I can and posting only when I have something I want to share. I no longer will be posting for the sake of posting. I invite constructive criticism if you care to drop in on me, but I don't get a lot of traffic now and expect that I will get less in the future.

Thanks to Joe and crew for making this wonderful site available and to all of you for sharing your lives, your journals, and your photos.