> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.maxsidman.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# A New Beginning
- URL: https://www.maxsidman.com/a-new-beginning/
- Published: 2017-02-13T05:59:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-02T04:55:48.000Z
- Description: The launch post for this personal site -- a return to an independent web presence for photography, music, and writing, away from social media.
- Author: Max Sidman
- Tags: #Migrated-1749789291678, #sqs, #Import 2025-06-12 21:34, Writing

I'm trying this web site thing again.

It's been a long time since I had a place on the internet that didn't use a free social media service as a platform. I'm pretty regular on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/maxsidman/?ref=maxsidman.com), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/maxsidman?ref=maxsidman.com), and [Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/maxonemillion/?ref=maxsidman.com), and I've been using [Tumblr](http://maxonemillion.com/?ref=maxsidman.com) as a "blog" platform, but I've never been satisfied with the format or interface or sponsored content placement.

There are also elements of social media that are becoming increasingly difficult to stomach ― a saturation, an increasing yet seeming endless cacophony of users, and the fever pitch of insanity and depression given the state of the world ― contributing to my interest in returning to a more sovereign web presence. (I'll keep on with those other social things to varying degrees, but I'm going to try to focus more on this; I consider it self-care of the creative variety.)

With regard to content... I would never call myself an artist, but I have a creative drive, so I take pictures and make music and write. I feel like I have to. Thankfully, it feels like the work is never done, and I reflect on it and explore it ― my own work and the music, photography and writing of others ― as often as I can in an effort to grow and fine tune.

I've never had an art show. The music performances I'm a part of are not solo, they're loud, obnoxious band shows with a group, and very much things of the moment. I've been published, but it's been a long time since an audience of significant size has read anything I've written (day job efforts notwithstanding). But none of that really matters. I do these things for me, and I share them because it feels like the right thing to do.

So let's just do this. And see what happens...