Rather incredibly (and by incredible, I mean difficult to believe), TOP turns four years old on Saturday. I think I've mentioned before that when I started doing this in 2005, my ambition was to keep it going for a year, and, frankly, at the start, I wouldn't have given a farthing for the chances of that. And yet here we are, still chasing the great white squirrel.
To date, there have been a few dozen shy of 3,000 posts, well over 21 million visits to the main page, and very close to 50,000 comments.
Now, I hate to do this to you, I really do, but you know what's coming: as I always say, it's time to buy yourself our birthday present. If there's something you want from either Amazon or B&H Photo, you must* buy it for yourself. Look, you have to do something to support TOP and help pay for all the good free stuff you enjoy, right? So if there's a book you want, or a lens, or a CD, anything, I'm sorry, but it's your duty; you really have no choice—your hands are tied—your obligation as clear as...optical glass. And if your spouse or partner, child or parent complains about you spending money, well, you can tell him or her in good conscience that you didn't want to buy yourself a present, but you had to, Mike forced you to.
Meanwhile, I'm going to take a couple of days off. I won't be slacking, however: I plan to use the time to finish up this year's "TOP Ten Cameras" list. This time, though, I'm trying something different. I know we all just love the cute way that the "top" in "top ten" matches the site's acronym, but let's face it, the concept of the "best" cameras is incredible (and by incredible, I mean lacking in credibility. Kinda silly, in other words). I'm planning to try a new format for it, too. Hope you'll be entertained, and possibly even enlightened.
Okay, mostly entertained.
And Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who celebrate it—what the heck, even if you don't.
Cheers,
Mike, TOP's Chief Artificial Coffee Creamer Officer**
*(I kid, of course. As I also always say, you're always welcome here whether you buy anything through our links or not. Especially if you are un- or under-employed, my thoughts are with you this Thanksgiving, and please keep your money for more important things. You can catch us when prosperity smiles on you again, as surely it will.
I'm very grateful for all the support we get from so many people. TOP has felt the economic downturn but is still surviving. More than 270 people "subscribe," i.e., give a recurring donation of at least 25 cents a month; a number of people have sent cash "tips"; somewhere between 1% and 4% of our readers have bought things though our links at least once; and various "Friends of the Site" have made donations in kind of everything from professional advice to equipment loans. Plus, we have some great advertisers. And let's not forget the many individuals who have written the guest posts or the great comments that add so much to the conversation. I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.)
ADDENDA:
Out-of-camera JPEG version
Congratulations Mike!, on your fourth anniversary. And "thankyou" for all the enjoyment and education that your great site offers. Also, Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. God bless!
Posted by: Player | Wednesday, 25 November 2009 at 03:34 PM
Hey!
I keep wondering when your next birthday is.
You see, if you type "The Online Photographer" into a Google search field, you only get as far as "the onli" before Google suggests The Online Photographer as first choice, exactly one above The Online Bible (and three above The Online Candy Shop). When you follow this, one of the top hits is always "The Online Photographer Turns One."
Anyway, enough rambling and happy birthday.
Dean
Posted by: Dean Johnston | Wednesday, 25 November 2009 at 03:40 PM
Chief Artificial Coffee Creamer Officer* - I see you're a Dilbert subscriber Mike!
My brother is living in the US for a year, and I think he might be willing to bring me home a nice lens for Christmas. I'll make sure to buy it through your links, once I work up the courage to commit to it...
Happy thanksgiving to you, and here's to the next four years :)
Posted by: Rory | Wednesday, 25 November 2009 at 03:57 PM
Potty trained and *still* not potty-mouthed!
Happy birthday TOP.
M.
Posted by: Marty McAuliff | Wednesday, 25 November 2009 at 04:00 PM
Happy birthday, Mike!
Posted by: Dave Polaschek | Wednesday, 25 November 2009 at 04:18 PM
Thanks for curating such a lovely website!
Posted by: Dennis | Wednesday, 25 November 2009 at 05:24 PM
Mike:
I'm glad to be a supporter and subscriber, but I haven't had much need to buy anything photographic this past year. Pretty much have everything I want.
However, after reading this post, a little lightbulb went on over my head. Maybe I don't buy much from B&H right now, but we (I, my family and business associates) do buy a lot of stuff for other purposes through Amazon. Everything from computer equipment to auto parts to farm supplies.
Call me dumb, but it just never occurred to me that you could get credit for all that stuff if we used your link.
Is that correct? Is that the way your agreement with Amazon works? If so, there may be other "dummies" like me who just never thought to do that. I know that I will now if TOP benefits from it.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Posted by: Rick | Wednesday, 25 November 2009 at 05:51 PM
I must admit that I am amazed at the fact that the purchase rate for readers here is less than 10%, even given the economy.
Nature Lover
My Motto: Pancake whatsa pancake?
By the way love the Jpeg: my kinda processing. Although coulda been a little cooler.
Posted by: Nature Lover | Wednesday, 25 November 2009 at 06:29 PM
Mike:
Thank-you very much.
Posted by: Neil "The Wheel' Clarkson | Wednesday, 25 November 2009 at 06:37 PM
"it just never occurred to me that you could get credit for all that stuff if we used your link. Is that correct? Is that the way your agreement with Amazon works?"
Rick,
Yes indeedy. Anything you buy from Amazon, a few pence go into my pocket as long as you go there from TOP's link when you order and buy.
Thankee,
Mike
Posted by: Mike Johnston | Wednesday, 25 November 2009 at 06:44 PM
Happy Birthday TOP and thank you Mike. When my wife objects to me buying photo equipment, I tell her I'm helping to support a friend in Wisconsin! How can she deny me the pleasure of helping a fellow human being?
Posted by: Dennis Mook | Wednesday, 25 November 2009 at 08:37 PM
"When my wife objects to me buying photo equipment, I tell her I'm helping to support a friend in Wisconsin! How can she deny me the pleasure of helping a fellow human being?"
Dennis,
Egg-ZACKLY. That's the idea!
:-D
Mike, PRPE*
*Photo-Related Purchase Enabler
Posted by: Mike Johnston | Wednesday, 25 November 2009 at 08:47 PM
Many happy returns, Mike, Ctein and all the other contributors, and a Happy Thanksgiving to you from London.
Posted by: Bahi | Wednesday, 25 November 2009 at 08:49 PM
Farthings to you, Mike!
Dollars, too!
Posted by: Joe Dasbach | Wednesday, 25 November 2009 at 09:11 PM
Congratulations and thanks Mike, Ctein, and everyone else who helps make this the best (or at least my favorite) photography blog in history.
I'm happy to continue to support your efforts in any way I can, even if it means I have to buy myself something that my wife strongly feels I do not deserve.
Posted by: Amin | Wednesday, 25 November 2009 at 09:12 PM
Congratulations on a successful and worthwhile endeavor.
All the best in the future!
Posted by: photogdave | Thursday, 26 November 2009 at 12:13 AM
I love the detail in the painted muslin backrop but do think the artist could have used better colour correction for his flourescent studio lighting.
Posted by: Dickon Whitehead | Thursday, 26 November 2009 at 02:53 AM
Life running The Online Photographer obviously suits you as you are looking better than ever in your latest picture.
And if that hottie has a sister I'm moving to America!
I would have bet more than a farthing, at least a groat on you making four years. Well done. I recommend your site to lots of other snappers.
Posted by: Roger Bradbury | Thursday, 26 November 2009 at 04:44 AM
I have come to the conclusion that the internet too easily becomes a black hole for time, so I have tried discipline myself to only spending time at worthwhile sites. Happy Birthday to one of the very few sites (addressing any topic) that I check daily.
Posted by: John Roberts | Thursday, 26 November 2009 at 05:13 AM
Fantastic and much appreciated effort, Mike.
If I was richer I'd subscribe at a higher rate as this is far better than any printed photo magazine.
(Sorry to say that in my opinion 'Black and White Photography' magazine here in the UK isn't half as interesting as it used to be, coincidentally, before you left, and the only other periodical worth looking over every few weeks is the British Journal of Photography. In fact I think it would be true to say that photo magazines in general are increasingly samey and simpering towards their principal advertisers and utterley overlook the really interesting things, particularly, for example, in user experience and software).
Sorry, went a bit off track, suffice to say that you really are providing a great source of er.. technotainment, funducation, edufunment, dusted with poigniancy, worth every penny.
Kind regards, Mark Walker
Posted by: Mark Walker | Thursday, 26 November 2009 at 05:35 AM
Happy Birthday Mike. Now you are off the potty and toddling here's to many more.
Posted by: Bill Symmons | Thursday, 26 November 2009 at 07:46 AM
Just bought a $2k+ monitor through your link. Thanks for all you do.....
Posted by: Scott Jones | Thursday, 26 November 2009 at 10:51 AM
I'm a recent convert to your blog, Mike. Your style is refreshing compared to how other photography-related websites treat the subject (IE, measuring the amount of milliseconds a camera takes to turn on and focussing obsessively on lens sharpness).
I hope you'll be able to continue for many more years.
Posted by: Kevin Schoenmakers | Thursday, 26 November 2009 at 11:00 AM
Best website on photography ever! I've followed you writing since the Sunday Morning Photographer. May you keep on for four more years!
Posted by: Svein-Frode | Thursday, 26 November 2009 at 11:29 AM
Congratulations Mike. You provide us with something we should all be thankful for.
May we all have our great white squirrels to chase.
Rob
Posted by: Rob Atkins | Thursday, 26 November 2009 at 11:40 AM
Hey Mike, I've asked everyone on my blog to buy ME a book through one of your links. So you get your Amazon pence and I get books. That should work right? ;)
Posted by: Keith Loh | Thursday, 26 November 2009 at 02:28 PM
Happy Birthday, Mike: congratulations for a job well done, and for making your passion so transparent to readers.
I know this is little compliment, but let me say that there are two reference photography sites I visit at least once per day. TOP is one of them, since I discovered it.
(The other, in case someone cares, is www.dslrmagazine.com, in Spanish, and no, I have no relationship with its author, in any way).
Posted by: Cateto/Jose | Thursday, 26 November 2009 at 02:34 PM
Well done Mike, just keep going, because you also help keep me going.
Thanks also to Ctein and Carl Weese, as well as the TOP 'staff' of thousands.
By the way, what does it feel like to be Four Again ?
With best wishes
Chris
Posted by: Chris (Sugden-Smith) | Thursday, 26 November 2009 at 03:43 PM
Mike, I just subscribed to your site. I can't imagine doing that at any other blog. Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Kent Anderson | Thursday, 26 November 2009 at 07:52 PM
Happy Birthday TOP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG2NL72DhqA&feature=player_embedded
Posted by: charlie | Thursday, 26 November 2009 at 11:46 PM
Thanks for this online miracle
Posted by: Igor | Friday, 27 November 2009 at 06:03 AM
Ordered Christmas presents for myself (Joe McNally's books!) from Amazon through your link. I wish your site many more years of continued success!
Posted by: Ron | Friday, 27 November 2009 at 08:27 AM
Happy Birthday Mike,
I don't post often, but do read daily TOP ! Living in Paris, I don't use Amazon or others related sites as I have the luck to have everything at my doorstep, but I promise I'll find a way to subscribe for this fourth year... As, after the "potty training", I suspect the toddler will start exploring the world... !
Posted by: Jacques Pochoy | Friday, 27 November 2009 at 10:04 AM
Ah now we can look forward to "The Terrible Fives" (the sequel to "The Terrible Twos") :) Happy B-day TOP
Posted by: John Taylor | Friday, 27 November 2009 at 12:42 PM
Congratulations and thank you for a great daily read. I try to link through your site for all of my amazon purchases so hopefully it has benefitted your efforts a bit.:)
Posted by: John Gillooly | Friday, 27 November 2009 at 02:21 PM
Thought I might indulge in a little personal Christmas shopping and remember you mention a book called Truth/Beauty a while ago (feb this year), it was about $40 at the time, its is going for $245 now! Should have taken your advice at the time it was given.
Posted by: William Furniss | Friday, 27 November 2009 at 08:27 PM
Many Happy Returns Mike! The cake is in the post...
Posted by: HughofBardfield | Saturday, 28 November 2009 at 07:54 AM
Hi Mike,
Thanks very much for an informative and entertaining website. I am a regular visitor and glad to contribute what I hope is my fair share to the tip jar.
As my daughter would say, you are "keepin' it real".
Posted by: Robert Billings | Saturday, 28 November 2009 at 10:05 AM
Congrats, Mike. I did as I was told and just bought myself an Amazon present. Here's to your fourth anniversary!
Posted by: Yvonne Cunnington | Saturday, 28 November 2009 at 12:31 PM
Best to you Mike. Here's hoping you can go on forever, never having to fall on your knife. Love ya!
Posted by: Joe McAllister | Saturday, 28 November 2009 at 03:38 PM
Congratulations Mike, and many thanks.
TOP has played a major role in my education as a photographer. Reading your blog is like listening to a great friend. A pleasure.
Thank you again, and best wishes for you and your family.
Posted by: Francisco Cubas | Saturday, 28 November 2009 at 04:39 PM
Happy 4th Birthday!!
Posted by: Riley | Sunday, 29 November 2009 at 10:50 AM
You persuaded me Mike. I really do need that new Blu-ray player after all. Hope a little benefit comes your way.
Posted by: Peter Robinson | Tuesday, 01 December 2009 at 02:25 AM