I’m so excited, I could jump up and down while squealing like a child, I won’t though as no one needs to see that. So what has me so excited? We’ve passed 1 million views over on the YouTube channel.

Thank You!

Given this milestone, I thought it might be an appropriate time to look back on the journey and share how it all started with you all. In spring 2016 I was looking for a subject to make a video about to practice my video editing skills with. A chance conversation led to the idea of filming at the NEBPT Howlands Rally in May.

Little did I know how that was going to change so much and eventually lead to The Transport Lens. I enjoyed filming, mooching about with my camera and chatting to people. What surprised me though was the number of people asking about watching the video and what my YouTube channel was. I had no idea this aspect of the hobby existed! After watching a variety of channels I decided to give it a go and on the 21st of July, I created a YouTube account and uploaded my first video.  I knew nothing about running a YouTube channel and couldn’t even think of a name! ‘Ian’s Bus Photos’ was suggested and away we went.

In fact here it is.  My first YouTube video, still with the ‘Ians Bus Photos’ name as it was a while before we changed to ‘The Transport Lens’.

Those first videos took me days to edit and render with many false starts. I had no idea what I was doing and if I’m honest wasn’t really expecting many (if any) people to watch. I remember talking about it with Ian and saying if I made it to 500 views I’d be over the moon. The response has blown me away and never ceases to amaze me.

Over the last two and a half years those initial tentative steps have expanded to include trains and trams, timelapse and vlogs. The vlogs especially have surprised me. I genuinely don’t like being in front of a camera, so voluntarily putting myself in front of the lens and even talking to the camera was something I never thought I’d do.

The YouTube Channel has now been joined by a Facebook page, this blog and website, plus Instagram and Twitter. I’m enjoying it more than ever and can’t wait to see where it takes me in the two and a half years.

So thank you for coming along on the ride with me. I guess some of the best journeys are the ones you never expect.

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