Ok so I haven’t been on G+ exactly a year yet but it was July 8th when I finally bagged myself an invite after watching from outside for nearly 2 weeks, desperate to get in.
My 1st (not so wise) words here were… Ok so I got in… Now what?
Now What?!… Wow what a ride its been!
Aside from the advancements in my work encouraged by the many many people that have supported me and given me the confidence in my work that was certainly not there a year ago. If only the confidence in real world environments were there… but I digress.
The amazing thing about G+ is the people that are part of it. I can now claim to have true friends spread throughout the world – not bad for a guy who lives in a village of 65 people and last left the country 17 years ago…
I don’t remember much detail about the initial weeks on Google+, apart from +Colby Brown was a true leader and showed us the ways to use this platform and make it a pleasant place for all.
Fast forward to December and things took off and have never been the same since. +Andy Stuart, who I knew IRL, “held my hand” as I tested Hangouts – I’ve not looked back since. After stumbling into the 1st episode of Midweek Photo Talk hosted by +André Appel and +Rogier Rood (unfortunately we haven’t done one for months now..) I was addicted to hangouts!
Working from, or stuck at home, it wasn’t long until we started hanging out daily whilst we all worked away and our little gang formed. Spending my days with “colleagues” made the long lonely days of self employment disappear. So I thank you +André Appel +helen sotiriadis +mark helm +suzanne clements +Kev Isabeth +John Butterill and of course +Don Noll for keeping me sane and entertained since Christmas. Our gang is of course much bigger than these few names and if I went further I’d only forget someone and they’d get upset, but you all contribute so much I can’t imagine life without seeing you all at least once a week!
Being one for late-ish nights there is another group of hanger-outerers! The lovely ladies +Elizabeth Lund +Kellianne Hutchinson +Katie Wright +Mary Sass Clark my birthday buddy +Wes Lum and the always entertaining +Boris Gorelik. Thank you all for ruining my sleep pattern and keep me up waay too late! 
Highlights have been mainly in giving back to the community and seeing the good will and interaction here. Many of us submitted for the +Plus One Collection which benefited KIVA, submitted images for +Lee Daniels and being there when the idea for +Virtual Photo Walks™ which helps many see what they never could have, was being born (John says my post about the impromptu walk sparked the idea) was brilliant!
Recently I took part in +Chrysta Rae‘s Scavenger Hunt (May) and it was amazing – can’t wait to do more!
One thing that would make Google+ even better… I wish there was no such thing as time zones! It feels like so much cool stuff happens at 4am my time and there are many people I’d love to hangout with that just aren’t around whilst I’m awake!
Going back to photography, Google+ has opened my eyes to many talented people I’d never heard of before (even the “big names”) who have inspired me to try shooting techniques, processing styles, subscribe to their thoughts on the art and image management, found educational resources that I had never come across etc etc. Some limited examples are…
+mark helm for getting me into macro photography.
+Joel Tjintjelaar for inspiring me to try long exposures.
+Boris Gorelik and +Vivienne Gucwa for making me want to leave the UK and see New York for myself.
+Thomas Hawk‘s images for making me realise that there is so much potential art around us, far away from the landscapes I was exclusively taking when I started out here.
+Alan Shapiro for just basically being Alan Shapiro, for the challenges he lays before us, his beautiful flowers, his willingness to give time and tips and for taking the mick out of me for being quiet in hangouts
Year One on Google+ has been astounding and has changed the way I look at so much in my life, how much will Year Two change my life? I can’t wait to find out!!
Attaching this image A Song of Fog and Castles IIbecause, whilst taking this series of images, I have simply never been as excited about photography and capturing the scene presented before me, and its all down to Google+ and the amazing people that contribute, encourage one another and have made such a difference to me and my life.
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Andy Gray
Andy is a Northumberland UK based Freelance Photographer, web and print designer. Selling images from http://photos.andrewsgray.com.
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This entry was posted on Saturday, June 30th, 2012 at 12:56 am
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Tags: Google+
Posted in: Google+, Photography, Site / Work News
awwww, sniff, you big softy!
Wonderful shot and a great read Andy!
It truly has been Andy!
+Don Noll LOL always entertaining!
Thanks +Kurt Harvey, what a great year!
Yes, what a great year
Well said +Andy Gray !
Certainly has been +Cameron Siguenza, I even stayed up long enough to meet you in a hangout a few times! Hopefully much more in the 2nd year!
D'aaaawww thanks +Andy Gray, you really must stop dominating the hangouts with all your mindless chatter
♥
Hey +Andy Gray my year on g+ was better because you were part of it. Now get over to my so I can thank you properly.
Such a great post Andy! What you've written here is in line with my experiences with G+ over the past year too. I feel like G+ has helped make the world a smaller place in a really nice way.
For me +Andy Gray - I moved from Vancouver to Santa Cruz in January 2011, the first 6 months were so busy I didn't realize how much I was missing, and how lonely I was, by being occupied with work / family / new country. When I joined G+ I began meeting people, making connections, and growing roots. I was in hangouts almost immediately. Now I know all kinds of creative types, photographers and more – and can meet up in the bay area with friends, or hangout with people around the world at any time
How cool is that! G+ made it less lonely from moving countries basically
Great write up +Andy Gray! Happy to have played a small part with your experience
Andy, sounds like you've had a busy year too! Glad to have met you and watching your photography has inspired me too. Here's to the future!
{{+Andy Gray}} Night Owls rule!
My stream is all the richer for having +Andy Gray and his clusterwaddle of puffins in it! Cheers to many more years…
…and many more clusterwaddles!
Well said andy.. g+ has been amazing for me too over the last year even if i did hide a way for a while ( bad move on my part ). I've seen so much great work on here and talked to many talented people that it has inspired me and helped my photography no end.
Its a new start for me just now (new gmail address) so im a little worried but I hope to be much more active and can only think of great things ahead for the g+ comunity as a whole.
Ditto and damn I wish I had written this first….. Well said Andy!
I agree with Kev, very well put!
Group hugs all around
I love our hangout gang and all the challenges, knowledge and inspiration all of you have brought to the table. I don't think anyone could have said it better +Andy Gray :D
Ok, maybe +suzanne clements said it better than +Kev Isabeth did… but I don't think it is a contest.
Wonderful read ! The last year was amazing to me, too. And I'm glad to have peeked in some of your hangouts.
I totally agree on the timezone issue and was always wondering how +Paul Pichugin did manage that from Australia.
I'm happy to have meet you and your hangout gang and I'm looking forward to get more acquainted to you all in the future.
Hey Andy, the good thing about timezones is that no matter what time you are up, there's something going on…more reason to try and stay up for 24hours
What a wonderful post and photograph Andy! I am honored to call you a friend and awed by your work every day and your constant chattering in the hangouts, hehe! Sorry mate for contributing to your lack of sleep:)
This is a wonderful place, so inspiring, so creative and so friendly!
I never imagined that I would make friends around the world that have enriched my life through G+! But thank goodness it has!
The time zone thing does suck . . . .
Apologies for taking so long in getting back to you all, too busy a weekend to sit at the PC all day (though with todays weather I should have!). I'm glad to hear that so many have had similar experiences here, I'm so happy G+ came along when it did as in this ruined economy, I needed the sense of purpose and camaraderie of others to lift the gloom that hangs in so many places.
+Alan Shapiro I fully intend to do a little travelling before I'm 40 and unfortunately that milestone is getting closer! So I'll see you in your town one day!
Thank you for your support Alan, its meant a lot!
+Colby Brown Keep leading us and showing what good we can do in the world – and educating us in your art.
+Sam Breach Yay for Clusterwaddles! I see you're going to be on Trey's show. Something else thats cool while I'm asleep! Damn you time zones!!! Our hangouts are always open to friends if you find yourself online while we're awake this side of the pond!
+Kev Isabeth +suzanne clements +Don Noll Group hug for our gang …will have to watch Kev's hands though! haha
+Chris Miller +Paul Monaghan So many have had the same experiences, hope to get to know you both more in "Year 2"
+Heiko Köster You are in our gang, we just don't see you much!
Paul's getting plenty of practice in for sleepless nights, before reality hits and that baby arrives!
+Mary Sass Clark +Elizabeth Lund +Wes Lum +Kellianne Hutchinson Yay for Night Owls! and thank you for entertaining me into the wee hours, its nice to belong to 2 groups of good friends here. Wes, I once got to 4am a few months back – I'm too old for all nighters now!
+Cameron Siguenza Very cool that you've used G+ in a real world way to make friends. I haven't really yet addressed the real world uses yet, though I did meet the lovely +Lynda Bowyer while she was on holiday up here. "Year 2" is the year to meet more IRL
Very moody photo. I love the softness on the foreground and the choice of focus. Great work +Andy Gray
Thank you +Joel Tjintjelaar, I'm wishing I was lucky with conditions more often!