I'm posting this photo for no reason other than I like it and it captures the meditative mood I'm in at the moment. I shot this years ago with a Leica M6. I can't remember what lens I used, but one thing is for sure: it was amazingly low on flare and veiling glare.
You may have noticed that it's been quieter than usual at Shutterfinger of late. I normally post once a week. It's been more than a week since my last post. Assuming you've noticed at all, this is not necessarily cause for alarm. Assuming you have noticed, here's why it's been so quiet: I've been reflecting on why I started this blog in the first place and whether these reasons are sufficient for continuing.
The main reason I started writing Shutterfinger was to see what it was like. I wanted to see how many people were interested in my photographs and what I wanted to write about. I wanted to see how long I could do it; whether it would be fun or a burden; whether others found any value in what I was sharing.
I didn't do it for the money. Although it's certainly possible to earn a living as a photo blogger, those who are most successful at it approach it as a full-time job. They also have to cater to what most photography enthusiasts are most comfortable and familiar with, that being cameras, lenses, and other photo equipment. I know this from personal experience. The posts I've written that consistently receive the most readers and comments are equipment reviews. I've observed the same phenomenon on other photo blogs as well. Some consist of little else.
I say this not to denigrate photo equipment or reviews. Lord knows I can be just as fascinated with new gear as the next guy. (Gals are generally less gear-fixated than guys--or maybe it's just that they are fixated on different gear.) All I'm saying is that I'm not all that interested in writing about new equipment in and of itself, even if that would attract more readers.
I'm also not interested in attracting advertisers. You've got to write about lots of equipment and provide lots of links to associated products, services, and businesses to do that. Again, there's nothing wrong with it; I'm just not particularly interested in going down that path.
Finally, like most of you, I have an active life outside of blogging. I'm married, have three school-age kids, a full-time job, and prefer to spend my leisure time outdoors instead of sitting in front of a computer. Since I have yet to receive a single comment asking why I don't post more often, I assume you're generally happy with what you get, when you get it--especially since the price is right.
Still, nothing lasts forever. Should the day come when I decide to put Shutterfinger to rest, the thing I will value the most from this experience will be the acquaintances I've made, the people I've met, and the amazing work and insights you've shared. It's a big world out there, folks. Just knowing you're out there and that you care enough to visit from time to time makes it feel smaller and more friendly.