I’ve been photo crazy lately, I think. I see photographs in everything. I’m seeing the world through the lens of my camera. I tilt my head to and fro, looking at things as I would through the lens.

I’ve had over 5000 visitors to my photoblog. Wow! 5000. That’s a lot of people. I’m sure a lot just click on links to see what I contributed to a meme or are passing through from comments on another site but it just strikes me as a lot of visitors.

I wish more people would give feedback. I want to become a better photographer and anything that is shared is so welcomed. I can read all I want but it isn’t the same as direct feedback. Real people looking at my photos give me an invaluable insight into how to better myself.

Today I was talking to someone at work about my photography and his wood-working. He said that it’s so much easier to do when you have a muse. He said, though, that because his muse is his wife, his work becomes so personal, so much a part of his life, his relationship.

I understand that.

I’ve had a relationship with cameras my whole life. I was always the one taking the pictures of the family and there are very few pictures of me with my family because of this. I’m not sure it was expected. I think I just liked being the one to take the pictures.

It started with an old Kodak Instamatic 110. It grew from there.

I would like to think my images have improved over time. And over the years, I’m not sure I’ve had a muse. I’ve taken photographs for the pure love of it, for the pure beauty of what I see before me.

I was saying to my co-worker that my photography has recently taken a turn. I know a lot of it is that I’m a bit more serious about it. A lot of it is that I’m given good feedback from the people who do take the time to comment on it with great constructive criticism.

Some of it, though, is because I think about what Jonathan would say. He would tease me that I’ve centered it or taken another macro or maybe he would think that I just hadn’t taken the time and care with a shot that it deserved. He pushes me to be a better photographer. He pushes me to push my photographic boundaries and to see something in a different way.

I think his support and his feedback has been invaluable. I am seeing the world through a new lens that is more vivid and more dimensional.