Saturday, July 31, 2010

'BLOG EVOLUTION'.....AND SO IT GROWS:))

DSC_0035

Our sunny long week-end weather has turned unexpectedly rainy putting a big damper on week-end boaters & beach people.  Our daytime temps have dropped to 70F making for nice outside gardening weather though. DSC_0036

Yes, I know just a few days ago I said, no more blogging topics for awhile but this one is ok & it's something I have touched on several times before.  After some recent comments & emails I thought I would touch on it again because it does concern everyone writing a blog.  Relax, it's not a 'do's & don'ts blog like before & this topic is survivable.

DSC_0034

I, like most other bloggers started blogging with the thought in mind of keeping family & friends informed of traveling whereabouts & activities.  One of the side benefits would be in having a record of dates, adventures & places traveled.  That was all well & fine......in the beginning.  It soon became apparent that most friends & family members were not interested & very few of them ever checked the blog & still don't.  (my Aunt Jean & cousin Norma do though:))  And, it seems, this is a very common occurrence for RV bloggers.  Well, that presented a bit of a problem because if nobody was interested, why write a blog (and Publish it) in the first place.   Therein began the early evolution stage of this blog.

DSC_0029

I have always had an interest in writing, photography & traveling & with the advent of the blogging idea it all just magically fell into place.  But, if family & friends weren't interested, who was.......if anybody.  I belonged to an online forum group at the time called 50+ & every once & awhile I would write a little something & put it in the forum.  That was enough to get me further interested & before long the blog idea was born.  We weren't traveling at the time but every once & awhile I would reach into my memory vaults & write about something I had experienced at one time or another along the highway of life.  Had a few more responses & that spurred me on to write more. 

DSC_0011

As our travels increased, so did our readership.  Very slowly at first but at least it was a start & most responses seemed to be coming in from other RV people.  Not the family & friends as first expected.  The blog also evolved into a platform for my photography hobby as well.  Noticed people were beginning to comment on some photos I included & that of course spurred me on to take more photographs. The blog concept was slowly growing.

DSC_0027

I blogged occasionally at first while at home & then every day of our 07/08 trip.  When we returned home for the summer in 08 I dropped back from the daily travel blogging routine but noticed within a week or so the comments, emails, & responses were encouraging me to keep the blog going.  Well, encouragement was all I needed (never had much of that as a kid) and by the end of that summer I was blogging full tilt every day & have pretty much continued with that ever since.  The evolution of the blog from beginning to present has had a lot to do with motivation.  I was no longer inspired to do the blog for friends & family like in the beginning but I was motivated & encouraged to write the blog & take the photos by all the people responding to the blog.

DSC_0017

Some folks say they write their blog for themselves & if they didn't have anyone reading, it wouldn't really matter.  Well, that's fine for them I guess but it sure doesn't work for me that way.   If I was just doing this for me I wouldn't bother to hit the 'Publish' button at the end of each blog.  It is people with an interest in reading my blog & looking at the photos that keeps my enjoyable hobby going & that is why I gear the blog towards people with like minded interests to mine.  If I wrote the blog just for myself it would not look like it does today either.  I would not bother with all the graphics, colors & sidebar stuff & it would probably not include any photos because there would be no purpose for me to take any.  My blog journal would just be a plain white background with the standard black print & look simply like an everyday newspaper article.  Not much imagination there so not much of a challenge for me.  Just a simple journal with a few simple thoughts & events I suppose.  Knowing me, I would probably get bored with that pretty quick & the whole thing would just simply slip quietly into obscurity.

DSC_0016

If it were not for the blog I would not have the all the camera equipment I have today & what camera equipment I had would probably be sitting in a dust covered camera bag in the bottom of a closet somewhere.  Again, the evolution of the blog is apparent.  As stated before, I have no interest in photo contests or printing pics to hang on walls or putting in albums.  The blog's photo platform has given me a way to display my photos for anyone interested & I am totally happy with that.  If readers enjoy looking at the pictures as much as I enjoy taking them, then that is good enough for me. 

DSC_0014

In early 1993 I lost all interest in photography & packed all my 35mm equipment away simply because there just wasn't any point in wasting money on film & processing just to look at the pics a couple times & then throw them in a box or slide carousel.  Aside from doing some travelogues I just didn't have a purpose.  And, the problem with doing travelogues was my fear of having to stand up in front of a bunch of people & narrate my slide show.  Now I can get my pics out there from the quiet comfort & obscurity of my recliner chair, the Motor Home or our scenic sunroom.  And, it's all because the blog has evolved from it's original concept.  Now I have a purpose.

DSC_0015

So, I guess what this long post (again) is trying to say is simply that your blog is whatever you want to make it as you, along with your blog, evolve with it's growth.  If you are new to blogging & are finding friends & family not as responsive as you hoped, don't give up, just take your blog in a different direction, change your priorities & let it evolve into something you enjoy doing.   Find a niche & share your interests with others. 

DSC_0024

For Kelly & I, it has been the RV community that has been our main blog supporters & we have met more people on the road & made more friends on-line than we ever have here at home.  And, it has been the blog that has done all that.  If it wasn't for the blog we would probably not have met one single person on that 'friends we have met' list I posted last week.

DSC_0023

So, in conclusion (thank heavens) I say to all my fellow bloggers.....keep on blogging & grow with your blog.  May your purpose & ideas evolve into something greater than what you started out with............mine did:))

DSC_0030

And, just in case you were wondering....all of tonight's photos were caused by a dripping garden hose on a cold January Arizona night this past winder while we were staying at the ranch near McNeal, Az........................:))

DSC_0031

GROANER'S CORNER:((

A drunk staggers into a Catholic Church, enters a confessional booth, sits down, but says nothing.
The Priest coughs a few times to get his attention, but the drunk continues to sit there.
Finally, the Priest pounds three times on the wall.  The drunk mumbles, 'Ain't no use knockin, there's no paper on this side either.

DSC_0005

Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UN-AWAKENED"

It's not the concept of God I have a problem with.......it's his fan club!!

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/ (a work in progress)

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

16 comments:

  1. Al, your photography is a wonderful hobby you have and you do a great job with it. If by sharing your love of photography and other things on your blog fills you and also is a joy and help for the readers of your blog (I really enjoy your pics & blog), then it is a win win for all folks. Sharing with folks that care is what it is all about.
    Thanks for the post.
    Mike & Gerri

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great post, Al. I didn't read anything in it that should make you have to reach for the "bear spray"!

    To me there is a difference between "writing the blog for myself" and "writing a blog that is INTERESTING to me". I agree with your statement that if I was simply writing for myself then no graphics, enhancements etc. would be necessary.

    When I say I'm writing blogs that I find "interesting" myself, I do, like you, hope others do too. But, I don't think I'd change my style just to please others by writing blogs I didn't like but knew others did(if that makes any sense).

    My blog rewards have evolved too with the main one being a renewal in my interest in photography.

    So, again, great blog tonight!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dang! I was wondering what all those pictures were about. I thought maybe you were in a root beer factory! :)

    My blog has become a real hobby for me, since I don't sew or quilt or anything like that. It has renewed my interest in photography as well. It helps me to observe the world around me in a different light. I agree, that it would probably fall to the side without the input of fellow bloggers. However, I have always kept a journal of my travels, and blogging is a more interactive way to continue journaling. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have been writing a journal off and on for a long time before I got into the RVing world, but I always had someone, or an intended audience, that I was writing for. I agree that many blogs would fall by the wayside if no one was reading and enjoying them, or even being challenged by them.

    I kept thinking the photos tonight looked like ice, but couldn't figure it out. Fascinating shots from a perspective we wouldn't normally think about.

    ReplyDelete
  5. More great thoughts on blogging. The pictures are terrific. I am glad you mentioned what the subject was, because I doubt I would have guessed.

    I picked up another camera and lens set. This time the new Canon Rebel T2i. Still reading the books.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Amen, Al..great post and fabulous photos once again..your blog is never a disappointment..you can turn a nothing kind of day into a blog worthy day!!
    To each their own..everyone being an individual makes life way more interesting...you are my favourite cranky curmudgeon from Ontario..and I am just Me from the West Coast..
    enjoy your weekend!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yeah, I blog to please myself but I guess I meant that in the way that I have constructed my blog and how I present my topic. I still enjoy having a central focus on travel and family. I like to have readers and followers like you and it is nice to know they are even checking in from time to time. I love it when you become the "blabberfingers" again, Al, that word is terrific. :)

    Also: what is a mossmagator? I've tried finding the definition but cannot. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yes, yes, yes! Once again, Al, you have perfectly explained what (I think) has happened to many of us bloggers. Our blogs evolve as time goes on and we get encouragement from others. You have been very encouraging to me and I thank you!

    Your fantastic photos add a wonderful backdrop to your blog, and, as well, inspire me to learn to take and post better pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Love the photos! I'm glad you explained where they came from, because I was wondering!! I have found the same thing - I have told family members and friends about my blog, but I think only a few have actually been reading it. So it seems to be changing its focus somewhat already. And mine is relatively new, I've only been blogging since May.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Good thoughts Al. It is been fun watching your blog evolve and I am sure it will continue to change some in the future too.

    Nice photos and I found myself smiling groaning here in the corner at your last part of the entry....

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great job Al, I too have renewed my interest in photography, although I have always like train shooting, I too think I blog as a hobby to meet and expand my world, whether it be new people, places or things I have never seen , but can now glimpse through the eyes or camera of another blogger, plus when your retired it gives you an outlet for something constructive with your time. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Al, I think you and I are a lot alike. Thanks for putting it into words, because I feel the same way about blogging.

    Now, about those pictures...I thought FOR SURE some nasty insect was going to hatch from those shiny, brown eggs. You got me good!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'M STANDING AND APPLAUDING YOU BLOG ONCE AGAIN...BRAVO, BRAVO...
    I FEEL LIKE MY BLOG HAS EVOLVED INTO AN EDITORIAL OF LIFE ...AS I SEE IT..WHICH CAN BE TOTALLY WEIRD SOMETIMES..THAT'S JUST WHO I AM...THE PHOTOS??? I'M CERTAINLY NO ANSEL ADAMS (IS THAT WHO I AM THINKING OF?) SEE..I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE RIGHT NAME FOR SURE...
    GREAT BLOG, AL!

    ReplyDelete
  14. P.S. Thanks for changing the red to black on the header. Now my eyes aren't jumping out of their sockets! :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. enjoyed your comments as I too am blogging and did so to remind me of how I got from point a to be... when i decided to rv it changed a bit to blogging for the family... but as your discovered they really don't care... i blog foe me now and the support i get from the followers...you are spot on in this topic...

    ReplyDelete
  16. Purpose? I do believe you have found it. I'm a newbie to all this so I don't about the blog evolution, but one thing I know for sure...that I feel connected to y'all just by reading your words and enjoying your photos. I find myself smiling when visiting your blogs have made it a very important part of my day. I guess if I have an addiction it would be to keeping in touch with all my new friends!
    Thanks so much for paving the way for us who are in our first few steps of our journey.
    Blessings, Kathy

    ReplyDelete