I used to publish a substantial amount of photography on my blog, especially in Wordless Wednesday posts, and then it all ceased!
I couldn’t help but notice how they generated little to no engagement. I felt somewhat disheartened by this apparent lack of interest in my photography. After all, how can you respond week after week to the same ‘Great shot’ comments, other than with a ‘Thank you?’ It almost seems as if people are just going through the motions with those kinds of comments without truly engaging with the content.
Can a photography blog post generate meaningful engagement?
It’s something I wasn’t entirely convinced about. I only had to look around the blogosphere and see the same ‘Great photo’ comments on photography posts.
However, some photo challenges seem to spark discussion and engagement, although you’ll sometimes have to sift through the ‘Nice shot’ types of comments. Nevertheless, as I’ve discovered, hosting any kind of blog challenge is hard work, so it’s always a shame when people drop links or short comments and run without recognising the effort the host has put into creating the post. Some of those hosts must feel disheartened when it happens, but the thoughtful and engaging comments they get must make all the difference.
I love photography, so why don’t I showcase mine?
After realising I was missing out on sharing my photography and not wanting to create my own photography challenge, I decided to publish a monthly photography post showcasing four photographs I’ve never featured on my blog before.
Not only that, but at the end of each post, I will display the photos in a separate WordPress photo Gallery block and give a brief explanation of that block’s features.
So, here we go. I’m excited to share with you four never-before-seen photos that I’m delighted to finally unveil on my blog!
1. How old is this tree?
What initially caught my eye in this shot were those colourful buildings in the background. But the fallen tree had me asking many more questions.
Can you actually determine a tree’s age by counting the rings in its trunk? Well, this tree got a bit overzealous during a storm and decided to take a nap across a footpath! It turned into the ultimate footpath block, leading to some unfortunate lumberjack shenanigans where it had to be chopped into manageable pieces.
Not only did I ponder the ancient age of this tree—seriously, is it older than me?—but I also found myself wondering about the brave soul who planted it and how many people have swung from its branches or taken leisurely naps beneath its leafy embrace. The rings? Oh, they’ve got secrets, but counting them seemed as feasible as getting my two dogs to sit still long enough for a family photo.
Today, the chunks of trunk are still hanging around, serving as a posh Airbnb for wildlife that need a place to kick back and relax. I’m thrilled parts of it are still there because this tree has decided to become the ultimate retirement home for other species.
2. Do you know this bear?
This cheeky face practically yanked a grin out of me when it halted my stroll. I simply had to snap a photo—who could resist it? There it was, perched impossibly high, making me ponder not just how it got there, but also who the previous owner was. Was it a child’s hat, a brave toy that escaped the toy box, or maybe even a rogue UFO pilot’s accessory? Hey, a guy can dream about flying a UFO dressed as a Bear, can’t he!?
A few days later, the bear was gone. Someone had either claimed it or rehomed it, although my darker, more creative mind was also insisting that it had fallen off the wall and was now trapped behind it (was that a call for help I could hear?).
Whatever had happened to this smiling bear, I was thankful for the joy it had not only given me when I spotted it, but also for the smiles it must have brought to others who had seen it on their journeys. I hope it was reunited with its owner.
3. Does this sign give you mixed emotions?
This sign will probably evoke mixed feelings. After all, that first line isn’t pleasant, is it? It evoked a vision of a horror story and film by one of my favourite authors, Stephen King. However, the bottom part of this sign brought to mind a beautiful, tranquil place that could be the name of a location you’d find in a children’s book.
I wondered why there was not a separate sign for the dogs’ graves. After all, who would want to visit a dog’s graveyard, apart from maybe pet owners who had buried their beloved pets there? Bluebell Wood, on the other hand, sounded like a lovely place for a walk, especially during bluebell season in May. I pictured myself sitting in Bluebell Wood, forest-bathing, while recharging my body and mind.
Later, I discovered that the gardens, where the photo was taken, were purchased by William Graham Vivian in 1860, when he acquired Clyne Castle, a nearby dwelling, and began creating the surrounding landscape gardens. He died in 1912, and the many dogs buried in the graveyard were his pet dogs. So, there’s the answer to why the dogs’ graveyard is on the sign.
4. Do you know this dog?
Talking of dogs, the chap in the above photo turned 14 last month.
For those of you who haven’t read my ‘About‘ page, this is Toby, the older of the two Welsh Cardigan Corgis my partner and I own. I still recall the day we collected him and how, from the moment we met him, our lives took a new turn. It’s one of the best days of our lives.
Toby is a photography subject, like me, in that he usually moves when a picture is taken. However, on this particular day, his 14th birthday, he posed for the camera, and I was thrilled with the result.
Toby’s hobbies include sleeping, walking, and meeting his mates on the beach. He also enjoys having a mad 10 minutes after dinner, when I have to chase him (very slowly) around the dining table while carrying his favourite toy in his mouth. Additionally, he likes to believe he’s in charge of the household.
When I first started blogging in 2013, Toby was a prominent feature on my blog, but over the years, he hasn’t been as interested in appearing. However, he has recently garnered considerable attention on Bluesky, where some of his photos have been shared hundreds of times and generated a lot of engagement. It’s a rare occurrence that he appears on my blog, and I’m very grateful that he agreed to let me share his photo.
The Gallery Block
The first WordPress gallery I am displaying and featuring is the ‘Gallery‘ block. Here are my four photos.
The Gallery block is a straightforward photo gallery that lets you drag and rearrange images to display them in any way you prefer. It’s a useful gallery, and I notice it being used more frequently than any of the other image blocks provided by WordPress.
Notice how the captions I’ve added to my photos appear at the bottom of each one. You don’t need to add captions to photos, but they are a great way to boost engagement from visitors, especially when asking a question.
To find the ‘Gallery‘ block, search for ‘Gallery‘ under the ‘Blocks‘ tab when drafting a post.
Click the following link for more information about the Gallery Block.
How to make a photographer’s day.
Next time you leave a comment on a photography post, instead of simply saying ‘Great photo,’ explain what it was about the picture that made you think it was great. Was it the subject, the lighting, the scenery, the angle it was taken from, or the emotion it evoked when you saw it? It only needs to be a few lines, but they will appreciate the feedback much more than when all you say time after time is that it’s a great photo.
How do you usually engage with photography posts? What encourages you to leave a comment other than saying, ‘These are nice photos.’ Are you a photography blogger? If so, does engagement on your posts matter to you?
The featured image in this blog post is taken from Pixabay. AI checked spelling and grammar mistakes.
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Toby is so darn cute! I am a sucker for dogs though. I just love dogs! I’m delighted he made an appearance on your blog again, maybe next year he’ll appear more on the blog!
Thank you, Carol Anne. He sure knows he rules in our house. I mean, just look at that face. It says it all.
He may do another guest appearance, but who knows when?
I’m so glad you’re still posting photos, Hugh and Toby looks fabulous. I hope the bear was reunited with his owner. I’ve only ever been to one pet cemetery and I found it very moving.
Yes, I wanted to continue posting my photos, Cathy. However, I won’t be doing any more Wordless Wednesday posts. I should have taken the hint of what the word ‘Wordless’ means.
I’ve never seen a pet cemetery, but I can understand how moving it must be to visit one.
Yes, I enjoy photo blogs a lot but am often not sure how to comment. Neat phot/great picture gets tiresome but I want to say something that I was there/appreciate what you did. All the same, please keep posting photos as I like them.
Oh, I will. And don’t forget that simply clicking the ‘like’ button to express your enjoyment of the photos is better than leaving those short, spammy, non-engaging comments. Never feel obliged to leave a comment.
I liked your analysis of the tree, and then picking out the out of focus colorful building in the background. It added depth… 🤣😎🙃
Interesting comments on some even motre interesting shots. 🤣😎🙃
Which of the comments did you find interesting and why? I’d love to know.
These are wonderful photos that you took, Hugh. Each one framed to illustrate a perspective and drawing our eyes to the subject. Glad you decided to share them – and hopefully, share more of your photography. I read with a lot of wonder at the way you described the bear hat. You never know how it got there – could be someone left it behind or someone from another world leaving it behind. Like you, I like to imagine. For me I don’t consider myself a professional photographer but someone who likes photography, which I think is like many average folk. I’ve found my blog a great place to share my photos. I find it fun finding photos that I’ve taken and seeing which will go together with posts I’ve written.
Photo challenges are one of the wonderful things about WordPress. It really does look like hard work – defining the theme of each week, explaining to everyone and creating something that brings people together. I too wonder about ‘Great photo’ or ‘Nice shot’ comments. Maybe they really mean it. But sometimes I feel it doesn’t add much to engaging with the challenge or theme.
Those are what I call ‘dead-end’ comments, Mabel. You can’t say much other than a ‘Thank you’ to them. That’s the end of the discussion – you find yourself in that dead-end. When I see numerous comments like that on a post, it makes the post (and the blog) look very spammy. I know people say they don’t have the time to begin a discussion, but it makes me wonder why they leave those spammy comments instead. However, that’s a discussion for another day, which I’ll address in a new post.
It’s great to hear that you enjoy using your photography in your blog posts. It’s a great way to stay safe, in that nobody can claim you have used copyrighted material. I try to use my own photos and images whenever possible. I’m in the process of removing the majority of free-to-download images from my blog, as I don’t want to receive unwanted scammer emails claiming ownership of the images. It’s a scam that has recently come to my attention.
Continue to use your own photography and continue to enjoy the art of photography. It’s an excellent way to get out into the real world and away from computers.
That would be a great topic for a post, short comments on blog posts. It sounds like a fun project replacing images with your own on your blog. I was never comfortable having images that were not my own on my blog. Though sometimes it can be hard deciding on finding photos of mine to post, that’s part of the fun.
Keep enjoying getting out there and taking photos, Hugh :)
Toby looks fabulous. Happy birthday. We are so lucky to have them for however long they live. You obviously take very good care of him! I noticed the bright yellow spot in the tree picture, too, but I loved the blurred background. Trees live a long time after they die hosting homes for many creatures. I like a clean look, but there are places where tree stubs and detritus have their own beauty. Fun post, and a great idea for a challenge.
My iPhone now has many new features to use when taking photos. When I took the picture of the tree, I think I used the Portrait setting, which is why the background appears blurred.
I’m glad you like this new way for me to display my photos. I didn’t write the post with the thought of making it a challenge, but I’m always delighted if anyone joins in.
Thank you for your comment.
What a fantastic set of moments you found, Hugh. It reminded me to keep my lens open, because you never know when something ordinary becomes unforgettable. Thanks for sharing such inspiring work, mate.
I often forget to take my phone with me (which I take all my pictures on). But on these occasions, I was lucky to have it with me.
Yes, there is a lack of meaningful engagement with many photography posts. You have a clever idea here, sharing these never-seen-before photos, then adding a tutorial at the end. 👌 I have written many photo essays (Terri’s and other challenges, concert pictorials, travelogues, etc.) and always try to add iinteresting info and/or music in addition to the pictures.
Happy Belated Birthday to Toby! 🎉 He looks marvellous. 😀
Thank you, Debbie. I will pass on your birthday wishes to Toby.
Yes, I agree. Photography posts with additional content tend to receive significantly better engagement than those with just a photo. I think it’s the way to go when it comes to sharing our photos.
You’re welcome, Hugh! :) Sorry, I forgot to add I enjoyed all of your new photos as well (it was a late night comment 😴 ).
Interesting question about the age of the tree! I have seen stumps used as decor in many yards. We turned one of ours into a plant stand, until it keeled over.
The bear head was a cheery sight. :D Too bad it’s gone now, and so the mystery deepens…
Definitely mixed emotions about the sign, but once you explained it, it made more sense. Bluebell Wood must be a lovely place…
Toby is so photogenic, and looks young for his age. May you have many more happy days/months/years together! 💞
I love the idea of fallen trees being used for both making new stuff and as a home for wildlife, Debbie. Someone else mentioned that they know someone who turned a fallen tree into furniture, which was then sold for charity.
I never did find Bluebell wood, but it may be visible during Bluebell season in the spring. We are fortunate in that we have many wild bluebells, although the Spanish variety has taken over the British ones, but there are plenty of both.
If you’d seen Toby running around on the beach this morning, you’d never have guessed that it turned 14 last month.
I like your idea about sharing your photos. An except reflecting what the photo is about adds meaning, plus I enjoy how your personality shines in your content. I follow very few photography blogs, but those that I enjoy add interesting tidbits or quotes to compliment their photos. Terri’s Second Wind Leisure blog is a perfect example. I try to engage, noting enjoyable specifics about photos.
Happy birthday to Toby, and I can’t believe he is 14 years old.
Neither can I, Eugi. For his age, he still sometimes thinks he’s a teenager, but it’s lovely to see. I wonder what his secret is?
I’ve followed Terri’s blog for many years. Her photography is fantastic, and she’s the perfect host for Sunday Stills.
I think some animals, like some humans, age better than others.
I can hardly believe Toby is 14! He looks years younger. A tribute to how well you and your partner have cared for him.
Tree rings not only tell you the age of the tree, but also what the weather was like in a particular year. If ghe ring is wide, the weather was good– at least for growing– but narrow rings indicate a poor weather year.
And I love the bear. Let’s hope he found his way home.
BTW. I left a review of Glimpses on Amazon and Goodreads. It’ll appear on my blog (http://aspholessaria.co.uk) next Tuesday.
Hi V.M, Toby does a lot of looking after us, too. He’s always given plenty of loyalty and love to us, although he’s never been the type of dog that likes cuddles (unlike our other dog).
Thank you for the extra information about rings on a tree. I had no idea that they also revealed what the weather was like during a particular year of their life. That’s such interesting information.
And a big thank you for reading and leaving a review for Glimpses, my first short story and flash fiction collection. Reviews are like receiving engaging comments. They make all the difference.
They do, indeed, Hugh.