3rd Avenue, Dawn
Lipstick building (left). Taken this morning around 5 a.m. I am wandering around the city again, pre-dawn. True - the city never sleeps; at least not everyone; but it would be nice if it would take a nap once in a while like any old geezer.
Over a decade ago I started writing this blog, which I called a journal. Back then I talked about just about anything. Politics, sports; I think I once told a story about how I had had a new dental plate put in (temporary) and had left the house one morning without realizing the plate wasn’t in and that I found myself on the crowded subway with the dreadful realization that my front teeth were missing. Gulp.
Over the years, as the blogworld grew, I found it more difficult to remark about things other than photography because just about anything would be grounds for nasty, name-calling, arguments. Web rage is so common now that I could easily piss someone off by mentioning anything related to: cars, sports, television, politics, religion, computer software, cameras - just about anything.
You don’t usually see the nastier notes because the way this blog is set up, your first post needs to be approved. And usually after the nasty first post is rejected - the casual name-caller moves on to another site.
The other problem is that I’m running a business - (hard to believe sometimes) - and I can’t write about anything related to customers. So one of my original ideas for the blog - a daily record of what my photography career is like - that can’t be told for fear of losing a potential or actual client.
Oh well. They’re not always nasty. Sometimes just plain mixed up. Like this one:
“MR. BECKERMAN. I AM GLAD TO HAVE FOUND YOUR SIGHT. DO YOU SELL MANHOLE COVERS? I AM LOOKING FOR A WHOLESALE SUPPLIER OF MANHOLE COVERS FOR A SMALL TOWN IN THE NORTHEAST. CAN YOU PLEASE SUPPLY A QUOTE FOR 30 MANHOLE COVERS.”
True. I have a picture of manhole cover covered with leaves. Somehow, through some bizarre automated process this must have been translated into MANHOLE COVERS FOR SALE. And even more perversely this very paragraph will soon turn up in searches for manhole covers. ”
Then, from the comments on the Taste of Snow - you almost get an argument there when one person says it is a mind-blowing photograph, and someone else says, it’s good, but it’s not mind-blowing. I get tempted to just turn comments off for a while, but then that goes against the whole interactive idea. Maybe I don’t want any interactivity anymore.
Oh, whatever. I’ve been up since 5 - and now I can’t keep my eyes open.
Comments
Comment from Lester
Time: March 20, 2008, 1:37 pm
Commenting on your blog I sometimes feel like a parasite, feeding off your great photos for my own selfish, and usually inept attempts at creativity. There are numerous times I’ve written things that I wish I could take back. This blog thing is a tricky business, especially since it is literally your business, and the one thing I never want to do is hurt your potential sales. If you think a specific comment is potentially harmful to sales, you shouldn’t be afraid of hurting people’s feelings. Just zap it, mine included!!
Comment from Dalton
Time: March 20, 2008, 1:38 pm
You’re not alone on the whole “manhole cover” thing. I don’t think it’s a genuine mix-up. It’s either some sort of spammy software or a scam. I have gotten quite a few nearly identical comments on my blog on a post with a photo of a porta-john. I suspect if you engage them, they’ll somehow figure out a way to take your money.
Comment from Michael
Time: March 20, 2008, 7:54 pm
It’s my theory that comments are only worth it if they encourage something worth encouraging. Which is why I comment here.
Comment from Mike
Time: March 21, 2008, 7:58 am
I have been visiting for awhile and not commented before, you have a great site, I enjoy reading your thoughts almost as much the images! Great blog!
Comment from dave
Time: March 21, 2008, 10:40 am
Has anyone ever seen a Comment Contest? That would be interesting to me.
The comment is judged by other readers on what — originality… usefulness… wit…
Winner is as I say selected by voting, and receives - what, the first COMMENT AWARD. Their choice of print?
There is some voting widget for wordpress somewhere I’m sure.
Comment from DAM
Time: March 20, 2008, 1:21 pm
I have enjoyed your photography for some time now. Have you ever asked yourself, and subsequently explained to all of us, just what it is about the city streets of New York that creates the sustaining desire to go out and photograph? Additionally, have you self-examined just what it is, or what has to happen or what perception has to occur, that causes you to push the shutter button at exactly the time you do? As an admirer of your work, it would interesting to understand your photography on a deeper, more personal level.