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| The Mannequin Reflects |
About six weeks ago I stopped writing and uploading photographs to this website. I also stopped visiting other websites and tried to reduce my screen time in general. An interest in digital minimalism was one reason for this, but I gave up posting for a number of reasons.
All of those other reasons are directly or indirectly connected to quality. I wasn't satisfied with the pictures I was posting and I often uploaded uninteresting pictures because I was rushing to get something/anything on the blog several times a week. I did that because I once read that posting to a blog regularly is necessary if you want to maintain and increase readership. But I realise now that improving statistics isn't really important to someone like me who does blogging for a hobby. Because I was uploading photos to meet an unnecessary deadline, I wasn't properly separating the wheat from the chaff. And I wasn't taking the time to say anything intelligent or half-interesting about the photos I posted. In fact, I often felt I had nothing to say at all.
So why start again? Two reasons, really. One, I want to improve my writing, and publishing something on a regular schedule regardless of frequency is a good way to do this. Two, I think photos need to be shared. I've been taking photos for the past couple of months but just looking at them on my computer. Sometimes I share them with pen friends but mostly they just sit on my hard drive. Maybe it's vanity to want to share my pictures publicly on a website, but it's the next best thing to having an exhibition at a gallery. And a lot cheaper. Who knows, perhaps someone will get pleasure from looking at my photographs.
I am going to make some changes instead of carrying on with the blog as it was. I'd like to post a greater variety of things. Photographs, of course. But also my thoughts on various subjects and perhaps some of my experiences. The danger with writing about those things is that I might just rant and complain. So writing drafts and editing, editing, editing will be important. Maybe I'll also share some creative writing. Now and then I write a poem or a story that isn't too bad. I'm not expecting to sell to magazines, so posting here should be fine. Again, I need to save drafts and edit edit edit before clicking 'Publish'. If I can't be great, I can at least not be crap.
Several blogs and websites I started in the past lie on the bottom of Cyberspace's rubbish bin. This blog almost joined them, but I would like to have another go at it. Maybe no one will read this, but I'll use it as a place to practise arete. Excellence through the practice of writing and photography, and excellence through critical editing.
All of those other reasons are directly or indirectly connected to quality. I wasn't satisfied with the pictures I was posting and I often uploaded uninteresting pictures because I was rushing to get something/anything on the blog several times a week. I did that because I once read that posting to a blog regularly is necessary if you want to maintain and increase readership. But I realise now that improving statistics isn't really important to someone like me who does blogging for a hobby. Because I was uploading photos to meet an unnecessary deadline, I wasn't properly separating the wheat from the chaff. And I wasn't taking the time to say anything intelligent or half-interesting about the photos I posted. In fact, I often felt I had nothing to say at all.
So why start again? Two reasons, really. One, I want to improve my writing, and publishing something on a regular schedule regardless of frequency is a good way to do this. Two, I think photos need to be shared. I've been taking photos for the past couple of months but just looking at them on my computer. Sometimes I share them with pen friends but mostly they just sit on my hard drive. Maybe it's vanity to want to share my pictures publicly on a website, but it's the next best thing to having an exhibition at a gallery. And a lot cheaper. Who knows, perhaps someone will get pleasure from looking at my photographs.
I am going to make some changes instead of carrying on with the blog as it was. I'd like to post a greater variety of things. Photographs, of course. But also my thoughts on various subjects and perhaps some of my experiences. The danger with writing about those things is that I might just rant and complain. So writing drafts and editing, editing, editing will be important. Maybe I'll also share some creative writing. Now and then I write a poem or a story that isn't too bad. I'm not expecting to sell to magazines, so posting here should be fine. Again, I need to save drafts and edit edit edit before clicking 'Publish'. If I can't be great, I can at least not be crap.
Several blogs and websites I started in the past lie on the bottom of Cyberspace's rubbish bin. This blog almost joined them, but I would like to have another go at it. Maybe no one will read this, but I'll use it as a place to practise arete. Excellence through the practice of writing and photography, and excellence through critical editing.
Good to see you back. I'm totally with you on the digital downtime thing - it's complete image overload these days on most of the online photographic groups. What's the point? I rarely log onto FB anymore and don't feel I'm missing anything.
ReplyDeleteAnd the blogging. Things improved for me when I reduced my posting to twice a week - and even then at times it feels like the tail is wagging the dog. I could, and perhaps should, be more selective about what I post but for me I use my blog simply as an online diary of what I get up to, so that's OK.
I shall look forward to the reset of your blog here. I enjoy your photographs and your writing, so will continue to stop by.
Thanks very much for the encouragement. Twice a week might be a good rate, if I can come up with enough to write about.
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