Fotoblog of the year
My blog in Dutch was nominated for the site of the year contest organised by the Flemish internet/pc magazine Clickx. I never expected it, but we won!
Photo by Pieter Baert
I really want to thank everyone that voted for my site. This is also a good time to thank some people who had a huge influence on my blogs. My friends and family have been so supporting when I decided to go pro. They also were the first readers of my blog and encouraged me to go on despite the fact that they (and I) didn’t really understand what I was trying to do.
Some leading bloggers gave attention to my blog and gave me lots of good web 2.0 advice (like Pieter Baert in Belgium and David Hobby in the rest of the galaxy) And than there are my clients who don’t mind me putting their pics up for the world to see. Without there goodwill, there wouldn’t be much to see here.
De most important but least visible (at least for you) influence comes from my fantastic wife. She was the one that convinced me to go to the awards, advised me to wear a shirt and ironed my good trousers. But she’s also the primary reason why I am able to combine a busy job with a family life and blogging. Her trust and support is what I do makes me feel safe. Thanks honey!
And than there is you. Your comments, mails and calls are what turns this blog into something interactive. I learn a lot from you and you give me the motivation to go on.
Photo by Charles Strijd (from another award winning blog: Gent Blogt)
My surprise about winning was nothing compared to what I felt when they’ve put a microphone under my nose to answer something like “aren’t you afraid to give away all your techniques and tricks to the competition. I really can’t remember what I answered, but it should have been:
No, I’m not afraid to loose jobs to the competition although I have been at one time. Off course I’ll loose an assignment to another photographer form time to time. I even refer people to other photographer if I’m not qualified, available (or interested) in a particular assignment. But I have enough faith in my vision on photography and creativity to believe that there are enough potential clients out there for me.
And then there are those fellow photographers who refer to me too and blogging gets my name around a little. My blogs have put me into contact with a number of photographers that I deeply appreciate, some even became good friends.
Finally I believe that blogging makes me a better photographer. I often do things intuitively and by writing it down I get a better understanding of photography. It also stimulates me to try out new things and make personal work. Your feedback is also very important to me.
The next few weeks will be pretty slow on this blog because of my well stuffed schedule but I have tons of new ideas for this blog for 2008.
Congratulations again, Bert!
This morning I was doubting sending an e-mail to David Hobby to inform him about you winning “the Flamisch Nobel Price Winner for Photography Tutoring” Only joking (about the last part anyway).
But honestly, my photography wouldn’t be the same without your advice. So…thank you!
Congratulations! You have a very good site and I enjoy looking around. Here’s to another great year!
Hi Bert,
congratulations. Well deserved if it is anything like your english blog
Cheers,
Mariano
Hi Bert,
Just took another look at your blog and noticed you won this prize. well done, well deserved recognition!
All the best,
Neal.
Bert,
congratulations on the achievement and best wises for the future.
Rui
Congratulations! Keep up the good work.
CONGRATS BERT.
I just recently started following your work, and I must admit that your methods put mine to shame. Would be awesome to shadow you while you work with the camera.
-P
congrats!
I don’t know your dutch site, and I don’t speak dutch. But I like your english site and have already learned a lot from you. Especially from the videos.
Just wanted to say “Thanks!”
Thanks a lot boys and girls.
Gelukwensen! (I hope that says Congratulations!)
That’s for your inspiration and hard work. It seems to me the award is well deserved.
Congrats, Bert!!! Thanks for all I learn from you
Congratulations! You really deserve it.
Thanks
@mike: it actually means “lady with big boobs”. Just kidding, it’s right
Gefeliciteerd Bert!
Loved your video with the gasmask. I visit your site every week.
Greetings,
Sander
Gelukwensen, Congratulations, Felicidades o Lady with big boobs Bert!.
Always the good work comes up with the recognition of the community.
Keep up with it and I’ll see you in 2008.
All the best,
Marcos
Thanks Sander and Marcos
Hello Bert.
First of all, congratulations for the prize.
Second. I Usualy see and use some techniques you describe in your blog and your videos. I’m a novice and i have lots to learn.
One thing i do apreciate is than you share your knolege to all of us novices, not only with words but visual, and i believe i talk from everyone that, that is the best way to transmite your knolege.
Keep the good work and your good post/videos.
By the way i’m from Portugal.
PEACE
[...] on your blog, you will gain skills that can be transferred across a wide variety of disciplines. Blogging makes Bert a better photographer. Blogging makes Ginger a better real estate agent. Blogging makes lutherpunk better at lots of [...]
[...] terrible picture of Pieter and he accuses me of finding pleasure in putting it on display for a huge audience. But honestly, all I do is trying to make him look [...]
[...] Last year I won the award much to my own surprise. [...]