Sunshine and Olly

by Jonathan Blaustein

I used to do this all the time.

Share my words with strangers on the internet.

Seems odd, in retrospect, but I opened my private thoughts to the blogosphere for 13 years of my life. It became normal, knowing I had an audience ready to read about whatever mess I made that week. 

(Or where I traveled. What I ate. Which person I had beef with at a given moment in time.)

These days, coming up on three years since I left my weekly column at A Photo Editor, it actually takes a bit of effort to get my fingers to slide along the keyboard. 

Much of it feels like a natural maturation process, as a human. 

We get older, the ego takes up less space in the psyche, and you begin to wonder if what you have to say is all that valuable? 

Is it worth engaging in this process, for anyone but me? 








Much of this, now that I write it out on the screen, connects to the proliferation of content that’s happened since I began my blogging life back in 2009.

The shorter attention spans.

The preference for video over reading. 

So many reasons to view this little hobby as nothing more than that, despite the 13 years I got paid to write about one of my passions. (Photography)







Today’s blog is actually about muscle memory. 

I used to lecture my students on how harmful it could be to let our creativity get out of practice. 

Last year, when I got back from Poland, I had this instinct to keep my travel details, (and the pictures I made,) to myself. 

I chose not to share, and this year, (having had another amazing trip,) I’ve decided I want to do it differently.

Figure out how to break down some story bits, and photo groupings, so I can include the Sunshine and Olly audience in the adventure.

The first step, I decided, was to get back in the habit of writing here at all.

Shake off the cobwebs, as it were. 

So consider them shaken, and here’s a cool photo of the Aurora Borealis that I took on Tuesday evening.

Next week, I promise to get going on sharing bits and pieces from my brilliant, fun, informative, joyful trip to Krakow and Warsaw.

Hope all is well, wherever you are.