Happy New Year: A Look Back at 2017

Happy New Year from Donten Photography!

While 2017 was a crazy year in the public eye, it was a fun year here at Donten Photography.  2017 brought us not one but two large travel adventures.  The first was the summer trip to Asheville and second was the Thanksgiving trip to New Orleans.  There was even the mini-trip during spring break which took the family to the panhandle for a tour of a few state parks.  Nestled between these trips were plenty of baseball games and airport trips making for a great 2017 in photos.

The first of the three trips of the year took us to the Florida panhandle during spring break.  We did a camping trip which took us to Torreya State Park from where we branched out and visited the Florida Caverns, Falling Waters State Park and Three Rivers State Park on our quest to visit all 164 of the Florida State Parks.  That quest has a long way to go but as of the end of 2017, I have visited 32 of the 164 parks, I'd say we still have a way to go.

The summer brought the first of two major trips, the road trip to Asheville, North Carolina.  The highlight of this trip for me was the drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Unfortunately, our cramped scheduled did not allow me the full amount of time needed to truly enjoy the drive, but I will certainly be going back again in the future and I can see a full parkway, multi-day trip from beginning to end.  The summer trip also allowed me to cross two more minor league baseball stadiums off my list as we caught a game at McCormick Field (Asheville Tourists) and Smokies Stadium (Tennessee Smokies).

The second major trip came during Thanksgiving break when we flew to the big easy for a week long trip in New Orleans.  The trip marked my first time flying since 2005 and as a huge aviation nerd, it was long overdue.  The NOLA trip was filled with plenty of cultural and historical experienced but the best of all was the food.  That is the part of the trip that really stands out, the amazing Cajun/creole food.

Another major project that was started in 2017 was the migration of all my photos onto Flickr.  While the Pbase galleries still remain, not new photos were added to it this year.  Instead, I have started posting everything onto Flickr mainly because it looks nicer and best of all it is free.  The Pbase site was starting to get pretty expensive with the amount of photos I have online and since I don't make anything on the site or get wrapped up in the advertising game, free works best for me.  This will continue to be a project that will go on for a while.  All new photos will be put on Flickr and as I do a photo of the day feature, I will migrate the archived photos over.

The only drawback to 2017 was that between work and my son's baseball schedule, I have not been able to keep up with the website as I had envisioned.  Currently I have over 500 photos still needed processed and I plenty of stories from the NOLA trip still on the drawing board.  At times it has been hard just to keep the photo of the day feature running.  But I am going to try and make it a bigger priority in 2018.

The site continues to be a fun project for me.  I enjoy sharing our travel adventure with you through my photos.  This is just a hobby for me, I am not a professional and have never had any classes or training.   This started simply as a way to share photos with friends and family.  It has continued to grow and at the end of 2017, over 7,199,174 viewers have found there way to Donten Photography and the photo galleries.  That to me is amazing!

2018 looks bright.  I found a new source of motivation in late 2017 that inspires be to dream bigger and make your visions a reality.  I think with this support and motivation, 2018 will be a big year. And who knows maybe there will be a few surprises, adventures or features as a result.

I wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year and thank you for following Donten Photography.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Photo of the Day: Disney's Hollywood Studios

Image
  For many years, a towering, iconic Sorcerer's Hat served as the unmistakable central landmark for Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM Studios), drawing visitors deep into the park's vibrant heart. The hat, an enormous, three-dimensional representation of the magical cap worn by Mickey Mouse in his role as the Sorcerer's Apprentice from the classic film Fantasia , was initially erected as a centerpiece for the park's 100 Years of Magic celebration, honoring the centennial of Walt Disney's birth. Its prominent placement quickly cemented its status. Much like the instantly recognizable icons of the other Walt Disney World theme parks—Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom, the geodesic sphere of Spaceship Earth at EPCOT, and the intricately carved Tree of Life at Disney's Animal Kingdom—the Sorcerer's Hat became the park's most famous symbol and a favored backdrop for countless visitor photographs. Its design featured bold colors, stars, and the moon...
Read more

Photo of the Day: New York City

Image
Along the perimeter of Central Park, nestled within the vibrant core of New York City, stands a collection of the city's most architecturally significant and historic luxurious apartment buildings. These iconic addresses are more than just residences; they are meticulously preserved monuments that pay homage to a bygone era of Gilded Age splendor and pre-war elegance, maintaining their original magnificence and grandeur.  A premier example of these exceptional homes is The Beresford. Completed in 1929, this legendary co-op on Central Park West is instantly recognizable by its distinctive trio of massive copper towers and is celebrated for its imposing scale and sophisticated design. Conceived by the renowned architect Emery Roth, The Beresford stands as a testament to the period's commitment to lavish detail, expansive layouts, and unparalleled exclusivity. It offers residents breathtaking panoramic views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline, cementing its status not just ...
Read more

Visiting the Florida Holocaust Museum: A Powerful and Reflective Experience

Image
St Petersburg, Florida: Located in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, the Florida Holocaust Museum is one of the largest institutions of its kind in the United States, dedicated to preserving the memory of the Holocaust and educating future generations about the dangers of hatred and intolerance. Founded in 1992 by Holocaust survivors Walter and Edith Lobenberg, the museum has grown into a deeply moving cultural and educational destination that encourages visitors to reflect on history while promoting a more compassionate future.  Overview of the Museum  The museum’s core exhibit, “History, Heritage, and Hope,” takes visitors on a chronological journey through the Holocaust, beginning with the roots of antisemitism and continuing through the rise of Nazi Germany, World War II, and eventual liberation. The experience is largely self-guided, allowing visitors to move at their own pace while engaging with photographs, personal artifacts, and survivor testimonies.  One o...
Read more