Serendipity seems to be playing a strong role in my life lately...

Today is my birthday.

Just a few days ago, I finally cracked open a book that I have owned for a couple of months now, Single Exposures by Brooks Jensen.  Jensen is the editor of LensWork, perhaps the most beautiful photography magazine on the market.  He subtitled the book, "Random Observations on Photography, Art & Creativity."

Right from the introduction, his words resonated with me.  Though Jensen focuses on photography, it's easy to see his relevance to the fine bloggers assembled here:

 

"This book is the result having clearly set out not to write a book.  Oh well... 

For ten years, such observations (fleeting or unusual thoughts that he indentifies as contributing to his understanding pf photography and the creative life) accumulated as little scraps of paper and notes gathered in odd places around my office.  I never knew quite what to do with these ideas until the Internet provided the perfect opportunity.  I learned about blogging.  Blogging is a concantenated word short for web log and in most cases takes the form of personal diary or, more recently, a running commentary on politics or the news of the day.  It was natural for me to realize this was the perfect vehicle to offer my short comments on photography, art and creativity....*

Hence the birth of the Lenswork "audio blog" -- an almost daily addition to our website consisting of random observations, offered in the spirit of  "thought for the day."  On February 26, 2004 -- the day of my 50th birthday -- I recorded my first audio blog and posted it a www.lenswork.com.  I had no reason to type them, no intention of transcribing them, and certainly no idea of assembling them into a book.  I've been surprised, overwhelmed, and little shocked that so many people have asked me and encouraged me to do so. 

Single Exposures is the result."  -- Brooks Jensen

 

I had little defined purpose in starting my blog; I expected little as well... really I thought I'd just jot things down about the Lions.  What a surprise it's turned out to be!

One of the gifts this community has given me is reading the work of several writers here -- so much talent!  I already see books forming on some blogs.  I can also see commentators, columnists, freelancers and other artists... what comes as a result of these bloggers' efforts has unlimited possibilities.

Since this is a relatively new forum, it's also been a joy to witness writers finding their voices & challenging themselves further.

And to be able to connect with admired writers is just mind-bogglingly wonderful...

 

I worked with a woman who used her birthday to give gifts... this is my attempt to advance that tradition.  Whatever your purpose for being here -- whether or not you know what that is -- I hope you find as much value as I have. 

I'll gladly encourage and support the writers here who motivate, inspire and challenge me. 

I hope to continue to meet even more talent.

Dream big.  Maybe the result of your efforts here will surprise you!

 

 

---

 

*What I cut from the original quote:

"The problem, however, lies in my stubby little fingers -- all 10 of which would like to be skilled typists, but only eight of them actually are typists and extraordinarily bad ones at that.  For the items I contribute to LensWork, my "writing" should be more accuartely be known as "dictating, transcribing, and editing."  Whereas most blogs are written (by skilled typists) for reading on the Web, it is much more natural for me to create audio recordings. " --Brooks Jensen

All typos are at the fault of my own two typist fingers (sad, I know), one of which is momentarily slowed by injury.  Should they be up to the task, you will actually be seeing a sports post from me in the next 24 hours... a good way to start off a fresh year of life, in my opinion!  

Oh, and that crazy Ambassador has been rumbling in my head lately as well... maybe in a couple of weeks...