Down the Road

Photographs and stories by Jim Grey

Captured: 8th and Maple

Jim Grey
8 comments on Captured: 8th and Maple
1 minute
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After the ice storm

I’m consistently surprised by what does and doesn’t work on this blog. I’ll pour my heart into a post and when it goes live, crickets: few views, few comments. Other times I’ll dash off something quickly, something I don’t really care about, just to feed this beast — and it will take off. My three most-viewed posts are like that: two about getting film developed (here and here) and one about grammar (here).

I was thrilled when last week’s post about photographing an ice storm’s aftermath was so well received. A few readers shared it around, and so it got five times the views a new post normally gets around here. I even got an email from a famous blogger, who I didn’t know read my blog, telling me that my story lingered in her mind for two days. So let me share one more photo from that day in 1990, at a moment when the clouds parted.

Comments

8 responses to “Captured: 8th and Maple”

  1. traveller858 Avatar
    traveller858

    Mmmm. I guess folks can be fickle at times. Your comments could also be applied to Flickr posts. You can post some that you feel are about as good as they could be — and nothing. Then you post because you feel you should —– and you get lots of hits. Very strange. As I said folks are fickle.

    I always enjoy the variety of your posts so don’t analyse too much or we’ll all miss out.

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      I’ve been at this for long enough to know that the world doesn’t wake up every morning and say, “I wonder what Jim Grey wrote about today!” Sometimes my best posts, or the ones I think are best, just end up being poorly cosmically timed, I think. Whaddya gonna do?

      Reply
  2. Lone Primate Avatar
    Lone Primate

    Speaking only for myself, Jim, I think it’s a question of propriety. I personally prize the brave and generous examinations of your own life and its trying times, and triumphs and epiphanies. To me, they’re the real anchors of what you do here (alongside the road journeys… the real and the metaphorical in parallel). But there’s not a lot to say in response to them. Most of the time, I don’t have a similar experience. I can’t often comment, except for condescending platitudes and I’m too old now to think that’s really appreciated. Maybe it needs to be said that what you give us has value… it would probably be cloying if said every time, but this is a good opening for saying it.

    But what you say gets read. And it makes an impression. And I learn things I would not have known otherwise because I lack the particular perspective you have. I like being here and hearing what you have to say and chiming in when I think it’s some kind of contribution. If I don’t, please don’t take it as a thumbs down. Just as ears engaged and mouth in repose. I can’t be the only one with too much respect for what you say to just offer you babble in response. Heh, maybe I’m not speaking only for myself after all. :)

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      What a generous and thoughtful thing to say, LP. Thank you so much. I always kind of figured that most of my personal stories ended up kind of that way: reaching some, but what to say in response?

      Reply
  3. Moni Avatar
    Moni

    I totally and completely understand. I have the same experience. I often pour out my heart and soul and I get crickets. I go through phases of caring and not caring about it. I think I am in a phase where I care because I haven’t poured out my soul recently on my blog. :) In the end though, I do it for me and when people like it is extra special and I really appreciate it.

    A few years ago when I was celebrating my 10 year blogiversary I decided to hand make a zine of posts and give them away to my readers. One of the readers was someone I had never had any interaction with ever. I didn’t even know she read my blog. But she asked for one of my little books and explained that she really appreciated my blog and that it has helped her over the years. She even wrote down some of the quotes I posted in a journal! I was so touched. It just goes to show, you never know who you are reaching with your words. I love your blog and really appreciate the work you put into the posts. I don’t always get to read everything but I really enjoy it when I do. :)

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      Thanks so much Moni for saying such nice things about my work! It sounds like your blog has reached many, as well.

      Reply
  4. Christopher Smith Avatar
    Christopher Smith

    I can con-cure with LP. as I’m a bit like that I enjoy all of what you have to say and read avidly but I only feel I can comment if I can add something to the debate or story and I don’t always find it easy to put into words what I want to say. Please keep blogging and keep giving us something good to read and enjoy. I’m sure the number of reads far out-way the number of comments.

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      Thanks Christopher! You’re one of the most frequent commenters around here in case you didn’t know.

      Reply

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