I’m making it a tradition that on my blog’s anniversary I ask you — especially those of you who seldom or never comment — to delurk and chime in.
How did you find my blog? (Do you even remember?)
What do you enjoy most about my blog?
What kinds of posts are you most likely to skip over?
It’s a rich reward to me to hear from you in the comments anytime, but especially on this day as I think back over the blogging years gone by.
I like the Michigan and National Road discussion
More of that to come!!
Still here and still reading. I enjoy the photography post the most , but I also enjoy your photo’s in other post not directly related to photography.
You may well be my longest-tenured commenter. Thanks Christopher!
Hello Jim Grey. I am Tony Gomez from Spring, Tx. Was browsing net for info on film cameras and film when I discovered blog. I have enjoyed reading your posts regarding events in your life such as relationship between you and your father and other hard times and good times in your life. You are good at expressing your feelings about such things in a way we can all relate to easily. I have been up to some part of areas you describe earlier in my life (a troop train from Ft. Gordon to Chicago then to Oakland, Ca.). Have enjoyed reading about and looking at photos posted.
I’m very happy my personal posts resonate with you. I try hard to tell my stories in ways that seem universal, and connect with everyone.
Awww, you already know all about me. Ok. I have something in my blog’s pipeline you should really like about an incredibly obscure old record, some of which you’ve heard many times but had no idea.
You know I look forward to that!
I found your blog when I was searching for a photo of a hostel in former East Germany, early 80’s. You wrote about your experience in former East Berlin in 1984. Very similar to my own experience when visiting.
I have been reading and enjoying the ones with photos of historic roads, old homes, old cars, landmarks etc. a lot. The ones about your personal life: please continue. Photo equipment: I read some, I love the photos made with film rolls that are years past their expiration date. Some of the photos are astonishingly good! Who knew?
All in all: you clearly enjoy the things you blog about. And I love to read. Shall we continue this way?
Shirley, es macht mich froh that you found me that way! I’m so happy you stayed, and that most of my topics are pleasing to you. Let’s do continue!
It would have been some camera I was looking for a review on, that led me to your site. It was your stories that kept me coming back.
Awesome! Thank you for delurking and I’m happy you like my stories!
I know I chime in once and awhile. I think I found your blog from a camera review. Since as I am looking for new cameras I search around for real world reviews. I enjoy your photography and the write ups on the equipment you use. I also like the little nuggets of insight into your life. The historical road stuff, is interesting but not personally my favorite.
Congrats on your blogiversary! I found you recently, I think because you commented somewhere else (maybe Penelope Trunk?) and then I checked you out. I’m not a photographer but do take lots of photos. Your photos and commentary are interesting. Thanks for continuing to post. Cheers, Alane
Hi Jim, Ted Shideler here. I may have commented once or twice and have messaged you before about old cameras. I think I discovered this biog from CC or from JP Cavanaugh’s blog and have read faithfully, probably every day, for the past year or two. My favorite posts tend to be about road trips, old alignments, and sights along the way. A close second are the more personal/family posts, which resonate with me as well. Keep up the great work!
James, I found your blog searching for my family tree info. I especially like the pictures of old roads, bridges and buildings and of your early struggles in life. I do not skip over any of your posts. I responded to a couple of your posts and felt like I wasted my time after reading your response- maybe it was just a bad day for me. You will never again hear from me- except this time. Bob Smith
Bob, it genuinely saddens me that your experience with me in the comments was disappointing. I respond to nearly every comment I receive but perhaps I was rushed on the ones you’ve left in the past. I thank you for hanging in as a reader.
Hmm, well as you know I arrived here via CC, and unlike most internet friends I have actually met you and Margaret in person.
I come here for a sip from the fountain of life knowledge. This is probably the only blog I know of where the writer responds to each and every comment. Most impressive.
Happy anniversary, how many years now?
Yes! I think we met before you came over to the blog.
I do work hard to respond to (nearly) every comment. It’s something I purposed to do from the beginning and I’ve always held to it.
Hi Jim, I found your blog a few years ago searching websites about old roads. Fell in love with your articles and pics about those many roads. I am not much into photography other than a point and shoot and a cell phone but really enjoy reading about your photographic journey, mostly the photos but the cameras too.
CONGRATULATIONS on your anniversary, and thank you for all the stories about your life experiences
Happy the old roads led you here! Thanks for being along for the ride.
Hi Jim, I’m sure you know by my feedback that I enjoy your blog. I like that I am getting to know you as a person as well as seeing your photos. I love the architecture and tours and all that you find on your travels. I like your life stories along with the photos. I skip the ones about cameras as this doesn’t interest me with the photography I do, which is with one camera and very basic
Thanks Susan — fortunately the camera posts are only a small portion of what I do here!
Jim, I don’t mind if a lot of your posts are cameras etc because I know that interests you. I am more than satisfied with the offerings of yours that I enjoy. I love that you take the time to comment back as that makes it all the more special for me
I have no recollection of how I found your blog. I read because my mother loves photography and I am often her test subject for some new toy. I also read because your posts take me back to Indiana and some familiar places as well as a few I have never seen. Loved your trip to Chicago, I was downtown today in miserable weather and horrible traffic. Keep doing what you are doing and I will keep stopping by. 😊
I’m always happy to see you pop up in the comments. Thanks for letting me know what you like best here!
Hi Jim–I’m a retired public-radio producer (classical music) who shares a household with a hardcore gearhead. But I was the one who discovered Curbside Classics, and that’s where I first read your writing. I followed the links to your blog. The photos of old houses and old towns fascinate me, and I look at them in the same spirit with which I watch HGTV: I have no gift for design or color, and I so admire people who do (I can’t even choose paint). Same goes for photography. I don’t know one end of a camera from another, so the posts about cameras I mostly skip. But give me a car story or a photo of an abandoned building, and you’ve got my interest.
Well, fortunately I’m always photographing old buildings and old cars! Thanks for coming over from CC.
Hi Jim – Greetings from Invercargill – the home of the world’s fastest Indian in the deep south of New Zealand. I stumbled, via Google as I recall, across your blog some time ago while looking for inspiration for my own personal photoblog. I was immediately captivated by the amazing atmospheres you appear to be able to capture, and convery, in your images – especially the black and white ones. The way you make bridges and roads interesting is fantastic. Keep up the good work.
Regards Rick
Thanks for reading from halfway round the world! I’m happy you enjoy my work, especially that you also like the old-road stuff. I try hard to photograph those subjects in ways that are interesting to my photography readers.
Hi Jim, I found you (I think) on a site giving recommended reading for film photography. I would not continue to follow along if I did not find the blog enjoyable. I like seeing a different part of America through your lens, and enjoy your putting yourself out there in good and bad times. I read the camera reviews from time to time more for the imagery than anything else. What I have learned from using old cameras of any sort is a) they are old b) the good ones are built to last; c) the lesser ones will probably break or are already broken! Keep up the great work and I trust you are enjoying your new professional opportunity. L
I definitely put myself out there. I’m always gratified when people connect with my personal posts. Thanks for being along for the ride.
Hi Jim,
I’m here (from the U.K.) primarily because you were my Emulsive Secret Santa last year, and a very kind Santa too, I might add. That aside, I’ve enjoyed reading your blog posts, even the ones about old roads!
I enjoyed your book BTW and, fingers crossed, I’ll be taking the Retina for an outing this weekend for the first time. I’ve a roll of Fomapan in there at present, although I might’ve lost a few frames due to my noobie skills at loading the camera. :)
All the best,
Nige
I’m happy you came over to the blog! I’m also very happy you enjoyed all the things I sent you. Good luck with the Retina!
Happy Anniversary!
Yeah, I’m one of those people you mention, although I’ve tried to do better as this is maybe my 3rd comment!
My typical morning is up at 6 and get the boy eating his oats by 6:15. Then in the recliner with a big brown retriever at my feet, a cuppa tea, and waiting for the school bus while checking on the adventures of Jim Grey. Maybe a brief chat with the wife before she leaves for school. So, you’re one of the first 4 people I see when I start my day. You’re practically family now!
I think I found your blog by doing a google search of film blogs. Now I do 35hunter, 35mmc, Casual Photofile, and the Fog Dog on a daily basis.
I like the Michigan road stuff. I’m kind of a history and geography buff, so learning about any place I’ve never been is always interesting to me. And the herd thinning is good too.
I don’t purposely skip over any posts, though I sometimes don’t get around to the weekend recommended reading posts because we’re usually busy with swim meets or scouting activities.
I’m always a little blown away when I’m one of a tiny handful of blogs someone reads. There are so many choices out there! But I’m grateful to you. Don’t feel guilted by my calling out the lurkers today. There’s no requirement to comment.
I started with the cars and cameras, but I also share your interest in roads and architecture, so it’s all interesting.
I don’t remember exactly when I started reading, but it I think it was after the CC meet up in Auburn.
A lot of CCers came over after that. Thanks for being here!
I don’t remember how I found your blog, Jim. I think it was two or three years ago. I read it faithfully, because I’m interested in most of the things you’re interested in, and you write about them very well.
I still think you’re the right man to do a “Backroads and Byways of Indiana” book. You could put half the book together from your old blog posts. If you ever decide you want to take the plunge, let me know and I’ll put you in touch with my editor.
At the rate I’m going Dave I might have time for a project like that book after I retire — in no less than 15 years! I’d love to do more books, though.
I found your blog when I had a vintage Kodak camera (a Pony in a brown leather case) that needed a new home. I was living in Alaska at the time, but planning to move. I mailed it to you and you took some pictures with it and wrote about the results. If I remember correctly you had the same model already but it had some light leaking in and you found that mine did not have that problem.
I read all of your posts but I have not commented in a few years because it seems that a lot of times other people usually comment some or all of what I was thinking and would have said :)
I enjoy your sense of humor and ability to lay bare things that are affecting your life in ways good or bad. You are not afraid to let us in and that makes us (or me) feel like I know you even though we haven’t met. I am most likely to skim through or pass over technical info about film or cameras. Your knowledge in these areas is impressive but not of use to me personally. My favorite parts are the photos, especially the old buildings and bridges. I was in the Indianapolis/Zionsville area for a few months in 2015 and enjoy your pictures of places that I saw while I was there. My husband was working on gas pipelines in the area and I had full days to ramble and explore.
That Kodak Pony, Model C, you sent me is a keeper. I’ve shot the original Pony, a Pony Model B, and your Model C and your Model C is the best of them. Its lens is a little wider than the other two, which makes it more versatile. I remain grateful to you for sending it!
I found your blog searching for camera reviews which camera
I do not remember. I especially like your posts featuring Purdue and West Lafayette since I’m also a Boiler parent. I would like to do one of the road trips you have described in your posts if I can convince my wife to join me. Keep up your great work I read it all.
I thought for a long time that people searching for cameras came here, found what they wanted, and never came back — but people like you keep disproving that theory!
Jim, I was googling reviews for my Nikon F2 when I came upon your blog. I stayed because of your wide variety of subjects, and your frankness, which is a rare commodity these days.
Yeah, maybe my first name should have been Frank! :-) Thanks for being along for this ride for so many years.
came across your facebook comment. I have my parents’ old Hi-matic 7s.
Thanks for chiming in! Enjoy the 7s.
Happy anniversary, Jim! I was brand-new to WordPress when I stumbled across your post titled, “This cup is already broken.” It was so beautifully written, so insightful, so rich and personal, that by the end I felt as if I’d known you for ages. It was an inspiration, too — my template for what blogging should be about. And the wonderful thing is that all these years later you continue to teach and inspire me! As you clearly do so many of your other readers, too …
I will rerun that post — it’s been a long time. I like that one a lot, too.
I’m so happy you’re here. You’re such an excellent encourager!
Congrats on 12 years! I started a blog about that long ago – I think it has 3 entries 😜
I found this blog shortly after I got sucked into the world of vintage cameras. I don’t remember the camera I was researching – possibly the Argus C3 – but I found your site and enjoyed not just the camera pieces, but the roadtrips and the celebration of small towns and the old things that are slowly disappearing.
Keep it up – it’s all been great!
Kevin, I’m gratified that you came here on a research mission and stayed because you found everything else to be interesting. Thank you!
I started reading your blog when I got back in to photography a few years ago (I don’t remember how I came across it). It prompted me to start my own blog, which you kindly commented on, before accepting that blogging is not for me (I do not enjoy writing).
But I so enjoy reading and learning of other’s adventures in the creative arts; your blog being a wonderful example of an interesting voice paired with engaging images.
Your blog is part of my Sunday routine and I read all of the posts, and many of the comments, from the week. I enjoy learning about all things photography, even if it doesn’t pertain to my particular focus.
Reading (and rarely commenting on) blogs plus a Flickr account is the extent of my social media presence, so a big thank you for your online presence.
Happy Anniversary and keep up the great work!
I’m happy to know you’re out there, and that I’m part of your Sunday ritual. Thank you for saying nice things about my writing!
Can’t remember.
Some nice pictures of things that I haven’t seen with just about the right amount of words.
Too much text.
Nice blog, by the way.
Heh, I’ll try to tone down the long posts! Thanks for following along.
How did you find my blog? (Do you even remember?):
What do you enjoy most about my blog?: I’ve enjoyed the travel down old lost roads (since I am from nearby); ‘Thinning the Herd’; recommendations on who to read.
What kinds of posts are you most likely to skip over?: I try to take a look at most postings. nothing in particular that I skip over.
Nice to see you ’round these parts again! I’m happy you enjoy my old-roads posts.
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