Four Year Blog Anniversasry

First image I posted on April 3, 2013 (click to enlarge)
Nikon D700, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII lens + Nikon 2X tele-converter @ 380mm; 1/800th sec. @ f/8; ISO 400
I didn't like using a tele-converter but this vehicle was located in a farmer's field and there was a really
mean looking bull that was nearby and didn't seem to want to go anywhere else!  So, out came the 2X converter!

This month marks the four year anniversary of this blog.  I find that fact very hard to believe considering this blog was created primarily to document, for friends and family, a Route 66 road trip that one of my best friends and I planned to take starting in mid-April, 2013.  The intent was for the blog to be short term and primarily used to document road trips and travel for those who stayed behind.  My first blog post was April 3, 2013, which you can read here. 

In that first post I wrote about wanting to share my photographs and thoughts.  That still holds true.  With over 47 years of photographic experience, I feel strongly about sharing everything I know and have learned about photography, both making images as well as the technical side including gear and processes. Also, I want to share with my readers the mistakes I've made as well as extol the pleasures I derived from photography.  Sharing and helping others is a very important part of my life.  Always has been.

Including this one, incredibly I have published 775 posts.  That is astounding as I had no idea that I could say or write so much.  My writing seems to be as prolific as my talking! Unless something drastically changes, I plan to continue to find and use my photographic voice and write whatever comes to mind or what I deem interesting or important at the time.  I've also written several posts based upon suggestions from you, as readers. There may even be an occasional rant or two.  Heaven knows how frustrating life can be in so many ways today.

This blog has come a long way.  I've met and made some wonderful new friends through this blog and, if nothing else, has made this endeavor worthwhile for me.  I hope that I have also brought some value to each of you.  If not, much of both of our time has been wasted.

One thing I have come to learn about myself is that I really enjoy writing.  I find writing helps me solidify thoughts and ideas and imprint them in a more concrete way upon my brain. Things that previously I may have taken for photographic truths, I now have time to question and test.  I have had to do more research, more testing and more technical photography than ever before so I could gain a better understanding of photographic issues than I had to prior to publishing them.

Thank you for visiting and reading this blog.  Thank you for trusting my words as I try hard to only publish what I find is the truth from my own experiences.  I hope you will continue to visit and read this blog.  I have no advertising, no affiliate links, no free gear to try and/or keep, only my thoughts shared directly with you uninfluenced by any company or manufacturer in hopes that my words bring you value and increase your knowledge as a photographer. 

I hope this blog has enhanced your photography so photography brings as much pleasure to your life as it has to mine.

Again, thank you for visiting and reading.  As always, I'm here to help and to answer any question you might have concerning photography.  Just ask.

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

All content on this blog is © 2013-2017 Dennis A. Mook. All Rights Reserved. Feel free to point to this blog from your website with full attribution. Permission may be granted for commercial use. Please contact Mr. Mook to discuss permission to reproduce the blog posts and/or images.