The Road Home

"There's No Place Like Home" is in reference to Kansas! This was one of many beautiful sunrise scenes I went chasing after this morning.

P.S. To my friends and followers, I just read Amy's (@amyamoeba) post http://365project.org/discuss/general/17390/want-to-get-loads-of-comments-find-out-how-here. After reading it, I thought I'd go ahead and be transparent about my 365 experience so far.

Though I am a photography addict and lover of beauty for the sake of beauty, I often get discouraged that some of the photos I'm most proud of don't make it to the PP, and only one to the TT. Yes, I know, it should be all about the love of photography, but, I can't help but get a bit discouraged at times. I've often thought, "Maybe this will be the one that makes it!"

But, perhaps I've missed the point. It has become apparent to me that several of the regular TT'ers have become "brands," for lack of a better term. We come to expect their works to appear on the TT. I think it goes beyond their obvious mastery of the craft and their artist's eye. It's also about relationship-building.

Every now and then I'll see that I've "lost" a follower and I'll wonder why. Is it that they don't care for my style? Or is it that I haven't connected with them relationally? Or maybe there are other unrelated reasons.

Anyway, for whatever it's worth, I will keep posting daily, just because I'm hooked! But if I don't comment daily, it's not because I don't care, but because I'm spread so thin. It truly takes time to be relational. I tend to comment in spurts. And I rarely check my notifications to see if someone replied to my reply. So perhaps I've missed some opportunities there.

Thanks for "listening." I do want you to know that I appreciate every comment, every fav, and every effort to be relational that's come my way. If I've ever ignored anyone, please know it's never been intentional!

So, onward and upward. I'm still learning. :) Love to you all! MWA!

[Helene]

how gorgeous!!

[Simply Amanda]

Magical. So well captured with the light and long stretch of road. A fav!

[Sharon]

Love this, it's such a beautiful image

[Kareen King]

@amandal Thanks tons for the fav, Amanda. :) Much appreciated. :)

[Kareen King]

@sharrystar Thanks so much Sharon. Much appreciated. :)

[Danette Thompson]

Take me home, country roads, to the place I belong... !!

[bkb in the city]

So beautiful

[🐞Lucy Dolittle]

Thais is such a beautiful image, fav

[Kareen King]

@bkbinthecity Thank you!

[Kareen King]

@lucypics Wow, thanks so much, Lucy! :)

[Jane Anderson]

Gorgeous and the discussion and your response were also interesting!

[Linsey]

Amazing colors!

[Cindy K]

Love this one. My experience is similar - the more I comment the more comments I get. I have fallen off on commenting lately and don't get as many. But that's OK. Still having fun with the project!

[Darinka]

Love the perspective and the little white house!Gorgeous skies as always!Your project is unique and beautiful!Just enjoy it!

[Nancy]

I love the support and feedback from others but just like you it is the photography that matters. I love your orange sunsets. Keep up the good work. Photography is like reading the choices and aesthetics should satisfy yourself first it others like that is just icing on the cake.

[~*~ Jo ~*~]

Beautifully captured

[Gena Pegg]

Really beautiful!! And a fav. I do not really know for sure how it all works, but i know that when i first started and got what I thought were a reasonable amount of favs I didn't make it to PP until I got an ACE membership well....maybe once. Then I got on PP with what I thought was a pretty low amount....??? THAT is not scientific at all of course...It is encouraging of course to have the recognition...but the lovely comments and friendship do mean much more to me. I so look forward to them. I have seen some posts with a very high number of fav's and they are not on PP...so go figure!.Love your images and so much! It takes a tremendous amount of time to comment ..I wish I could thank each person individually and always check notifications, but then it would become a full time job. I mostly want to see others photos and comment on them...and hopefully return the feeling I get when I see them commenting on my images.

[Call me Joe]

Don't be too hard on ur self - just enjoy and have fun on the project! And I totally agree w/ what Geena just said:)

[Stephanie Hargis]

Beautiful picture! I absolutely love it when I make it up in time to see the sunrise. Anyway, thanks for sharing your heart. I haven't been on here very long so have only ever had one picture make the Trending Page and nothing has ever made the Popular Page. However, it is discouraging when you know your picture is great but doesn't get noticed. I love all of your photos and have found you to be one of my absolute favorite 365er so don't be discouraged! :)

[Francoise]

Your sunsets/sunrises make me want to move to Kansas (just for that time of day, I think...) . I am relatively new to this, but am completely and utterly enjoying the fact that there are people who look at my pictures! I find that unbelievably inspiring. Plus all the amazing stuff people put up has opened my eyes to all sorts of possibilities. There just aren't enough hours in the day to do this plus work plus have family life plus go to school plus etc etc.

[Kareen King]

@francoise I really appreciate your comments, Francoise. So glad to have "met" you! Yes, this has been a very great experience overall.

[Kareen King]

@320days Wow, thanks so much Stephanie! That means so much. I appreciate your kind thoughts!

[Kareen King]

@joemuli Thanks so much, Joe. :)

[Kareen King]

@eyesmile I appreciate your input and the fav, Gena. So glad we've met!

[Kareen King]

@nanm Thanks so much for the encouragement, Nancy! Much appreciated, and glad we've met!

[Kareen King]

@my_photofun You're right, Darinka! And your catch phrase, "photo fun" says it all! :)

[Kareen King]

@cindy_k Thanks for sharing your experience, Cindy. I appreciate that!

[Kareen King]

@cejaanderson Thanks so much, Jane. :)

[Kareen King]

@ziggy77 @kiscsillag Thank you!

[Yao RL]

Thank you for your honest thought. I felt 365 commenting are always very polite. The diversity of the taste is also so different. But, it is always very rewarding to find photos that inspires. Since I am just about to reach 365 and it is time to think how to continue in a more challenging way, and less time consuming way.
By the way, I always enjoy seeing your photo.

[Denis]

A lovely capture Kareen. I can relate so much with your comments. Commenting on other shots demands a lot of time, especially when traveling. So sometimes I miss making comments on others. However, I like being where I am at the moment on 365. I like being not too involved and am enjoying other's photography as much as mine. Please keep up your sunset/sunrise shots, they are most enjoyable.

[Annie D]

oh Kareen this is the second road I have seen in my catch up today - I am crying because the journey I was so looking forward to is no longer - beautiful image

[Annie D]

what you have said in your words above has truth to it - I gave up worrying about the PP long ago - and I have never had a TT - sometimes I look at one of my images and think this is special and often it goes nowhere but mostly I do them for me so it doesn't matter - I have noticed that there are those out there who visit me regardless of whether I have visited them or not but generally you need to be out there to be noticed - just because everyones time is limited - as long as you enjoy being here regardless of whether you make the PP or TT - that is what matters

[Kareen King]

@annied Thank you so much for your thoughts, Annie. I am so sorry for your loss and imagine the grieving stage must be heart-wrenching. Thanks for your wonderful example of the importance of relationship.

[Kareen King]

@landownunder Denis, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and for your encouraging words. Much appreciated. :)

[Kareen King]

@yaorenliu Thanks so much for your lovely comments, Yao. I appreciate what you shared. :)

[carol white]

A great fiery sky,beautiful capture!! Fav!!

[Molly]

You certainly get some marvellous sunrises in Kansas. Another beautiful shot!

[Kareen King]

@carolmw Thanks so much for the fav, Carol. Much appreciated. :)

[Kareen King]

@dolphin Thanks so much, Molly. :)

[Sharon]

lovely way to start the day

[Elisabeth Sæter]

Beautiful!

[Kareen King]

@elisasaeter @sharontakade Thank you. :)

[Marnie]

This is another lovely shot of your local district Kareen, those leading lines are spot on. Fav for me. PS I read your commentary, but need time to digest and consider before replying.

[Lisa Stein]

Gorgeous shot, Kareen! Love the light and the leading line of the road.

[Kareen King]

@golftragic Thanks so much, Marnie. And I appreciate the fav. :)

[Kareen King]

@pflaume Thank you, Lisa. :)

[Julia]

Beautiful capture

[Kareen King]

@juliac Thank you, Julia. :)

[Sierra Nicole]

I love your photos! I'm surprised most of the don't make it to the PP. They deserve to!

[Lisa]

I love love love your photos. I so appreciate your commentary here. I'm now starting Year Four on 365, and occasionally make PP. I've NEVER made TT, and don't really expect to. I've slacked on commenting and have been a terrible follower for the last few months, my life is chaotic. I seriously considered leaving 365 a few weeks ago, but it's been such a great way for me to feel connected and inspired, so I'm staying. Thanks again for your commentary. And big fave here.