Recently I've started becoming less motivated to write blog posts and reviews. You know, when you write an exciting mail to someone or a long blog post that you spent a few days preparing and writing, at the beginning you are very excited and keep waiting for feedback, opinions from anyone who read what you wrote, any response, but time passes and the silence becomes more deafening, until you forget all about what you wrote and surrender. That's exactly what we lack here, feedback, and that's a strong demotivator.
Do we have regular readers who actually read our posts? Or do we just get hits from people searching for a certain topic and leaving again?
This is an attempt to find out, I'd love to see your comment and learn about the reality of our readers. I have the following posts coming in no certain order, if you want to see a certain topic sooner than the others, please let me know in the comments.
- Building a Video & Photo Editing PC
- Shooting Techniques
- Post Processing Techniques (Lightroom 4)
- Canon 24-105 Review
- Canon 100 Macro L Review
- Phone Photography
- Canon 5D Mark II Review
- ColorMunki Display Review
- Blogsy Review
- How iPad helps with photography
- Future purchases & products (Nexus 7, Color Gels, Light stand, RF Triggers, Westcott 43” Umbrella, etc...)
- Canon 600EX-RT Flash (why?)
- Vanguard Heralder 28 Camera Bag Review
- Vanguard Up-rise 15Z Camera Bag Review
- Manfrotto Tripod Review
- Yongnuo 560 II Review
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI suscribed recendly to your blog because i'm interested on the articles about getting pictures of kids and family.
I think you do a very good work, and also i'm surprised by the lack of comments you have.
Please keep writing! I'm sure there other folks also waiting your articles.
Josep
Hi Josep. Thanks for this comment. It's very helpful because you've told us what you're interested in, which gives me a better idea of what to write about. Thanks!
DeleteBest regards,
Mic
Hi, I'm one of your readers from Canada. I think I came across this site in a Google search (looking for something photography related - might have been some strobist stuff). I've added it to my Google Reader account since then.
ReplyDeleteMore posts on LR post processing techniques would be nice. I always like to see someone's workflow approach.
I'd like to see what you think of the Vanguard Heralder 28 as I recently got that myself. My only real gripe is the elastic side pocket isn't deep enough and I lost my water bottle! Other than that, it seems like a great messenger style bag.
Hi Francis. I had been planning a post about Lightroom, Photoshop Elements and Photoshop. Glad to see you'd be interested in that too. I'm going to move that to the front. Thanks!
DeleteBest regards,
Mic
Reading from Belgium here! On an almost daily basis.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work!
Roel
Thanks Roel! We appreciate the support!
DeleteBest regards,
Mic
I'd like to see:
ReplyDeleteShooting Techniques
D600 review
Thanks Al! I will be posting about shooting techniques soon and will look for more resources for that. Re the d600 i hve preordered it and will post about it as soon as i get it.
DeleteBest regards,
Mic
Do we have regular readers who actually read our posts? Or do we just get hits from people searching for a certain topic and leaving again?
ReplyDeleteI've been a regular reader for a couple of months. I'm a novice, and I'm most interested in nudes and people. I'd like to see:
1. More discussion or reviews of books, along with links to said books; often books are much deeper than average forum discussions.
2. Shooting techniques.
3. More about flash photography. This is particularly interesting to me, because it's where I probably need to go next. Your flash FAQ is very helpful. Thanks for writing it!
The first one is of the greatest interest to me, because it's effectively infinite. I also know there are many excellent photography books out there, but I have little to no idea what they are.
I enjoy your gear posts but I think gear discussions have relatively low local maximums—that is, once someone learns enough about gear, gear is no longer the main thing holding the individual back. In addition, and as far as I can tell, a given "class" of camera at a given time from one manufacturer is, more often than not, roughly equivalent to another. I don't think most photographers are going to see the quality of their images strongly affected by whether they have a Nikon 5100, a Canon t3i / t4i, or the other brands' equivalents. Ditto for full-frame cameras. If you read the sub-forum at reddit.com/r/photography, you'll see what I mean.
Plus, a lot of us—like me—can't afford a "complete" setup, so I'm interested in posts about doing less with more. In my case, I've been reading about the Sony RX1, and that might be the "ultimate" camera for me—that is, one I use for many years without reaching its limitations. I'm now finding the T2i's limitations in terms of focus points more than anything else.
I write a blog about books and ideas, and I too have a mix of "regulars" and people coming from Google. The latter are probably more numerous, since they're wondering if they should read Straight Man or not.
Hi Jake! Thanks for your thoughtful reply. Glad to meet a fellow redditor (i lurk at the /r/bjj subreddit). I agree about what you said about techniques. It's encouraging to find readers like you who would also be interested in that. I erroneously surmised that most readers prefer to read about product reviews. Look for more posts re technique from me.
DeleteAs for lighting yes it is important for people shots and absolutely critical for nudes
I've been a regular reader for a couple of months. I'm a novice, and I'm most interested in nudes and people. I'd like to see:
Delete1. More discussion or reviews of books, along with links to said books; often books are much deeper than average forum discussions.
2. Shooting techniques.
3. More about flash photography. This is particularly interesting to me, because it's where I probably need to go next. Your flash FAQ is very helpful. Thanks for writing it!
The first one is of the greatest interest to me, because it's effectively infinite. I also know there are many excellent photography books out there, but I have little to no idea what they are.
I enjoy your gear posts but I think gear discussions have relatively low local maximums—that is, once someone learns enough about gear, gear is no longer the main thing holding the individual back. In addition, and as far as I can tell, a given "class" of camera at a given time from one manufacturer is, more often than not, roughly equivalent to another. I don't think most photographers are going to see the quality of their images strongly affected by whether they have a Nikon 5100, a Canon t3i / t4i, or the other brands' equivalents. Ditto for full-frame cameras. If you read the sub-forum at reddit.com/r/photography, you'll see what I mean.
Plus, a lot of us—like me—can't afford a "complete" setup, so I'm interested in posts about doing less with more. In my case, I've been reading about the Sony RX1, and that might be the "ultimate" camera for me—that is, one I use for many years without reaching its limitations. I'm now finding the T2i's limitations in terms of focus points more than anything else.
I write a blog about books and ideas, and I too have a mix of "regulars" and people coming from Google. The latter are probably more numerous, since they're wondering if they should read Straight Man or not.
I erroneously surmised that most readers prefer to read about product reviews. Look for more posts re technique from me.
I think people like to read product reviews when they're novices—like me—but at some point gear probably isn't the thing holding you back from better pictures. The thing holding you back from better pictures is between your ears.
I've "outgrown" my t2i in some ways: I'd like built-in wireless flash and another control dial, most obviously. The AF system is weaker than I'd like. But it's still a very competent camera, and I think the next camera I get will permanently obviate my need for better gear. The obvious candidates are the RX1 or the (eventual) Canon 70D.
I think a lot of people, especially the technically inclined, find gear posts easier in some ways because there are a lot of objective specs that make discussion / debate easier. But to me, and, I think, to most skilled photographers, the gear is a means to an end, not the end itself, and I'd like more about ends than means, if you take my meaning.
Mastering and understanding your tools are obviously important for any artist. But it's important not to let the tools become the focus, rather than the thing the tools are used for.
I'm jseliger on Reddit, BTW, although I usually use a different account to post to /r/photography.
Hi Jake. I agree with what you said about equipment. It's easier to say i need to buy XXXXX instead of spending the time to learn the right technique. Otoh there are times when they complement each other as in the case of lighting where you really need to invest in both equally.
DeleteBest regards,
Mic
Hi, I'm a reader from the UK and enjoy the blog/email updates. Looking forward to the Lightroom 4 post as I've recently purchased it. Anything on technique is appreciated and the library of previous technique posts and tips is great. Intrigued by the ipad and phone photography future topics. Keep the posts coming!
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Mark
Hi Mark. Will be glad to cover basics of LR as well as its more advanced features.
DeleteBest regards,
Mic
Well, that's certainly encouraging, and good to know the interests of our readers.
ReplyDeleteWe will try and cover all the requests you mentioned here, and I'll hope we get to hear from the regulars more often.
Thanks
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI read, and really appreciate:) your posts from Portugal, also using Google Reader. I am more interested in strobist stuff, so I would be very happy if the planned article on the Yongnuo 560 II get some priority:)
Regards,
Ricardo Rodrigues
Hi Ricardo. Thanks again for the support. And thanks also for letting me know about Aokatec. I love their wireless trigger. Hope to do more posts about off-camera flash and setup shots in the strobist style.
DeleteBest regards,
Mic
Hi..mic
ReplyDeletei'm your reader from indonesia since your post about TTL Flash Tutorial.
and i'm looking forward to read article more about the light
Hi Endy! Wow thanks for supporting us for a long time! Lighting will always be a core technique that we will discuss again and again. Thanks!
DeleteBest regards,
Mic
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI'm a regular reader from Hungary. I find your articles very useful, entertaining and fun to read. Keep up the good work!
The articles I'm most interested in:
Post Processing Techniques (Lightroom 4)
Canon 24-105 Review
Canon 5D Mark II Review
Joe
Hi Joe! Thanks for the support! I will indeed be posting more about LR4. As for the 24-105, my coauthor Mshafik has shown me several shots that are impressively sharp. I'm looking forward to those reviews as well.
DeleteBest regards,
Mic
Mic,
ReplyDeleteI've been subscribing your blog for several months now and been reading your old posts that I've missed and still found lots of great stuffs.
I really like your writing style, especially gear reviews and photography techniques, as they all come from your own experiences, and I think it's very honest.
Hey, I just convinced to buy the 11-16 Tokina after reading your blog, man!
As a starting photographer (1 year actually), I'm very open to any kind of stuffs related to photography: gear reviews, portrait session techniques, strobist, landscape, macro etc.
So keep up the good work!
Regards from Indonesia,
Iqbal
Hi Iqbal! Thanks for supporting our blog and congratulations on the Tokina 11-16! The Tokina 11-16 is one of my favorite lenses though composition is more challenging with an ultrawide lens I think it is more rewarding. Enjoy the journey and pls feel free to share your favorite shots!
DeleteBest regards,
Mic
One suggestion, is it possible that every time a reader post a comment, it can immediately shows up here?
ReplyDeleteMaybe it can attract the reader to give feedback or comment?
Beside giving feedback, some time we, as the reader, also want some immediate feedback too, not only from the blog owner, but also from other readers.
To get rid off spammer, maybe you can implement capthca or something?
Just my 2 cents..
Regards,
Iqbal
Hi Iqbal. I think you make a good point about the comments. The problem as you pointed out is spam. We get several spam comments everyday. I dont know if captcha would block them - i think it's also a little inconvenient for real commenters (sometimes the captcha is hard to read).
DeleteThe other issue is i want to be able to respond to a comment right away. If comments are posted without approval (which is how it used to be) sometimes i dont even notice them and i dont want anyone to think i ignored a comment. Approval is one way i can make sure i see and respond to all comments.
For our part we try to approve and respond to comments asap.
Best regards,
Mic
Dear Mic Ty,Have you had a chance to use single point A.F. to find it's effects on highlights? I look almost daily to see if you have more helpful articles including using DX lenses of the FX600. You have clear,concise and cogent blog helping photographers improve +/or learn new tehcniques. I have also learned a great deal from Thom Hogan blog re:Photographic techniques,new equipment there uses ,abuses and limitations.Best Alan New Mexico USA
ReplyDeleteHey there Alan, thanks for dropping by. I really appreciate the feedback. Honestly it's not easy to maintain this blog. It takes a lot of time. Feedback like yours is what encourages me and my coauthor Mshafik to keep going.
DeleteI haven't experimented with single point AF yet like Mako2011 suggested. But I will do that this weekend.
Re DX on D600, my preliminary experiments suggest that there's no difference in dynamic range per se but for some reason the camera's choice of exposure seems to be different. I have to pin this down and will post about it.
Thanks for mentioning Thom Hogan. I love his blog too. Sometimes it goes over my head with technical detail :) but it is helpful.
Best regards,
Mic