In April I posted a couple of images for a project I had in mind. I wasn’t certain if the project would materialize and I am still not sure it will but I am continuing to pursue the idea. Blogging can be a short term activity and blogs themselves are not always conducive for projects unless they are specifically focused. Details and stories come and go without a thread to hold them together. That’s why books or an exhibit are much better goals for our work than simply finding an image or two to post. My dog project has been helpful in getting me in the frame of mind for longer term work and hopefully work that will have a lasting impact.
Several weeks ago we were meeting for dinner to celebrate my mother’s 74th birthday. I was running late and my sister was already waiting for us. As I walked to the table at the far end of the restaurant, I noticed that some of the fishing boats on the pier were still open for business. I’d never been down there this late in the day when the light was just a faint whisper but when I saw the neon signs, I knew I had to go make some sketches for my project. I think by now my family is quite used to me disappearing with my camera; I sure hope so 
These are nice shots that IMO can tell a story. I do agree with you to an extent on blogging being a platform that’s a little less conducive to telling a story. However, I do think it depends on how it’s framed (ha-ha) and how you go about it.
For example, there are bloggers out there who focus on writing stories and posting new chapters each day/week. They do a good job of it too. As photographers we add visuals to the mix. It represents it’s own challenges yes, but if you’re not challenging yourself then you’re missing out
Thanks! It isn’t so much that blogs are not conducive to telling a story because I think they are a very good tool for storytelling. What I meant to say more about projects or work with impact, if you like. I don’t think that a blog is a good place for work that one hopes will have an impact. It is a place where you can promote your work for sure but in the end, I think you need to have prints in a exhibition or collection or a book.
Hi Sabrina. Can I just say that I want some of that sashimi. Yum!!
Anyway, I can very much relate to your thoughts about blogs and long term projects. I’ve been struggling a bit with that myself. I find that if I focus on my long term project my blog suffers, and if I focus on blogging, my long term project suffers (squirrel!!).
I suppose the challenge of keeping both going will be what helps us improve, eh?
~Brian
Exactly Brian! Let me know if you find any tips to keep both going at a reasonable pace. I could use some ideas.
“I don’t think that a blog is a good place for work that one hopes will have an impact. It is a place where you can promote your work for sure but in the end, I think you need to have prints in a exhibition or collection or a book.”
Thank you for your words and I agree… Would a place like “Rear Curtain” be a place to preview something like this?
Don
I like your use of the word “preview” Don. If you look at Eric’s work on Slice of America, I think that work will stand the test of time–if Eric continues working on it. I could see it being an exhibit or even a book but in the meantime, he has used Rear Curtain as a way to publicize his work.
If they are not use to it now, they will be.
I wonder Monte, do you have the problem?
Until you can convince a publisher or gallery to publish a book or allow you to hold an exhibition, then I think blogs could be a good beginning. Steve McCurry uses his blog as a base for his stories, and then I think he takes them into the book/exhibition scene.
I thinks blogs help us think more about what we are wanting to say when we have a project in mind. My blogs started off about the words, but I find myself more interested now in creating the story will the images – so I think I will have to begin a new ‘visual’ blog, pretty well minus the worlds.
Love these salmon images – they could work well as part of a ‘protect the wild salmon/no farming’ type project.
I have seen the work on Steve’s blog and it is very impressive. To me, the difference is that he is an established photographer. The feeling I get from his blog is that he is taking a look at his collective work and pulling it together for the future when he may not be around to direct how it is shown. In some ways the blog is like a preview or even a focus group.
Your idea of a visual blog is very intriguing! Make sure you let me know when you get it up and running.
Gosh, I spend a week mostly offline and you have a new post up!
I’m intrigued by these images. Intrigued by where they came from (images from last post), and where they are leading me.
Feeling you on the blogging thing like so many others here. I’m completely convinced the equilibrium exists though, however elusive. But maybe it doesn’t matter, and we will do what we are compelled to do, when we are compelled to do it.
I was thinking it was funny though, how I got to know you all through blogging, and now 90% of our conversations don’t even touch on whatever material’s on our blogs.
LOL…I haven’t been posting much lately because I’ve been so busy with the lived-life. I have a few things to post going forward but as you say it’s about finding an equilibrium. My ideas for a long term project are starting to come together and now I need to explore how to make it happen. As my friend Maureen says it’s about the access, without it executing a project is very challenging.
I love talking to you about anything not just what’s on the blog…great conversation yesterday on WWTD, WWLD and now WWRD (gasp!).
I found myself studying those photos, Sabrina, they’re so different from what we see in Texas.:)
I was intrigued by what you wrote about blogging being a short-term activity. I’ve seen several instances where content from blogging has later been used to create larger projects like books. The content created over time shaped the project. I’m wondering if that’s different from what you mean by long term work. ..perhaps one difference is planning?
The apparent randomness of authentic blogging can sometimes be like journaling. I wonder what you might discover if you had Ray, or a friend who’s good at spotting patterns, go through your older blog posts. I wonder if it might uncover unrecognized themes or unexpected threads that could contribute to a project or add to your understanding of your vision/voice.
Can we please get some salmon to go with this post?
I wonder if you headed to the coast like Padre Island, if you’d see something similar in Texas?
I think work that is exploratory and that ends up being shaped into a project over time is another way to go. For the most part though, a very small percentage of work starting out on a blog will become a project. And for a project like a book that will have a lasting impact, I do think there needs to be an intention–not so much planning–but a reason or understanding of what it is we want to explore or say.
While there may be a seeming randomness to my blogging, the overall goal has always been to share my adventure with the hopes of engaging others so we can all learn. What we learn is whole other story and I think that is your point. The things that we uncover probably do have a pattern or a connection and it should.
How do you feel about smoked salmon?