Ten years ago today I started this blog. After reviewing some of my photos from earlier that fateful day, my dear friend and photography mentor Cindy Dyer told me I needed a blog. I was a little skeptical, but we sat down at a computer and she helped me to set up this blog. I could not come up with a cute or creative name, so I simply called it “Mike Powell—My journey through photography.”
My first posting was a modest one that showcased a single photo of a Blue Dasher dragonfly (Pachydiplax longipennis). In case you are curious, here is a link to that first posting that was entitled “Blue Dasher dragonfly.”
I figured that my blog would be primarily a place to display my photos. I rapidly realized, however, that I enjoyed expressing myself with my words as much as with my images. My postings are often a direct reflection of my thoughts or feelings at the very moments when I am composing the post. I do not compose them in advance, so my postings sometimes ramble around a bit, but I have found that many of my readers enjoy this conversational, stream-of-consciousness style.
According to WordPress statistics, I have done 4462 postings, with almost three hundred sixty thousand total views. I have written most of these postings myself, though occasionally I have reblogged the postings of others. My favorite subjects over the years have been insects and birds, but I have also done postings on a wide range of other topics including animals, travel, poetry, and painting.
Today it seemed appropriate to post a photo of a male Blue Dasher—the dragonfly that started it all—that I photographed yesterday at Green Spring Gardens, a local, county-run historical garden. When I was starting to get more serious about photography ten years ago, Cindy and I would often photograph flowers and insects at this garden.
I owe a special debt of gratitude to Cindy for the initial push to start this blog and for her continued encouragement and inspiration. However, I am equally indebted to so many readers who have provided thoughtful comments, support, and motivation as we have made this journey together. Thanks to all of you—I could not have done it without you.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Happy Anniversary! and many more.
Congratulations and blogging is fun. It brings us into contact with people from different parts of the world. I like your blog. I started really noticing dragonflies after seeing them in your posts. Thank you.
Congratulations! Your blog is fabulous and inspiring. 10 years is a wonderful milestone and I love that you celebrated by taking another gorgeous dragonfly picture.
Congrats! And thank you. Quite an accomplishment. 🥰
Congratulations to you, Mike.
Blue Rock Horses Frederick County, Virginia bluerockhorses.com
Congratulations for your 10 years of blogging Michael. It’s fun to follow your posting, as wel as for the info about the insects (even if they often don’t live here in Belgium) as from the photographical point of view. I think Cindy had a great idea with starting up your blog….
Up to the next 10 years now ! 🙂
Happy 10th Blogaversary, Mike! I always enjoy your pictures and commentary.
Congratulations! Mike, I enjoy your posts, your insights, photos and meditation on your shots are a blessing. Keep on.
Very nice & congratulations on 10 years of posting images on your blog! Your blog is one of my favorite blogs! We seem to have similar favorite subjects, dragonflies & Eagles among other subjects also! Thanks for all the interesting posts you have done! I look forward to reading your posts!
Congratulations!
Congratulations on ten years, Mike.
Congratulations and happy blog anniversary Mike! I am so glad I found your blog. Your beautiful photos are always a highlight of my day.
Congratulations Mike! Ten years is a wonderful achievement.. and to think I’ve only known you for half that time. Feeling really grateful for the five years I *have* known you and for all the photos, little discussions and mutual encouragement, and of course for all the COLOUR / COLOR! 😀 Big hugs!
Congratulations on your ten year milestone anniversary, Mike. Here’s to another decade of nature’s wonderful pleasures.
Congratulations Mike. I’m not sure how long I’ve been following you, but it’s been many years, and I’ve enjoyed it.
As the saying goes, time flies when we’re having fun! You not only provide terrific information about your beloved dragonflies, you have fun in the process. Here’s to another ‘dragonfly decade,’ and a lot of fun along the way.
Happy blog anniversary Mike, it has been a great journey of discovery for all of us. Hope we continue to follow each other for many more years.
Congrats Mike, what an accomplishment! Keep going!
Impressive history! And since I began reading, each issue has been impressive on its own – mix of images and perspectives and specific facts. Keep blogging!!
Well done. Your photos and reflections regularly brighten up my day. Through you I’ve seen extraordinary detail on dragonflies, and have come to appreciate them a lot more than I did previously.
Happy 10th blog anniversary, Mike. I love your blog. Your wonderful photographs have inspired me to write lots of poems. Keep the piccies coming.
Thanks so much, Tricia. One of the really benefits of a blog is that it expands my potential viewership and allows for broader cross-pollination among creators. 🙂
I love it. Keep it going.
Congratulations on 10 years! That’s fantastic! Keep up the great work. I always enjoy both your photos and your insights.
Happy 10 Years, Mike! I’m happy to have been along for part of that ride and have enjoyed and learned more than a few things from your images and musings. I look forward to seeing what’s next 😃.
I’m glad you share your beautiful photos. Congratulations and keep blogging!
Thanks so much. Blogging has become part of my daily life and I suspect that I will keep on writing and posting photos into the foreseeable future.
Well done to my second most favorite photographer, my husband being the most favorite Ten years shows a lot of devotion to blogging and expertise in your photography! Congratulations, my friend! Sorry I am not a more regular reader.
Thanks, Molly. No need to apologize for not reading more regularly. I must confess that I post more regularly than I read all of the postings that accumulate in my reader. We all have busy lives and face daily juggling acts in deciding on what we will focus our attention.
Keep up your good work, Mike!
Judy Howland (Northfield ’61)
Thanks, Judy. I get great joy in sharing my world with others and in opening their eyes sometimes to the beauty that is all around us.
Congrats! Here’s to ten more….
Happy ten year anniversary! I’m all seriousness, due to my cancer, I truly hope to blog for that many more years! I’m glad to know you here, Mike! I enjoy your captures and your thoughts/perspective on life!