This time last year, I didn’t feel I’d had enough visits to 35hunter to justify a “best of” post.
But 2017 has been a fabulous year for me, and I’ve learned loads as a photographer and a photoblogger.
Plus my visits and page views have increased over 1000%!
So in case you were wondering, here are the top five posts written in 2017, ranked by page views –
Lens Love #1 – Pentacon 50mm f/1.8 M42 – In which I raved about one of the best value and closest focusing vintage 50s out there.
Lens Love #2 – Auto Chinon 50mm f/1.7 PK – In which, er, I raved about one of the best Pentax K mount 50s out there, a genuine rival to the ubiquitous Pentax-M 50/1.7.
Preset Aperture Lenses – How They Work And Why You Need At Least One – Where I gushed my love of preset and often many bladed aperture lenses like the Helios 44-2 and Jupiter-37A.
How To Start Film Photography For £27 – Which does exactly what it says, shows you how to start shooting film super cheaply.
The Only Lens You’ll Ever Need – Yay, another lens post! This one’s essentially an ode to the wonders that are Asahi Takumars.
And here are the five posts that felt most important for me to write. Please give them a chance if you haven’t before!
How Shooting Film Positively Transformed My Digital Photography – Where I praised the lessons and benefits film photography has brought me.
Binge, Purge, Repeat – Learning How To Escape The Camera Consumption Spiral – In which I confessed my gear addiction(s), and my escape plan(s). And yes they’re pretty much working!
How I Shoot Film With A Digital Sensor – The post where I figured out that most of the major reasons I love film photography are equally valid shooting digital. A major game changer.
Guilty Secrets And The Great Film Fallout 2017 – Where I confessed to actually not needing to shoot very much film at all anymore. Mostly because of the article mentioned above.
Eight Golden Rules For Rewarding Photography – A post which shared some of the fundamental rules that make photography for me a generally very satisfying pursuit.
Thank you so much for reading and being here throughout 2017. May 2018 bring you beautiful light and glorious photographic adventures!
How’s 2017 been for you as a photographer – and photoblogger, if you’re one of those too?
Please let us know in the comments below (and remember to tick the “Notify me of new comments via email” box to follow the conversation).
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Congrats, Dan!
It’s normal that your blog gets hit a lot. Nice writing and even better photos!
For me 2017 has been OK blog-wise. Not on the personal front though. Views have tripled compared to last year. But still a long way to blog
Thank you Frank, sounds like we’re both moving in the right direction with our blogs. Any particular plans for yours for 2018?
Not sure yet, probably taking up where I stopped before my surgery. I start work tomorrow… don’t tell my doctor but I got to get out. And I’ll take my XA2 with me. Not easy with crutches but I need to make some photos!
Reminds me of a period on Wouter Brandsma’s blog where he injured his back and was bedridden for a few weeks, he still managed to take pictures from his bed and make them interesting and compelling. Sometimes this kind of challenge can in some way encourage us to be more inventive with what and how we photograph.
Thanks for all the great posts this year.
Er, last year!
😄😄😄
Thanks for reading and your input Sam!
Yes, except that Wouter was much more creative…. I intended to do some ‘domestic’ photography and make it interesting but somehow never got to make something good.
I have to be outside to make my photos it seems!
Oh that’s reminded me, an idea was raised on his blog about making 50 photos in one room, and you can’t leave until you’ve made them. This is something I definitely want to try in 2018!
Hey, sounds great! But that’s one and a half roll… I’d prefer 36…. 😉
Yeh I think 50 photos was the digital version, for film yeh 36 exposures! Maybe I’ll try that too with something like my Pentax-A 50/1.4 (on film), every shot wide open!
Interesting, isn’t it, to see what the vast Internet finds interesting vs. what you wish it would find interesting!
Yes. It’s much like on Flickr, where photos of cameras and lenses get way more views than photos taken with them.
But as I said in my recent “24 Lessons” posts, with photography and blogging, I’d rather follow my own path than try to be a people pleaser. For example, the music that’s filled my iPhone most recently is not Little Mix or One Direction, but Eluvium and Stars Of The Lid… Not populist, but greatly treasured by those who’ve discovered them…