Well, I had quite an interesting day. As I have gone on about many times, I had a lot of fun in Spring of '03 (when I was recovering from my spine fusion) walking around Brooklyn taking photos of storefront houses of worship. I posted the shots, and for the most part, I have been kinda surprised at how many people look, and have looked, at them.

Out of nowhere today, a site I look at everyday (really, I actually do) - BoingBoing.net - posted a link to my little set of photos. I have no idea how this got around to them (or MetaFilter, where the posting editor at BB apparently saw it), but I am not at all complaining. I just sit back and marvel at the life these very very amateur shots have enjoyed. In the months leading up to today, I was getting a few thousand visitors a month. That audience built up from a trickle. I never promoted it other than blab about it here, and talk about it with other NYC urban photo nerds I got to know through Fotolog.net Meetups when I lived in NYC (thanks Mr. Heif.)

Long story short, I woke up to a little "Congrats" email from chum Marissa. I checked out the links and the site stats and saw I got 4200+ today. Ding Ding. What makes these visits awesome is that most of the people actually took the time to go through the pictures! Many many many went through all 100, which hasn't always been the case. Yes, I am a little embarrassed at how bad the shots are, but I (still) have no training in photography; and had my man Ryanboy not just given me the digital camera I used (I have always relied on the kindness of Ryanboy), I wouldn't have just walked around gawking at the signs and buildings. Lots of stuff just. kinda. went. right. (That was a very interesting time in my life - I need to go back and write about it...or maybe not...can't decide...anyway...)

So, (1) I literally had a camera land in my lap, (2) I had time to go out and check the neighborhoods out, and (3) Brooklyn happens to be endlessly fascinating. I knew I was going to take lousy shots, but I thought the subject matter was so interesting I didn't think it would matter. Apparently, that has proven true. Believe it or not - I will not name the person - my only aspiration for the shots was to show them to a friend who really did know how to take good photos so that I might talk them into going back out with me and doing it right. They kinda blew me off and I never pursued it. I guess things ended up how they should have (though I still think these would make an awesome coffee table book...yes, I have since learned about How The Other Half Worships, but that is kinda different than what I was thinkin'...sigh)

It makes me quite happy when people find photos or web entries of mine and like them. Were I able to squeeze out of the tight little spot I have my life and my self in, I would love to go out and do that stuff full time. In fact, I really hope to get there sooner than later. I need to work on the photos and the writing, but I look forward to the idea of having that as a challenge. Perhaps someday. For now, doing something others like enough to recommend to their audience is very cool and is really a highlight for me this year.

Thanks to y'all who looked and linked or listened to me go on and on about it. I can't complain about the mileage I have been getting out of those photos, and I will be happy to keep racking up these little moments of pride/joy they give me. That said, perhaps I get off my butt and get back on the hoof and see if I can find something else to get/give jollies from.

I will put that at the top of my 08 'to do' list. Ha.