Friday 29 June 2012: Kiloblip

So, a kiloblip, 1000 successive blips, no breaks, every day bar one up before midnight. The day it wasn't was a day where I blipped twice at one evening event...

I have to say the milleniblip was always the target for me. The one I wanted. The one i'm so pleased to have, for me.

I usually write a long essay on my milestone blips, but for this one i'm actually in discussion to do an article which includes what it means to me, so I won't be as long winded.

In traditional high school public speaking style, I will give you three points...

The first thing 1000 blips has given me has been connection. Connection with myself and with others, with my surroundings, my community, my unconscious thoughts, my talents, my strengths and my weaknesses.

The second thing 1000 blips has given me is orientation. I have a 1000 day window into my life which can never disappear. I can orient myself to the day and time with every image, and I can track myself and my life by comparing the distance travelled between any two shots. Linked to this is the perspective blips has given me, personally, and with others. Perspective without distance.

The third thing that 1000 blips has given me is focus. Something to do every day, something to practice, something that takes me out of my life, into 'flow' and guarantees me some me time every day.

My blip experience is not limited to me though, Lots of blip is about making friends, being part of a social network. There are people on blip I know and have come to know off blip in a personal and professional capacity. Blip is a social network where to get to 1000 you can only be honest.

The connections you can make on blip are most summed up by the fact that when I outgrew my Pentax, another blipper bought it, and she is wringing from it shots I never could, in ways I never thought of.

As I go beyond 1ooo, I realise that the secret to long distance blipping is giving and taking as much as one can in the community, but blipping for yourself, and the people close to you, whether they be blippers or not. I realised somewhere near 600 that the daily spotlight rush wasn't for me. I'm sad to say that around 900 I became a less prolific commenter, and in return, the comments and 'notice' I received dropped. But that was fine. I found a stride.

In 1000 blips, I have gone from OK photographer with good eye, to better photographer, to 'please will you take some shots for me' photographer and now, recently, having had a flurry of people wanting to pay me, officially professional as an additional source of income. I know though that it couldn't ever be my full time job. In part because I love my work as much as I love my camera, and in part because photography is my third space, my not work or home space, although it often covers both.

I have had ups and downs with the habit...I think we all do. I've changed my name and changed it back, i've overshared about work and been chopped back, i've been poncey or glib, or preachy, and told so. But i've kept going.

I wondered about starting again now, with a totally new journal. But I don't think I will. Maybe once my blip total reaches the date year. But that's a way away.

I have lots of favourite blips of mine. I will share three:

This one was a runner up in Unstaged. I love it as a picture, and it's one of the few i'd hang on my wall.

this one I love because it gave so much pleasure to the people in it.

This one I love because it indulges my love of lines, and seeing things from different perpectives.

As ever, thanks to Joe, Graham and the team. It's pleasure to be here, and a pleasure to know you in person too.

Finally...thanks everyone for commenting, and providing so many wonderful examples of inspiration. It is my next 1000 resolution to find new blippers, connect with new people, and continue to blipvangelise.

Oh dear. Oscar acceptance moment. Will. Shut. Up.

• Canon EOS 7D:
• f/8:
• 0.8":
• 35.0mm:
• ISO 100

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