When I first started this blog, back in April 2012, I had a particular reason. An injury meant that I was not able to get out with my camera to make new images. Blogging gave me an outlet for my frustrated creativity and a new lease of life for images I had already taken. Nearly 4 years later and the injury is still troublesome, but I have learned to live with it. The brain is amazingly good at learning to live with things, even pain. The problem no longer stops me doing what I want and what I want hasn’t changed – I still love (am obsessed with) photography.
‘Five’: Venice
As I slowly returned to making new images, this blog became more and more sporadic. In the end, I will always choose to go out with my camera rather than spend time at the computer. That is not going to change, but I would like to see if I can combine the two more effectively. So I have signed up for Blogging 101 with good intentions.
Still morning, Hamnøya, Lofoten Islands
Perhaps paradoxically, since starting a photography blog, I have obtained a Masters Degree in Victorian Literature and Art from the University of London. Yes, I like to read and write! Accordingly, I never intended Focused Moments to be a picture-of-the-day kind of blog. (Nothing wrong with those, by the way, just not what I intended.) Looking back at the early days, I see the posts that were most enthusiastically received usually had plenty of words as well as images. A good example is my article about the relationship between photography and mindfulness. So I plan to make time for more posts like that. I am also interested in exploring how the literature I enjoy and have studied may influence the images I make.
Tempest
Standard blogging advice is to write about oneself, to ‘make it personal’. I am not so sure about that. I am quite a private person and this is a public blog. The images will always be the heart of Focused Moments; I hope they are more interesting than me! Nonetheless, there are aspects of my photographic life that might merit more exploration. I enjoy exhibiting and have already written about some of my experiences in that area. Some readers want to know more about other things, my role as a camera club judge, for example, or what it is like to lead photography workshops. More on those, and other ‘stories’, will follow.
Frost on the Wey
2015 was an epic year for me photographically. I hope that 2016 will be equally exciting and, if any of you share at least part of the adventure with me here at Focused Moments, this blog will have succeeded. It is up to me, now, to make it worth your time.
Aurora over Skagsanden
Focused Moments 
A terrific post, Rachael. Stunning images and I love your ideas for the blog, and look forward to those posts in 2016. Best wishes!
Hi Sue. Thank you very much and thanks, again, for sticking with me! 🙂
You’re one of my favorite photographers!
I love your photos and the stories behind it. Keep it up. Awesome.
Thank you! 🙂
As you know I like all your work. I love you signature shot in Venice. I hope that I to can find something almost as stunning when there in a few weeks time ! It never registered that you carry an injury. Grit and determination to be admired
Hi Gerald. Thank you very much, and for your support recently.
Look forward to seeing where the camera takes you in 2016. Hapoy New Year!
Hi Susan. You too! Big adventures for you!
I came to this post through blogging101 and was wowed by your photographs. Your post on photography and mindfulness captures exactly what I want to focus on this year with my blog. Although I can only dream of reaching your caliber of photography! I’m looking forward to more of your posts.
Hi. Thank you very much. Off to check out your blog now. 🙂
I really enjoy your blog and seeing your photographs. I find that the posts where I reveal a little about myself (like you i am very private) seem to go down the best. Can you explain what Blogging101 is?
Thanks! Blogging 101 is a three week course run on WordPress. I think this iteration may be full but they will run it again.
Photographs to life the spirit. All smashing but the Wey one Close to my heart.
Victoria Maxwell (narrow boat, Take Wine)
Hi Victoria. Thank you. I hope you are well and still enjoying your lovely boat.
You have created some stunning images this last year and I’m very much looking forward to seeing a lot more of your work in 2016 Rachael. My apologies for being so behind. I am currently preparing to take my CAA flight test to allow me to use my drone commercially. It’s been quite a process to go through but ultimately rewarding I hope. All the very best! 🙂
Hi Adrian
Thanks! I will follow your progress with interest as I have a drone but find I rarely use it because I lack a commercial licence.
Happy New Year, Rachael. Looking forward to all the great things you bring to your blog in 2016 🙂
Excellent proposals for the year ahead. And good to see some of my favourites of your shots again.
Yours was one of the first blogs I followed when I began, also back in 2012. I still slog away at it, though am putting less and less into writing ‘thoughtful’ posts and more and more into actually living (and, yes photography!). I didn’t know about the injury, but I did about the masters.
However it works out for you, I will still be here. I pop on for a good long blog read every now and again, and I always enjoy what I get here at Focused Moments, words AND images. Enjoy the journey!