My name is James Burns, I’m a photographer and my main interest is photographing people. I’m also a bit of an IT geek. Twitography is my photographic experiment into online networking, with the added benefit of trying to raise a little money for charity along the way.

Twitography came about as an infusion of ideas. Not so long ago, I created another website, the 4 Togs Blog, as a method for myself and three of my other photographic friends to keep each other inspired and to record our outings and favourite photo’s. When I launched the site, I used Twitter to tell people about it, to keep them updated and to promote the blog. I was surprised to say the least at what an effective method it was, and how popular it proved to be.

I can’t begin to take full credit for the idea - it was born of conversations that I had with the other 4 togs and also based on work that has already been done (or is being undertaken) by John Michael Cooper, David A. Williams and Peggy Dyer. The genesis of Twitography was born in the idea to see just how many other Twitter users I could feasibly manage to photograph, but has developed from there into something much more. Just over a year ago, back on my 30th birthday, I also made the promise to myself to attempt to do more for charity - and this project seemed like the ideal opportunity. So here’s the lowdown:

I’m going to promote this to bits, using all of the resources at my disposal. I intend to get in touch with as many Twitter users as possible and arrange to meet them and take their photograph. My aim is to stay out of the studio, out of people’s homes and to focus on outdoor, environmental, portraiture. After the session I will display the photo here and also give a copy to whoever was kind enough to turn up for me. I’m hoping that people will like their pictures so much, that they will give an appropriate donation to Macmillan Cancer Support. You can do that via my JustGiving page that is linked above - people won’t even see how much you have donated - just give as much as you can.

It really is that simple:

* Get in touch, arrange a time & place.
* Turn up, Get photographed.
* Get your picture, be shown on the blog, be part of something big.
* Give something back if you can to the fab people at Macmillan.