Ever since I started using Flickr, I’ve discovered there are some very talented people out there. I knew this was probably true, but I didn’t know how many there really were. I’m always amazed at the quality of photos I find just by poking around a little. I’ve also started to explore the blog finding features in technorati lately and have come across a number of blogs that I thought shouldn’t go unnoticed.

Today I’d like to highlight four in particular that have something significant to offer. I’ve had the privilege to email all four and have provided a small quote from them regarding the purpose of their blogs.

• Snapshot Gratitute
  “Snapshot Gratitude is a daily journal celebrating the abundance of blessings in the life of myself and my family. This gratitude accounting
  system grew out of a desire to ease the blues, as well as a need to feel worthy of the new camera I received as a Christmas gift. Hopefully, it inspires readers and viewers to see their own blessings, from the mundane to the extraordinary.” – Elisabeth

I really appreciate people with the gift to artistically document everyday life. To often I’m in such a rush to get everything done, I fail to look around and see the beauty that surrounds me. Elisabeth not only takes the time to get these daily shots, she does so very well. I find myself looking at her photos a little longer than most as I find them almost familiar.

• PhotoDude.com
  “PhotoDude.com was launched a decade ago as a “portfolio site” for advertising photography, but over time it has evolved into a creative playground, and perhaps my favorite “canvas.” Since I was a kid, I’ve always required a creative outlet, something done purely for my own enjoyment. PhotoDude.com has become that, while the “portfolio” has moved to ReidStott.com. Photos of macro flowers, my cats, toy soldiers, random street scenes, baby ducklings, and my niece may make me smile widely, but aren’t appropriate in an advertising photography portfolio. However, they are perfect for PhotoDude.com.” - Reid

PhotoDude initially caught my eye by the blog design (nice work Reid). If you sort his site for photography related posts (there’s a drop down in the upper right as well), you’ll find a whole wealth of photography information. Where other blogs will report that Kodak is retiring their B&W photo paper, Reid turns the story into a well written article on the Decay of the Dark Room. While I enjoy the tasks and outcome of photography, I also enjoy reading about it from those more eloquent than me. Oh yeah, his photos are pretty nice as well! I noticed Reid has seceded from the blogosphere today, but we’ll ignore that little fact for right now.

• Dave’s Pics
  “As of just about a year ago (when I started this blog) I had never really even picked up a camera. So the purpose of this blog was/is for my own learning purposes, I set a deadline for myself “get at least one good or postable picture each day” If i did not get one that was at least good enough to post I make it postable by using paintshop, photoshop, and/or corel.” - David

With his daily photos, David should have been part of our 30 Day Photo Challenge! Alas, he wasn’t, but we can still admire his work. While not all the posted photos are of this variety, I really like his soft, dream-like photos. Make sure to look through the archives. I found it interesting to see how his photography has changed over the past year as he found a style that really works.

• The NaturalVisions Photography and Birding Blog
  “The NaturalVisions Photography and Birding Blog was conceived as a way to share some of my images and also write about my adventures on an extended tour of North America. Over a period of 16 to 18 months I’ll be visiting National Wildlife Refuges, National and State Parks, Birding Trails, and more over a large part of the continent. While most of the images will be birds I enjoy making images of all aspects of the natural world and hope to greatly expand my catalog of images as the journey unfolds. The trip began in mid-May and, while the majority of the blog entries will be about the images and the places where they were made, there will also be occasional entries about other things (facts, opinions, miscellany, little slices of Americana) I see or experience as I move from place to place. And, just for fun, there’ll be a few entries about my traveling companion, a Lab/Border Collie mix named Roxie.” - Kevin

I’ll start off saying that I haven’t been a follower of bird photography. Not that I don’t appreciate it, I just don’t have a great interest in birds (Although, I did manage to get a nice shot of a duck at the zoo a couple years ago.). However, what I do find interesting is reading about the ins and outs of daily life for a bird photographer. Kevin does a great job documenting the daily tasks and difficulties of a nature photographer on the road. Please go and check out the photos, but make sure you read the story behind them.

Know of any photography blogs that are flying under the radar? Please share in the comments.