Happy New Year: A Look Back at 2018

2018 was an exciting year for Donten Photography. The creative inspiration that found me in late 2017 continued to help me better myself and my photography throughout the year. We enjoyed plenty of photo safaris that took us throughout the Sunshine State, capturing the beauty that is found in our backyard as well as inspired me to slow down and enjoy the details, something I always seemed to miss in the past. It is this inspiration that has filled my heart with new purpose and the resulting photography has been some of my best work.  I am still learning the art of photography, but it is a heck of a lot more fun sharing it with someone that shares your same passion for photography. 

Much of 2018’s travels were filled with Forever Adventures, you know the kind where you disappear with the ones you love and make memories in everything that you do that you cherish with for the rest of your lives. We traveled to Disney, we explored the animals of the zoo, got lost in nature and spent times just strolling the streets of towns close to home, all while capturing those moments and memories through the lens, In 2018, I did have one road trip, a trip back to the Great Smoky Mountains. A trip that was shadowed by dark moments but still resulted in some pretty amazing pictures as the power of inspiration helped me take some amazing photos despite the adversity that ensued.

In addition to travel photography, I still continued my sports, aviation, public safety and wildlife photography. I shot a bunch of baseball games including games in the Florida State League, a few Tampa Bay Rays games and my son’s travel baseball team. When baseball was over, I got a few high school football games in. And 2018 saw a return to the hockey rink for me as I shot a few ECHL game for the Florida Everblades, a first for me as a photographer and the first hockey game for me since moving to Florida. Aviation continues to be a very popular feature on the site which I added photos from plane watching trips to SRQ, TPA, MCO, MIA and more as well as photographing air shows at MacDill, Homestead and Punta Gorda.

The traffic to the website has steadily grown, approaching 8 million visitors. I have struggled with the social media aspect of the site but I am learning. They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but someone is determined to teach this old dog…either that or I’ll need to hire a social media expert because this stuff is too good for people not to see.

The biggest project of 2018 is going to carry over into 2019 and that is the migration of the photo galleries over to SmugMug. While the galleries still remain on Pbase and Flickr, I am moving everything over to SmugMug, all new content has been going there automatically and I have been putting archive content there in conjunction with the photo of the day. This is pretty exciting for a few reasons, one because it looks much better, two it puts everything in one place and three because it allows you to purchase prints. So whether it’s a family member playing baseball or a cool landscape shot from a park, they are all available. And the little bit of money made of the photos helps pay the costs of the photo hosting site and to offset the costs of the activities we cover.

So it’s a win/win for everyone. 2018 was a growing year. We grew as a site and will continue to carry that growth into the new year. I hope you have enjoyed this journey and continue to follow throughout 2019 because the best is yet to come.

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