"Dance with who brung ya."
—Old American rural country saying
What with Ming Thein moving on, and Kirk Tuck going on hiatus again, and me suffering a bad bout of burnout these past two weeks, I've had to do some soul-searching.
As both of those guys pointed out, the world has indeed changed. Kodak is a shell of its former self; film and the darkroom are quaintly antiquarian; Bronica, Contax, Konica-Minolta (all brands I owned and used) and even Samsung are out of the camera business altogether; Olympus, after hanging in heroically, is headed that way. Digital cameras, among the world's hottest-selling commodities not even a decade ago, are in freefall, blasted by smartphones and the used market as well as by their own sufficiency. Very unfortunately, I can't sell iPhones on my site—that nice arrangement whereby I get a little spiff if one of you buys something through my links still works, but it's not as lucrative as it once was. Prices are way up and unit sales are way down. Canon is talking about market shrinkage of 50% since the peak.
So many paragons of the online photography are gone. Uwe Steinmuller, Michael Reichmann and Roger Hicks had the temerity to up and die; Rob Galbraith, Colin Jago and now Ming have moved on to greener pastures; Ctein departed from here, and Shutterfinger and Imaging-Resource have, well, shuttered. That's just the tip of a bigger 'berg.
And photography is no longer nearly as cool in the culture as it once was. Digital SLRs started out as unobtanium and gradually descended into the realm of the attainable, and everyone wanted one, even people who had never taken pictures on film. Every new development was revolutionary and exciting. Hordes of people were hanging on the news torrent, curious, interested, and ready to get involved. Early on, film-camera veterans, steeped in a mature culture, were admired and respected (sometimes resented, too) by people attracted to the science and convenience of digital. I wrote back then about neomania, the seductiveness of the new. It was a brave new frontier. Invigorating.
All done now.
In 1983 I took a beautiful picture by moonlight. It was a virtuoso trick; I had mastered darkroom craft and I knew my materials well. Walter Elisha, the Chairman of Springs Industries, at the time one of the staunchest supporters of the Museum of Modern Art's Photography Department, requested a print for his personal collection. (It was Walter who provided me with an introduction to the primus inter pares museum curator John Szarkowski.) Last year, my friend Kenny got a new iPhone 11. To demonstrate "Night Mode," he held his phone up and casually took a picture of a moonlit street scene. The tiny cameras (built into a device that will do a thousand other things besides) took a number of exposures and merged them into a single clear, appropriately exposed, noiseless image that was better than I can do with a single exposure with my large-sensor digital camera, much less with Plus-X and D-76.
And how's this now? After years of no problems, recently all of my Affiliate program checks from Amazons in Europe have been bouncing. Or not bouncing, exactly, but they're suddenly worthless. Apparently the issuing banks—the banks the checks are drawn on—are demanding fees to cash the checks in excess of the total value of the checks, or so my bank tells me, so my bank is declining to cash them. Instead, they send them back to me and charge me $35 per check for their inconvenience(!). Amazon in the U.S. tells me to call the Amazons overseas to straighten it out. But I can't call the Affiliate Program of Amazon Germany because I don't speak German. They do speak English in the U.K., but I don't have an international calling plan—on the plan I have it would cost me $125 to make one single call to Europe.
I don't know—I might be reading too much into this—but it seems a lot like Amazon Europe is suddenly saying, "Go away. We don't need you."
Some readers might be saying the same. At least if traffic is any indication. At its peak (which for the record was 2013), TOP was sailing along on 24,000 page views a day. Now, 10,000 is a good day.
And blogging itself is as uncool now as it once was cool. In 2004 it was the happening thing. On a World Wide Web that only a few years earlier had featured single, static pages that never changed, a website that was continually updated with new material was pretty enticing; in the beginning, I got a lot of attention just by existing. That was when internet was spelled with a capital "I," before ads were common, before videos were really possible. Good photo content and information on the web was scarce and valued. And back then, there was a lot of camaraderie between websites—we all supported each other, and sent our readers to interesting things on other sites, which benefited us all.
Now, blog have become...well, not quite antiquated, but old-fashioned. They're very 2010. Competition has proliferated wildly, way outpacing demand. Nothing ever "goes viral" any more—not just because there's too much out there to see and read, but because everybody makes money from affiliate spiffs and few want to lose a reader to another site even momentarily. And all the camera reviews have migrated to YouTube, where independent actors of their own volition act for all the world like PR people for corporate marketers.
Think it can't get worse? Well, it's not just that blogs have gotten outdated. It's that text has. Millennials and whatever the younger-than-Millennial generations call themselves prefer to get their information fed to them through videos. Who reads now? Even the President of the United States never reads anything—not even urgent briefings, apparently. His speech patterns, his very thought patterns, according to experts, are those of a functional illiterate. So he's the leader for our times, then, because the written word is passé. (Tossing French words into written text is double passé.)
So is the handwriting on the wall, my friends? A time of reckoning seems to be upon me. I've thought about it, wrestled with it, agonized over it, and made a fateful decision...
...Which is that I'm going to keep on blogging like I have been.
(Ha! Fooled ya.)
Why do such a silly thing? Well, it's because I love the subject and this is the best way I've ever found to engage with it. It's not like I wouldn't have loved to be Constantine Manos if I could have been. But, as my friend Jerry says about a duffer's golf game, "Your problem is LOFT." LOFT, he explains with a laugh, stands for "lack of f--king talent." I mean, I'm a talented enough photographer. I take some really good shots from time to time...now and then, that is. But that's not enough these days. I would have loved to be a truly independent, do-it-my-way, starving-artist photographer, a hermit-in-the-mountains type—in fact my aspiration when I was young was to keep practicing 35mm B&W film photography all my life, even far after it got outmoded, like Atget did with his ancient view camera and his increasingly obsolescent techniques. Atget started out being current and ended up being antiquarian. That was what I wanted. (Fame by attrition.)
Alas, you can't do that and also be a reviewer of new cameras.
But for who I actually am, blogging is great. It suits my talents. I have a wide-ranging, junk-bin kind of mind—I know a little bit about a whole lot, and I can hold my own in more areas than most people can, while being, I admit, a true or "deep" expert in almost nothing. That wouldn't suit some jobs, but it's perfect for blogging. I'm not a writer with a capital "W" like Anne Tyler or John Sandford but I can put words together well and I have an appetite for doing so. I'm a daily writer, and I would be even without this outlet. (I had a great-uncle who wrote his two spinster sisters a ten-page letter every single day.)
I won't go on, but you know how Sigmund Freud (well, at least according to Erik Erickson) defined mental health as "love and work" (Lieben und arbeiten)? I've got the arbeiten half down pat, I hafta say. I wound up with, if not my dream job, then at least a job that seems absolutely tailor-made to my quirky, idiosyncratic talents.
And I was never in this because it was a good way to make money. It was, for a while. But you've got to remember, I started out writing on the web with a feature called "The Sunday Morning Photographer" on Michael Reichmann's The Luminous-Landscape, and it was a big hit—it got picked up by two other big sites, photo.net and Steve's Digicams, and at its peak it was being translated into five foreign languages, no less, for publication on photo sites in those languages. And I wasn't earning a dime from it! Really, I did it for three years and practically no one paid me a thing. At one point we estimated that about 80,000 people were reading the column every week—that could have been off by a factor of two—so I asked every reader to send me a dollar every week. And only one guy did! Wendell Webb. I've thanked him many times!
Which leads me to...the passed hat. Yeah, earnings from blogs have fallen, right along with the tumbledown camera industry and the declining status of photography in the Zeitgeist. But I just checked, and 787 people are putting coins into my hat on Patreon every month.
How could any happy busker possibly not be overjoyed by that? That means the world. A dollar, or four or twenty, from someone who doesn't have to pay me and is just doing it to say "keep it up" or "attaboy" or "nice job" is worth three times as much to me as a dollar from an unfeeling corporation that might fire my ass on a whim at any moment, with little warning or no warning.
And it really doesn't matter to me if I'm getting fewer readers now. What matters much more is that I really appreciate the readers I've do have. (I'm complimenting you now, so perk up.) The way I look at it, the ones I'm missing now are the ones who were into digitography back then for good-enuff but superficial reasons...the shoppers, the dabblers, the hipsters. The readers who are left are men and women who love photographs and everything ancillary to them. Quality, not quantity...that's the way I think of the audience now. (It really is. I'm not blowin' smoke up yer keester.)
Lastly, I was never in this because it's popular and in style. Mavens in any sport or subject or activity are people who love it and are devoted to it, not people who are bandwagoning or chasing trends. It was great that cameras were the hot commodity and photography had elevated status for a decade or so during the digital transition. It was great fun, and it was exciting, and I made a lot of money which was a nice thing to experience for once, and it was endlessly interesting. But all that was never a requirement. Heck, I'm a guy who still likes two-seater roadsters (peak popularity: 1950s), vinyl LPs (peak: 1970s), home darkrooms (peak: 1979), the United States as a liberal democracy with the best-run government in the world (peak: 1950–1980, cf. Thomas Piketty), printed paper books, billiards and other cue sports (peak: 1910–1925)...even saddle horses, although I had to stop riding because of back pain decades ago. (Horses as transportation were supplanted very quickly in about a 10-year period in the early 1900s.) All kinds of things, in short, that aren't the latest and hottest and most fashionable. I don't mind.
So I'm going to keep on keepin' on. I'm just playing my six-string in the subway station, I know, but it's a nice life. I respect Ming Thein, who I don't know, and I respect and like Kirk Tuck, who I do know, and I respect and understand their decisions. I'm sure my time will come, too, eventually. Because nothing is forever. I'm 63, just about traditional retirement age, so I might figure out some way to slow down (although I've been slow lately, that's for sure...this past week might have been my worst week in the whole 14 years and nine months I've been doing this. I had a flareup of burnout and just sorely needed some time away).
But I've made my decision. To soldier on. I like this. It's what I do. For better or worse. As for all that other crap, we'll adapt.
See you tomorrow. :-)
Mike
Original contents copyright 2020 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.
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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:
Brandon: "I am 41 years old and only became intensely interested in photography over the past 11 or 12 months, so I guess I am not TOP's main demographic. But over this past year, I've discovered and come to truly enjoy checking in daily with TOP, ByThom, VSL and (I know, I know) DPReview, while also looking around from time to time on Ming Thein's site. When Ming called it quits and then Kirk Tuck did the same, I was certainly worried that you were next and that this world I had discovered was going to disappear just as I was really getting to know it. I am very happy to hear that you are not going anywhere despite your current burnout.
"As an aside, I think everyone is a bit burned out at the moment. I am a hospital-based pediatrician who is very involved in COVID-related issues at my hospital, and taking pictures and reading sites like yours offers a nice retreat from reality for me.
"Your recent comments about missing Ctein's contributions to TOP prompted me to discover the upsetting post from 2016 in which you reported that he would no longer be writing for TOP, which in turn prompted a deep dive into his old Wednesday posts. While some feel a bit dated (e.g., 4GB vs. 16GB SD cards, why he bought an 'OM-D' instead of a Sony NEX), and I have no interest in learning about tea, others seem just as relevant now as they were then (e.g., depth of field, pros and cons of ETTR, the ability of sensors that are not full frame to make high-quality large prints, etc.). What really makes these old posts enjoyable for me to read today is the same thing that still makes your new posts great: the presence of lively discussion and disagreement from thoughtful and talented people without the back-and-forth insults that make some other sites' comment sections completely unreadable. I am sure it is a lot of work to check each post before releasing it and to maintain high standards regarding how people treat each other, but I think it is definitely worth it.
"Thank you for giving thoughtful photography writing a continuing home on web and for keeping up an archive of all the old stuff for an occasional new reader like me to browse."
Rob Griffin: "Mike, Sorry to respond so late to your post about keepin', keepin' on. I want you to know that even though I don't comment often, I am a daily visitor. It feels like I am checking in with a really good friend. I would miss your writing and thoughts so much if you no longer were doing what you do so well. I am a Patreon contributor and I always try to buy things from B&H and Amazon from your links. I wish there was someway to know that when I do purchase stuff from your links that you are getting your small share for sure. I sometimes purchase items from KEH. They may not have a similar program for sites like yours but if they do, maybe you could link to them as well. Thank you so much for all of efforts in keeping TOP a wonderful place to spend a bit of time each day. Also, a big thanks to all TOP readers for their insightful and interesting comments and thoughts. I always learn so much here at TOP!"
Alistair Hamilton: "Following up Oskar Ojala, there are next to no cheques used in the UK either. It would never occur to me to pay someone or ask for payment by cheque. Bank transfer is the norm. I have never written one from my business account. I cannot imagine that any European business would have any difficulty in paying you by bank transfer direct into your US account at minimal cost. That might make it all a bit more worthwhile."
Mike replies: An update on that: Formerly, Amazon was the party that insisted on checks. It was the only way to be paid, for a long time. I had not known that they recently made direct deposit an option, so I've successfully transitioned Amazon UK and Amazon Germany to direct deposit.
That's the good news. On the bad side, it appears that unfortunately I've been booted out of the Amazon Canada Affiliate Program altogether, and I'm not even able to contact them to ask them why...the contact form has a dropdown menu of topics, and every single choice comes up as an invalid choice for me. I'll keep trying, but it looks like I'm persona non grata. No clue why that would be, however.
It’s good to hear you will be sticking around. We need all the internet oases we can find. It seems that life is ever veering toward the quick, easy, and disposable and it’s reached a point where we find ourselves in a world of character limited texts, self-destructing pictures, and planned obsolescence. It’s always nice to find someone who puts thought into what they do. It’s nice to have your quality craftsmanship remain.
If we tune out the plastic fantastic corporate world, the internet can connect us with talented writers, musicians, and craftsman of all sorts. People who are an inspiration. And once inspired, all we need is that little bit of gumption to get us up off our ass and out into the world and make a picture, restore a motorcycle, or build a bookcase. Thanks for the inspiration.
Posted by: Jim Arthur | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 10:01 AM
"Ya can't please everyone.
You've got to please yerself."
Posted by: Harry B Houchins | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 10:09 AM
It's really all about the business model.
I don't visit SnapChick more than once a year at most, but it seems to be charging on ahead. (http://www.snapchick.com/)
She/they have a "SnapChick University". Which sort of thing ought to be more or less in your area of expertise, given your depth and history.
Since SnapChick is still going and looks more aggressive than ever, I'd guess that it at least has a viable business model.
Writing essays wouldn't be my first guess for viability, without accompanying product sales, which as you note aren't so hot in an age of gluts, when every product both infinitely available online and instantaneously disposable. And which require ever less and less talent to operate.
But talent is always the key. Talent is not disposable, can't be commoditized, and will never be available through Amazon, though selling it requires a far cleverer business model.
Posted by: Dave Sailer | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 10:26 AM
Been with you since you started your print newsletter (how long is that?) and hope you and I both will continue for a very long time yet.
I frequently quote from the OT posts to friends and relatives, saying "I read something really interesting in my favourite photo blog recently, which is not about photography (but that's what makes the blog so special) and I want to tell you about it".
And nine out of ten times they find it just as interesting as I did.
Posted by: Len Salem | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 10:33 AM
Ming quit cause he saw youtube was the way out, and he's no youtuber (look at one of his old videos). He knew he couldn't do what Robin Wong is doing, rather successfully.
It's a fresh format. Blogs are dead.
You could give youtube a shot? That's where it's at. The rest is sunsets. Maybe not.
Posted by: Fred Peters | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 10:33 AM
Thanks for everything! If it makes you feel better, I'm invested in the long read at the spritely age of 32. I think many people appreciate skillful, long form writing. I feel like this is doubly important when the frenzy of immediacy and easy consumption is becoming normalised.
Posted by: Morgan | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 10:37 AM
Good on you Mike. Your site is one of my first views each day. For me it is because of your writing on any subject. Brookes Jensen collected some of his articles on photography into a book. I'd buy your collection.
Posted by: Keith Mitchell | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 10:46 AM
Yay!
Posted by: Jim Meeks | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 10:48 AM
...so, I asked myself, what could I do to avoid the disappointment of not having TOP to read? The only answer that I came up with was to increase my Patreon contribution. So I did.
Posted by: George Andros | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 11:13 AM
You may not know this, but I have been writing a political blog for over 5 years averaging about 3-4 entries a week. I have gone from thousands of readers to dozens in the past few years, even as my political philosophies have gotten more popular and mainstream.
TOP is doing quite well considering.
I don't know what more you could do to increase readership, but many over the years have said that they come here for the comments almost as much as for the blog itself. I put myself in that category. Maybe concentrating on getting the comments up as they come in and making this a little more like a forum would help? I think your readers and your moderation of the comments really make TOP stand out.
Posted by: Edward Taylor | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 11:27 AM
Since a number of years I can't remember, every day of my online life starts with TOP. I'm 58 years old (and by the way art photographer in Buenos Aires, Argentina - and also LP lover and buyer of printed books), so I don't know how old-fashioned I am or how modern I can be, but the written word, especially if so clever, smart, stylish and humorous, is priceless!
Without a doubt one of your most important posts so far.
Keep on going, and thank you!
Posted by: Gerardo Korn | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 11:31 AM
You keep on writing and I'll keep on reading - and, as often as I feel it's worthy to do so, I'll keep on commenting. We have a "contract" of sorts, not written, not orally confirmed, not even tested by the best old fashioned way - a hand shake; but nevertheless rock-solid over time and lasting till the day one of us does what finally 10 out of 10 of us do!
One photography comment: Near the beginning of this scary missive, you spoke of the cell phone's growing capabilities. Besides whatever it can really do photographically, they are convenient, small and light. Yet I rarely ever use mine as a camera, still preferring to carry almost 5lbs around my neck to do that job (Panasonic S1R & 24-70 F2.8 & neck strap come real close to that!). Lenses, in particular, should be used for weight training. Technology's continuing explorations in those two so contrary directions seems so strange and unexplainable.
Posted by: Dave Van de Mark | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 11:46 AM
Go ahead and call Amazon Germany, you won't have any problem finding someone who speaks English. I took three years of German in high school and over the last 40 years have rarely needed to use it there (except some places in the former GDR). Most people there have some proficiency in English - even the winos.
Posted by: Chuck Albertson | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 12:06 PM
Mike, we happen to have the same age and surname, but I've followed your blog (and _only_ your blog, on any subject) purely for its varied and thoughtful content for years with great pleasure. Over that time I've gone from being a Pentax user (inherited from my Dad), to a medium-format user when they got cheap enough second-hand, and finally a Fuji X30 user. Your blog is perennially interesting and informative, and I'd feel a real loss without it. Hope you continue this accessible writing as long as you want to. Thank you.
Posted by: Sean | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 12:21 PM
Thanks for doing this Mike. Stay well.
Posted by: Mitch Krupp | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 01:08 PM
I think this was the first attempt at "click-baiting" that I have ever seen from your side, Mike :-) And of course I am not surprised that the click-bait link (this being your site) was pre-ambled by 1.058 words of meningful, useful content...
Posted by: Soeren Engelbrecht | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 01:34 PM
I too would like to see a Tip Jar. I don’t like subscriptions, but surely can see why you would. For me it MEANS I contribute when I have the Means. Life’s though on this side of the fence too. And, should you reconsider Tips...please find a method that offers the use of Apple Pay (security you know). You have your terms, I have mine.
Posted by: Dave B | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 02:00 PM
I am delighted that you will continue. I value both the quality of what you have to say about photography and other matters and of the writing itself.
Posted by: David Elesh | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 02:02 PM
Love you too, Mike.
Posted by: Jim K | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 02:13 PM
Mike, you can't go, you got me into this!
Oh, and use Skype. Last week I made a call from Africa to Australia, 45 minutes in duration, peak time, and it cost me 1 Euro.
Posted by: Hilton | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 02:15 PM
I’m sure that the people at Amazon Germany will speak English. In my last job before retirement I worked for a software company that sold software to corporate customers in Europe and N America. Several times I was working with German customer companies where English was the language of their business, especially when they were the German arm of a multi-national.
Posted by: Tom Burke | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 02:33 PM
One path to semi-retirement might be to start soliciting and posting more material from your readers. Curated and moderated of course, as you do with comments. Perhaps with some guidelines in advance, such as length, getting advance approval from you before most of the work is done, making your final authority over what is published clear, etc. That could include photographs, equipment reviews as well as general photographic commentary. And, occasionally, other matters. Just as you do.
A few years ago I made some critical comments of your seeming disparagement of phone cameras and you challenged me to write something about them from my point of view. I did and found it very gratifying to have that published here. I think others might feel the same. And, judging from your reaction and those of your readers I think it was at least a somewhat acceptable substitute for your work. I think you were a bit incapacitated at the time, sort of like being semi-retired for a bit. I was happy to help out.
This might be a way of getting your effort in balance with current apparently diminished financial returns and give you more time for the rest of your life. And the mix of you and us could change over time, little of us to start, more as things progress and you covet more "retirement."
It might also be a way to bring some coverage of newer trends that you are less comfortable with covering but that your readers might benefit from learning more about. Video for example. Or those damn phones.
Posted by: Terry Burnes | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 02:37 PM
Well that was a scary read!I am so glad you have decided to soldier on, there is a line in the Changeling (Cint Eastwood film) about defiance which I am sure your eagle eyed moderating would not permit, however would fit for anyone who wanted you to stop.
Looking forward to your continued posts.
Posted by: robert mckeen | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 02:44 PM
Not just French words, but German and freaking LATIN!
Anyways ... I'm glad you're gonna keep on keeping on. After all, it's the thing you DO.
Kirk does photography and writing. You do writing and photography. That keeps the universe in peaceful harmony.
Posted by: MikeR | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 03:28 PM
Hi Mike,
I have been appreciating your writing since the Sunday Morning Photographer (on photo.net) and as a subscriber to the 37th frame. I do post some of my photographs online but what I enjoy most is crafting nice prints and sharing them with like-minded photographers. I too would enjoy seeing more photos on your blog, I thought that the baker's dozen was very good. I do not comment often because I am not good at it and the few times I tried it fell flat. But I remain one of your small Patreons. Cheers!
Posted by: Marc Vayssieres | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 03:53 PM
It’s a glorious day in this world when someone who is supremely good at doing something decides to not stop doing it. Victory!
Posted by: Jim Richardson (The Other) | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 03:56 PM
...Bring back the Tip Jar! For anyone not wanting or able to use Patreon...
Yes, Tip Jar! Or Paypal.
Posted by: DavidB | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 04:03 PM
The LL charge model works for me.
Posted by: Michael Newsom | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 04:03 PM
I'm a web developer and know too much about the byways of life on the internet. And, in my experience, this blog and the associated comment section is the only publicly accessible place on the internet I frequent where almost all of the content and comments seem to be both friendly and intelligent - made by people with whom I would be happy to have a cup of coffee or a beer.
The fact that I can learn so much about image-making is almost icing on the cake.
This might seem like a trivial observation, but I submit that in the over-heated time we are going through it is not.
Posted by: Jason Melancon | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 04:27 PM
I love photography, and I love the written word. It annoys me when websites like Fstoppers publish 'articles' which are basically just links to videos. I appreciate the written word. Videos have their place, but opinion pieces, philosophy, and even reviews resonate with me more when they are presented in written form.
I am very glad that you have decided to continue. I find it a great comfort to read your blog. I have been reading your writing since the days of the "Sunday Morning Photographer" on photo.net. Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Dillan K | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 04:27 PM
Thank goodness! I am already mourning Ming and Kirk...it would be too much to loose you too.
Posted by: Cecelia | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 04:50 PM
My blog buddies, many who are "retired" have told me the Blog is dead, and the Substack Newsletter format is the way it's going. I don't understand much of this, as I am perfectly happy to 'click-through' on an advertiser to 'help out', but I probably would never pay for a website subscription for anyone, and for anything, or so I used to think! The Substack Newsletter format apparently is ad free, and you have to charge a subscription, of which 10% goes to them, if I'm reading their site correctly.
There are so many places I never go anymore, like Petapixel. It's virtually impossible to read with the ads every three lines, videos running, boxes popping up. Not worth my time! I have every ad blocker available on my browsers set, until the neighborhood lights dim, and there's still so much crap popping up, most sites are impossible to bother getting through. Anyone who is unfortunate enough to have a Gannett paper locally knows what I'm talking about. A portal so full of crap popping up, it's not worth the read! Hence Substack....
A recent interaction with a vendor and me is pretty definitive on how I want to operate. I used to subscribe to Jazz Times magazine. When the pandemic started, they decided not to publish for two months, and rely on a digital copy. Their digital copy was totally unreadable to me, by the time the type was big enough to read, it was so soft and pixelated, I couldn't read it.
They're one of my most expensive subscriptions, and I expect, nay demand, a paper printed copy! I don't read long form on-line! I contacted them, and they said: "...we'll extend your paper subscription two months, because we're only doing this two months..." Okay, but four months later, no paper! I demanded my subscription price back, from the original time, and will be spending it on Down Beat, still publishing paper! Not to mention, I get about 7 magazines subscriptions, and none of them, went digital during the pandemic! Still getting paper for all...
Anyway, I guess the story behind all of this, is that virtually everything in the IT realm, changes until it's not what you ever wanted to be involved in; and they hope the 'incremental' change over a period of time will numb you to the process!
Remember when CD's replaced LP's, and they weren't perfect either, but what the hell. Then a lot of CD players disappeared because, hey, you could just play discs on your computer! Then the disc player disappeared from your laptop, and you had to start buying an aftermarket disc player and start plugging more crap into your computer, which made it unwieldy. The, well whataya know, you had to start paying per cut, or monthly or ...? Yeeaaahhhh....
I look forward to the On-Line Photographer, paper monthly, high quality print on glossy paper...
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/08/a-guide-to-the-substack-newsletter-economy.html
Posted by: Crabby Umbo | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 05:22 PM
Does your carrier offer wi-fi calling? I can only speak for AT&T, but with wi-fi calling turned on in my iPhone, phone calls are free when connected to my home network. Worldwide, if I'm not mistaken.
Posted by: Ivan | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 05:41 PM
Photo bloggers have been ruing the death of photo blogs ever since the photo blog heyday:
http://blakeandrews.blogspot.com/2011/12/in-memoriam-photoblogs-2011_26.html
Posted by: Blake | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 07:08 PM
So you say there's not so much money in reviewing cameras. I really like the way you evaluate cameras in terms on shooting experience and feel — beyond just specs and features, but into the soft stuff.
But you have great thoughts on other things too — things like books, printers and prints. I have been buying a lot more books during the pandemic, and just ordered an Epson P906 based on a handful of pieces you wrote here.
Reviewing ain't nothin' but considering things carefully and explaining your considerations, and you're great at it.
Posted by: Steve C | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 07:33 PM
Sorry about the burnout (it happens—please take a break) but the writing is as good as ever, I'm happy to say. Thank you for continuing. You continue to be such a big influence and the photo writer whose articles I quote, mention in conversation and forward to others most often.
Posted by: Bahi | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 08:57 PM
Bravo!
The Internet needs more consistency and intelligent content like TOP. It has a good balance of visual and written content, not too much on hardware, good amount of interesting off-topic material even if some is beyond my interests.
Nothing toxic like 99.99% of the web today.
How about more reader involvement? Your series on judging photos was very interesting - ever going to finish the museum photo one?
BTW, don't get hung up on change and current fads online. I run several websites that have not changed style for over two decades but are full of content - I would have angry people if it changed.
Posted by: JH | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 09:21 PM
I'm glad you're keeping your blog. I can read a whole lot faster than someone on youtube takes to make his point – if that makes any sense.
Posted by: Robert Pillow | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 09:57 PM
The written word is not dead. You prove that with all you've done. Carry on! Thank you.
Posted by: Eliott D James | Monday, 07 September 2020 at 11:41 PM
Photography hobbyist, long-time reader, and Patreon supporter here - glad to hear you'll be keeping on keeping on Mike.
+1 on Skype or Google Voice for cheap international calls. Also someone mentioned Transferwise above, do look into them. I had to receive a payment from a German institution last summer and they were having trouble setting up a wire transfer to my bank in the States. Instead with Transferwise you have the option of getting a "local" account number in a European bank to receive payments and from there you transfer it to your US account. You don't actually open/own a personal account at the foreign bank.
Posted by: Scott | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 12:47 AM
Thanks, Mike for your thoughtful writing. its why I like coming here.
Posted by: Gary Nylander | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 01:14 AM
I was a teenager in the early 2000s and not that into photography, but the Wayback Machine is great for a nostalgia trip. Here for examples are Mike's">http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/sunday1.shtml">Mike's "Sunday Morning Photographer" articles as of August 2012. I love the archive, it's a great way to dig up "lost" knowledge, and a reminder of what the internet used to look like.
Posted by: Sroyon | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 02:04 AM
Has anyone mentioned the Wayback Machine? Here for examples are Mike's "Sunday Morning Photographer" articles as of August 2012. I love the archive, it's a great way to dig up "lost" knowledge, and a reminder of what the internet used to look like.
Posted by: Sroyon | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 02:07 AM
I'm so glad you're keepin on Mike. I'm "just" 43 years old and your blog was very important to me during my development as a photographer. I've been a big fan of your writing since your Luminous-Landscape days, and even though I don't dabble much in photography anymore (digital killed it for me), I still enjoy your writing. I don't know how to put my finger on it, but you have a writing style I enjoy. I'm that way with novelists as well. I read everything by Paul Auster for instance, even though his subject matter doesn't necessarily interest me.
Posted by: Svein-Frode | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 03:44 AM
Nice of you to give a mention to Colin Jago. A reminder of the golden age of web logging.
Posted by: David Mantripp | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 04:17 AM
I see your Patreon numbers have put on about 40 to 832 in a day so that’s good, I know they fluctuate and have been above 800 before.
Again, there are commenters asking for a one-off system of payment which must be possible somehow. In U.K. they could just make a bank transfer to your account but I suspect the US is still in the dark ages where banking is concerned — cheques/checks, who uses those anymore?
Maybe you should do a post about Patreon and why you had to switch to it, because of the charges for small payments as I recall.
An earlier commenter suggested comments should be restricted to Patreon supporters but that’s not going to work. I have wondered if you could “whitelist” regular commenters/supporters so their comments would appear immediately and un-moderated and thus reduce your work load. I think the problem, assuming that is even possible in Typepad, is that you like the moderating/editing and are unwilling to change it. It would encourage commenters if it were more swiftly updated.
Posted by: Richard Parkin | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 04:47 AM
Mike, I have been reading your articles for about thirty years, firstly in BlackandWhite magazine in the UK, and like you had been looking for a simple digital camera to replace my Nikons; FM2, F and Nikkormat.
Fujifilm X100 was the answer, no more home made darkroom mess and the results are great. good mono and I print big, have exhibitions.
Don't give up, we need you.
kind regards, Mick Messenger. (age 80 and still shooting)
Posted by: Michael Messenger | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 06:48 AM
I've read you for so long, you didn't fool me a bit. Thank goodness.
Posted by: Luke | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 07:29 AM
Annoying videos notwithstanding, I think DPR and I-R still do a good job. Dave Pardue and William Brawley at I-R are smart and competent. And Rishi Sanyal at DPR does some very interesting engineering / physics analysis.
Posted by: Luke | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 07:36 AM
YouTube is the new blog format
Posted by: Terence Morrissey | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 07:41 AM
Probably not the appropriate space for this comment, but we're talking the direction for TOP so this is probably as close as I'll get for a while, so ...
With us all spending so much more time at home, this seems like the perfect opportunity for MORE PHOTO SALES. Thew makers might have more time to make and the consumers more time to enjoy. Seems these have tapered off dramatically and I really miss them.
Just sayin'
John
Posted by: John Abee | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 09:05 AM
I'm glad you decided to stick it out..
Posted by: Dominick Mistretta | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 09:21 AM
I am so happy to read that you are not quitting you blogging. It is always on my daily readings and I was concerned when Kirk and Ming announced their decisions to stop that you too, might do the same. I enjoy all your posts regardless of the topic. I hope you continue for many years to come.
Posted by: Mark Kinsman | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 10:25 AM
Count me among the folks glad you’re continuing to produce The Online Photographer. Honestly, photography has long become a very tangential subject here, despite the name. But it’s clearly become a unique and important “barber shop” for many older guys (myself included) who would really mourn its loss. I suspect TOP has become an even more important daily touchstone in 2020 as the world swirls in so much social and health turmoil.
Good, Mike.
Posted by: Kenneth Tanaka | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 10:26 AM
Just adding my two cents here, Mike. I’ve been reading you since you wrote that column on the Luminous Landscape, and I value the breadth of your perspective on the photo scene. Like many others I am happy to support your efforts with a modest contribution through Patreon. I did once write a guest blog post for you on the OMD-EM5. Maybe if you want to slack off a little more as the years go by you could cultivate a stable of guest writers. If I may suggest a topic for a future post, how about a post on who else out there on the net is still publishing interesting material on photography.
Posted by: Richard Chomko | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 10:45 AM
Following up Oskar Ojal, there are next to no cheques used in the UK either. It would never occur to me to pay someone or ask for payment by cheque. Bank transfer it the norm. I have never written one from my business account.
I cannot imagine that any European business woule have any difficulty in paying you by bank transfer direct into your US account at minimal cost. That might make it all a bit more worthwhile.
Posted by: Alistair Hamilton | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 11:08 AM
Alright, you almost gave me a heart attack. I've been reading your thoughtful words since the days of Sunday Morning Photographer. That time frame more or less matches my involvement in this crazy hobby we call photography. I can't image my (roughly) daily dose of photographic ramblings going the way of the dodo. Keep writing! We will keep reading!
Posted by: Chris S | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 11:18 AM
"...and Imaging-Resource have, well, shuttered."
No, it's still clicking.
Posted by: Gunny | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 11:33 AM
If I may make a second comment vis a vis blogging vs YouTube videos, most people can read and take in written content far more quickly and deeply than they can listening and watching a video. Reading a blog is thus more efficient and, for me, more pleasurable. The comments made above about the informational thinness of most photo videos are also on target. That could be corrected, if the video were better planned, and as one commenter above said, scripted.
Posted by: Chip McDaniel | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 11:45 AM
Don't sell yourself short, kid. You are a great writer.
Posted by: Jnny | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 11:50 AM
Right on, Mike. No better reason to do it than it's what you *like* to do.
Posted by: Rick | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 12:13 PM
I hope you able to survive the carnage that has overtaken both the photo industry and the general blogging industry also. I for one greatly prefer to read articles vs. watch videos. One advantage of reading is being able to skip over sections I have no interest in (not that I do that here!). Conversely another advantage is being able to take in the context of the article at the speed I want to vs. however fast it goes along in a video. I fear we're raising a generation that will loose their ability to communicate via reading and writing.
Posted by: J Williams | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 12:21 PM
Mike,
Sorry to respond so late to your post about keepin', keepin' on. I want you to know that even though I don't comment often, I am a daily visitor. It feels like I am checking in with a really good friend. I would miss your writing and thoughts so much if you no longer were doing what you do so well.
I am a Patreon contributor and I always try to buy things from B&H and Amazon from your links. I wish there was someway to know that when I do purchase stuff from your links that you are getting your small share for sure. I sometimes purchase items from KEH. They may not have a similar program for sites like yours but if they do, maybe you could link to them as well.
Thank you so much for all of efforts in keeping TOP a wonderful place to spend a bit of time each day. Also, a big thanks to all TOP readers for their insightful and interesting comments and thoughts.
I always learn so much here at TOP!
Posted by: Rob Griffin | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 12:42 PM
Blog on please!I need my regular fix of diverse musings and revelations.The last few months have been dismal and your writings are a ray of sunshine. We have never met and likely never will but I can relate to you in the manner of a friend.I hope others will support you via Patreon as I do.
Keep healthy! Ian Hunter from across the pond.
Posted by: Ian Hunter | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 01:13 PM
Richard said he didn't like making monthly auto payments to Patreon. Neither did I until I tired it. It's super easy to access and change payments, or stop payments. Test it Richard, start with $1 and see how comfortable you are. Then test how to increase your donation when you feel more comfortable.
David asked why use Patreon, rather than a direct payment. Well, I recall Mike initially did direct payments and got a much less response than Patreon. I recall that I did not participate in the direct donation request, but I do contribute via Patreon.
So you have scientific proof that Patreon works better.
Posted by: Jack Mac | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 03:30 PM
I love your writing Mike. Thoughtful, informative & thought-provoking.
I read every post & am glad you are able to continue.
Posted by: Rob Allen | Tuesday, 08 September 2020 at 05:51 PM