Changes Afoot

This blog has always been a means of near-anonymous self-expression and, at the same time, an experiment in the field of what is quite a new genre in the writing arts. Yet, it has to be said that a commercially viable blog can at the same time be a positively artistic one. That is, that without needing too much compromise with my core values as an artist, a blog that is crafted so as to receive a much, much wider audience is distinctive possibility.

What I would most like is a route to earning my living not through a salary from a job, but from royalties from my creative endeavors. Thus far, efforts in stock photography have floundered, meaning that this eluded me. The next phase is to craft such a good blog that it will attract a wide readership and it's advertising will generate substantial revenue of it's own. This advertising is a kind of revenue. Also, creative uses of my photos as forms of merchandise and posters can generate revenue.

This means that sections of this blog that are strictly personal will be marked so. Whether or not it remains accessible will be up in the air. I can aways make my commercial blog with a different account so as to avoid 'brand confusion'. I really need this creative and expressive outlet, a place online to just be myself. But I am also thinking of ways in which I can earn at least part of my living from blogging and photography, etc. It is just a question of finding the right route.

So I am now in the business of thinking what kind of blog I could make that would appeal to the greatest amount of people and, at the same time, whilst being entertaining, provide the greatest amount of good. I am coming around to the realisation that authentic wealth is a reward for authentic contributions of goodness. The various economic theories or cynical attempts to manipulate the world pale into insignificance compared to this understanding. It is the gateway to great wealth and happiness and a way by which they are not at all exclusive.

Yet, even beyond this, such wealth as we may have is but the shadow of heavenly treasure. Even if I do become rich, it is still better to focus on the riches of heaven than those of the Earth. You are where your heart is and no true satisfaction lies in the merely Earthly. In this sense, the 'monastically' (happily) poor are blessed, as they have less distractions from the heavenly. Anyone who has spent some time in India can see that there is more than a little truth in this, whatever the injustices that accompany poverty be. Happiness is all and happiness set in the things of heaven the best.

But, people are not directly interested in such things, except that they be lead to experience them. I think that digital photography is quite a democratic route to this, as it can help anyone to appreciate beauty and true reality better just be reflecting on what is around them- especially through macro photography. I am in a sense helping God lead people towards heaven, towards the promise of eternal life and salvation. What could be better than that?