People in the USA are...tense right now. Let's just put it that way.
I don't see much of it, but I've noticed that the frequency of various accusations flung across my bows has ratcheted up. I don't think I'm doing anything differently than I ever have, but tense people are maybe a little...short, as in short-tempered? Is that a mild enough thing to say to indicate what I mean?
Anyway, one of the occasional accusations leveled at TOP is that it's a site for older readers.
Usually stated like that's a bad thing.
I don't look at it that way. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to write for young people in virtual hordes—I'd write for teenagers if I could!—and photographers of any age or description are more than welcome. But, if anything, I target older readers. Who wouldn't? They're experienced, they're wise, they're interesting. They have stories to tell. Their culture includes a broader swath of recent history. They get my references. (When T.S. Eliot died, Ezra Pound said, "now who will get my jokes?") They tend to not get all hot and bothered about angels dancing on the heads of pins. They put things in perspective. There's a reason they're called "mature."
Herman (hover your mouse over image)
I like the company of people who know more than I do. About something, possibly including photography, even.
Speaking of which, unless I am mistaken, our Official Oldest Reader (as well as Punster-in-Chief, but don't provoke him), Herman Krieger, turned 94 yesterday. Ninety-four...that's a good start. (I think I know more about his life than I know about my own.)
Happy Birthday Herman! Are you still riding your bike Friday?
So to the next person who says TOP is for gray heads, not gearheads, my response is: I hope. None better.
Mike
Reply from Herman: "Yes, I'm still riding my Bike Friday recumbent. I'm now waiting for a Swytch electric pedal assist kit to install on the bike. Now if only they made a shutter assist kit to make it easier to take photos."
Original contents copyright 2020 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:
Mike Hurd: "I was just going to say—well I'm young and I've been enjoying your blog for years but then I realised that I'm 43 and I need to start remembering that I'm not actually young any more...."
Mike J. replies: I remember sitting in Phil Davis's workshop studio—he developed Beyond the Zone System and was the de facto technical editor of Photo Techniques—complaining about how old I was. He immediately admonished me (he did a lot of that), telling me that I was still very young and I should realize it. I believe I was 42 then.
CR: "Twenty-two-year-old here enjoying your blog nonetheless. I like the literary references, and the fact you know so much more about photography (and other things) than me is probably exactly why I keep reading."
Mike replies: Welcome CR, good to know you're here.
Aaron Hines: "From where I sit, I do not think you target any audience other than those interested in photography in its many forms. The 'old' part seems to come from the fact that younger generations do not have as much interest in dedicated cameras at the moment, while those of us that have been photographing for a while don't see smartphones (and social media) as having entirely usurped all other cameras or completely devalued photographic history. At 38, I am sure that many here do not consider me old...though, that's always a matter of perspective, isn't it? My 11-year-olds think I'm ancient."
JG: "One point you didn't make, but probably could (should?) have, is that older readers are much more likely to be...well, readers, not watchers. A couple of years ago, I stumbled into a mentor role wherein I've been casually teaching two high-school age kids (children and grandchildren of friends) about the basics of photography. (They are particularly interested in using film, which I find amusing, as I was equally happy to be rid of it.) While they claim to be interested in learning, if I forward to them a link to anything text-based, they won't read it. No way, no how! However, they will happily watch videos, even poorly made ones that are chock full of errors and inaccuracies and are intended to be consumed as entertainment, not education. Not surprisingly, the primary outlet for their photography is Instagram via an iPhone and they love using filters when post-processing their photos. While they would no doubt benefit a lot from regularly reading your blog, there's zero chance they will ever do so, because it's simply not the way they have been primed to acquire knowledge or entertainment. I've repeatedly tried to gently nudge them into being more open-minded about this, but no such luck so far! Anyway, based on this small sample set, at least, I suspect if you ever do try to cater your blog more toward younger readers, your business model will fail spectacularly!"
Mike Plews: "I suspect a convention of TOP readers would be a gloriously fascinating event but would also be over by 8 p.m.
"I am into my third month of retirement and hit 71 in November which should establish my geezer bona fides. Most of my friends are about the same age and some have shared nuggets of wisdom about this time of life, a few worth sharing:
- You know you are really old when you ask your date 'are those your teeth?' and you aren't asking if they are dentures, you are asking if they are paid for.
- You know you are really old when you are less concerned about running our of Viagra than stool softeners.
- And finally, you know you are really old when you can remember when 4x5 was considered medium format.
"Good lord I miss DuPont papers—that sort of says it all."
Mike replies: I was just thinking I wish Kodak still made Verichrome and Medalist. Or at least Plus-X.
Chris C: "I think in the modern world, 'readers' is enough to imply 'older.' The younger generations are more into watching video as their source of information. My teenage son is a prime example—'why read the book when I can watch the movie?'"
Mike replies: Anecdotal evidence, but my 27-year-old son is the same way. And he's a good reader; he just doesn't enjoy it. On the other hand, I was researching the book marketplace the other day and adolescent fiction is a hot category.
Bob Feugate: "As always, a thoughtful and interesting post. And I was delighted to learn that Herman Krieger is still alive and doing well. He has led an extraordinarily productive life and deserves to be better known. His pages of visual puns 'Essays in Black and White' are endlessly amusing."
Joe Iannazzone: "Mike, I've got a couple of years on you and have been reading your columns since the Luminous Landscape days. To pick up on Mike Plews' anecdotes...'You know you are old when the motivation for dating a younger woman is that she can see to drive at night.' Just to be clear, I am happily married and can see well enough to take photographs in the daytime."
Chan: "Started reading your blog from my late 20s. Its been more than a decade now. By the way, I'm waiting for your post about iPhone 12. LoL."
Mike replies: I requested one from Apple today because of your comment here. I don't even know if they provide review samples, but it never hurts to ask.
Ken W: "I'm in my 30s, and I drop by this site every day (and drop a bit in Mike's Patreon while I'm at it). Mostly lurking, and happy to read and learn from many who have made photographs for longer than I've lived so far."