Foxglove Lane Facts
Friends this is my 200th published post and there are another 157 that are still in draft. I have been blogging for 28 months and have uploaded almost 1,000 photos here. Foxglove Lane has had over 261,000 pageviews. As I started out with one very short post and one tiny photo, today feels like I have come some distance along the creative path…….So here we go, the top ten blogging lessons learned to date…..
10 lessons
1. Dawn and dusk
Modern digital cameras are incredible. While studying in college, the costs of developing and printing was enormous, the chemicals in the dark room brought me out in a rash, black and white was where it began and ended. So imagine the liberation of re-discovering photography in an era of total creative control!! Nevertheless the light of both dawn and dusk are still my top photography tip, that at least hasn’t changed!
2. Make the space
So far my top blogging highlight has been developing a creative space of my own. Up to now I have been craving a “room of one’s own” as described by Virgina Woolfe………but my space has turned out to be a virtual one. Just a few paces from the field to the cloud…..That’s it, just me, a camera, a few lenses, a tangle of cables, a laptop and wifi!
3. Small is beautiful
The down side of blogging is the pain I get in my neck from typing and drooling over other blogs. I work on a very small laptop…..I love the compact nature of it, the mobility, the scope. I often wonder if I should have a bigger screen? But to be honest it is important for me to limit screen work and maximise the “actual” work so I continue to squint and hunch with the benefit of less is more.
4. Just do it
The upside is you get better at all of this. One of the biggest thrills for me recently was that I learned a bit of CSS code to change small things on my blog and galleries. Improvements happen through practice and doing what I do. There are amazing blogs out there (I will compile a list of my faves one of these days) but keeping to a personal learning path, blogging about daily reality, photographing the light and shade, showing up every week, these have been the most important underlying facts of blogging.
5. Stepping back
The biggest disappointment is not being able to keep up with replying to every comment every day. I thought I could! As the work grew, the day job exploded, and the lessons required more time, I had to step back and focus on delivering rather than socialising! I miss it but I simply don’t have enough hours in the day. (I still try though)
6. Don’t be shy, be ethical
Most important lesson was to set out anonymously, otherwise I would never have broken through my shyness. Initially a combination of blogging and a twitter stream helped me to connect with the world and the encouragement of other bloggers especially the Irish ones sustained me over that first year. Although I eventually signed my work, I also learned how to maintain privacy, boundaries and continue to aim for an ethical approach to both photography and writing.
7. Make encouraging friends
What’s heartening is that people who read, comment and contact me seem like wise old friends at this stage. Encouragement was what I needed……a million thanks to each one of you who saw that, I think you know how much it still means…..
8. Love it
Craziest part? I am still loving this!
9. Don’t listen to the voices
Advice? Don’t listen to the voices in your head, they are easily distracted by the brilliance of others and need to get 100% focussed on getting down to work!
10. Content
Out of 200 posts these have had the most pageviews. I’m never sure why some posts are more popular but I think the harder I work at the content the more the world seems to appreciate it…..
10 Popular posts
1. Love
2. Always an Apprentice
3. Frosty morning on the lake
4. The beauty of the web
5. A mysterious relationship
6. Is creativity about just putting one foot in front of the other?
7. “You wouldn’t get the likes of it in Killarney”
8. The courage to be happy
9. Relentlessly snowy Berlin
10. A blanket of green moss soothes the brain
A few seeds……
To celebrate I have a fledgling project to share with you today. If Foxglove Lane is the Studio then one half shut eye is the sketch book you might find there…. lying open at a random page. A space to explore inner and outer worlds, to play with the dreamy colours of digital image making, to practice capturing people and places. It will be a comment free zone but please feel free to browse or if you would like regular updates just sign into the “follow by email” gadget…..
Well done Catherine! I remember your first tentative steps into blogland. I think I discovered you soon after you started. Loved it straight away. Continued good wishes to you in all your endeavours.
Bridget x.
Bridget, so lovely to hear from you! Yes we had lots of contact in the early days and sure you gave me lots of tips at the time! We are both still blogging which is great….how those two years have flown:~)
Congrats !! Love your site – the hardest part for me now is trying to decide what to share and what to keep private – silly I know but I am always afraid of hurting someone's feelings if I write what I truly want to say – so I just don't say it at all – but the purpose is to be honest and I want to remember my life – everyday – good or bad – oh well – I guess every blogger faces that hope you are enjoying this summer weather – I am loving it!
I know what you mean and I always seem to err on the side of caution….(my nature)…..But I love other bloggers who take big risks in their writing and in their work……I suppose you just have to be true to yourself! Elizabeth I'm so glad you eventually got a bit of heat in the bones:~))
Well done on another great milestone and post!
Your passion always shines through whatever the light.
Many thanks Jean, and for all the support over the last couple of years. We really must get Westown Life to bring us all together some time:~))
Congrats! I agree with you on pretty much every point! I too started with one small photo and just wanting a place to 'journal'…I think I'm approaching the 900 post mark! Who knew?!
900 wow! I hope I get there some day. Treasure that space you created:~)
Congratulations, Catherine, on your 200th post and 161,000 page views! I truly enjoy your blog and check out every new post even though I rarely comment. Tonight I signed up for your "one half shut eye" e-mail notification. I find your photography and your subject matter very inspiring. Interestingly one hobby (gardening) has led to another (photography) for me so your blog is a great one to emulate.
Astrid it's always a pleasure to share with you and to visit your garden, many thanks for your particular support over the last couple of years:~)
Well done on your 200th post, your 10things was a great idea. You really made me think about my space I would love a room for me but we live in a smallish house, but I guess I have found it on my blog.
It's very hard to find a real room of one's own in a family home? That's what's so nice about a blog space, even if you are just talking to your self half of the time as I think I am!! Glad you have found the same:~)
First of all Catherine – my congratulations on reaching 200. One of the joys of looking at Foxglove Lane is seeing your aesthetic progress.
So, here's my take on your ten points…
No 1. Disagree: ANY TIME is good for photography, although not necessarily for all subjects.
No 2. Agree:
No 3. Disagree: All aspects of photography, including editing, post processing and blogging should be an enjoyable part of the process. It seems to me that you're trying to justify hanging on to a laptop. If you can afford it, get yourself a 22" screen (at least) and I guarantee that you'll wonder why it took you so long.
No 4. Agree:
No 5. Agree: life is too short. Best to comment back on the blog posts of the folk who comment on yours.
No 6. Agree:
No 7. Agree: but constructive negative comments can on occasion be equally useful.
No 8. Agree: it's not just love – it's also passion – even after 40 years.
No 9. Agree: the voice that you really need to ignore is the one that says "but it took 2 hours to get this picture"; and instead listen to the one that says (if applicable) "it's still crap – chuck it out!"
No 10. Totally agree: even after 15 years as a photo-editor, it's impossible to predict the image that people will love…on of a photographer's life's mysteries.
Hope you don't mind my rabbiting on…and on….
Enjoy the next 200!
Haha George, I very much appreciate your "rabbiting on" and for all the wisdom and learning you have shared with me over the last year. Isn't it interesting (No 10) that you can never predict the images and the story that people will love? Also yes I will remember what you said about the larger screen!!! I think I am anxious as to what it might reveal…..I mean no one really wants to see themselves on the big screen….know what I mean? Many many thanks:~)
Well done Catherine, I have always followed and loved your words and photography although I rarely comment – your world and the way you look at it is part of the fascination.
Elaine.
Elaine you were another role model for me when I started!!! Thank you so much for your lovely comment. You are welcome here anytime, quietly or not! My new project is a comment free zone anyway just to take away that pressure on all sides and see how it is?
wow wow and wow ! 200 posts Catherine … and I remember the very first one and not being able to wait for the next. I am still the same. I still always want the 'next one' which just proves how engaging each blog and each photo is. Like a few above I too dont often comment but am always here … and Im looking forward to your second blog becoming part of my weekly foxglove lane 'fix'. Well done Ca xx
Thanks a million Mar!! And welcome to the whole world of blogging……it can take you as far as you want to go……XX
200 posts is a milestone! Bravo to you and your enchanting body of work that you have chosen to share with us!
Your list of ten is a comfort– so much to do and so many choices to make!
Yes Deb, so many choices……and I suppose that's all part of the fun:~))
Well done to you on your 200th post! That is a great achievement. I love your photographs and I hope you are aware of the enormous pleasure that is radiated out to the viewers of those. I take 'snaps' but you do works of art and I just love looking at your latest observations and creations. Thank YOU for the hours of smiling joy that you have given to your followers and having set the bar so high,we look forward to many more excellent posts in the future. Well done! I am delighted to know about you! 🙂
Beautiful silvery words which have warmed my heart:~)
A most excellent post! So thoughtful, thought provoking and honest. I'm going back to read all your 'most read'…
Thanks Freda…..still so much to learn….
A wonderful post. a wonderful read. I have been to Half Shut Eye too and was so impressed by what I found there. Congratulations Catherine, you are one of my top favourite bloggers.
Ah Cait that's so kind…love the connection, many thanks for it:~)
Congratulations Catherine! Such an inspiring post too ~ I was floundering with my blog but since reading your 10 lessons, I am fired up and ready to be true to myself, which is how I read your words. Your photography is beautiful and if I could only read one blog, it would be yours 🙂 Bye for now Jane
Thank you so much Jane, in spite of the distance it has been great connecting with you in Oz!! I hope you get going again, winter is the perfect time for it:~))
Congrats Catherine. Your blog is one of those which inspired me to start mine although I've been neglecting it of late, for some of the reasons you mention, esp the time factor.
I always look forward to looking at your photos and reading your words and you have obviously touched many other viewers.
I too would second getting a bigger computer – ideally a Mac. You could still use your laptop when you wanted to escape from the desk.
Sounds like I will have to fork out for a big screen then Mairead!! As you say there is no end to the amount of time required…this is a big challenge for both of us trying to keep the day job ticking over and paying the bills!! Don't worry too much about neglecting the blog, it waxes and wanes which is only natural…..but please don't let it go it is a beautiful one:~))
Congratulations! I remember how excited I was to find your blog, as beautiful photography always lifts my mood, and I always enjoy my visits here 🙂 xx
Thanks Candi, likewise when I found your blog I understood the real power of telling your story and the beauty of sharing:~))
You already know I'm loving one eye half shut. And hopefully you already know how much I admire what you do here. You are a poet who works with images as well as words. Please keep these posts coming.
As for the ten lessons … well we both started blogging at much the same time and mostly ring true with me. And when it come to not listening to the voices … I properly learnt that lesson after two people whose brilliance I envied told me they envied mine. Now I just celebrate difference 🙂
Well I am one of those you inspire Annie!!!
Happy 200th! I hope there will be many more. This very precious celebration post. The three pictures are jewels. Dusk and dawn lights of wonder. You're sharing here a truly admirable work.
Thanks Amelie!!
Congratulations/Mo sheacht mbeannacht ort!/Mazeltov dear Catherine
I love seeing a new post and your photography compliments your writing.
Helen xx
Many thanks Helen, and for all your support from across the sea:~))
Congrats hon.. from the fan from Wexford… yeah remember seeing your first page and that picture of a certain person whom I or others hadn't a clue who it was.. really funny but has been impressive from the very first look and such courage!!!
Haha!! Thanks Moll for all your support and for always flying the flag of the Wexford fan club!!!
I have loved watching you and your blog grow…it is a pleasure to read it and savor your images…I will check out your other page…congrats on the 200th and many more!
Likewise Donna, many thanks!
Thanks for stopping by to comment. I had fun exploring your blog this morning. You've captured such a magical mood in your cloud photos.
We seem to have so much in common. I too learned about photography in college 30 years ago, set it aside until I started blogging about my paintings a few years ago. The photography has taken over my creative flow.
Have a great weekend 🙂