Happy Birthday, Streets of Nuremberg

A year ago today I started my photography blog “Streets of Nuremberg” with the post Shooting on a rainy Saturday. Completely new to blogging I had no idea what I got myself into and where this would lead me. My idea was to use it as sort of my own photographic diary as well as my space on the web where I could share with others my experiences on my way deeper into photography and some tips and inspirations for others to try.

The Journey was amazing! I would have never expected what this blog has developed into. First of all, and most important of all, I would like to extend a big, huge, gigantic and heartfelt “THANK YOU” to all my readers, followers and supporters!

For a few insights into this amazing ride, some reflections and outlook to what’s to come continue reading after the jump….

As of writing this anniversary post the “Streets of Nuremberg” have 875 followers. This is totally insane. For other blogs this probably is a ridiculous small number, but for me this means the world and totally blows me away. Word Press Statistics show me my blog is actually read in 95 (ninety-five!) countries on this planet. The majority of my readers is in the USA, followed by Germany, UK, Canada, Australia and India. All continents, so many countries. So my goal to write my blog in English language to connect with people all over the planet really worked out.

And this leads me to the most precious personal benefit of publishing this blog….you, my readers. I met so many amazing people through my blogging. Interactions with those people is so enriching, and even some friendships started. This is what I’m most proud of.

I love the interaction on this blog. As much as I love leaving comments on other people’s blogs and reading their replies I appreciate so much when readers take the time to leave a comment on the “Streets of Nuremberg” as well. And I do answer them all. This is important to me, the interaction with my readers. And so enriching.

The only exception I took from this was on my recent post Remembrance , the tribute to my father-in-law that passed away five years ago. I wanted to let this stand on its own. I have received so many beautiful comments on this post, and want to say a sincere “Thank You” for everyone who took the time to leave a comment. Please forgive me that I did not reply individually.

I designed this blog to be mainly around Street Photography, even though it carried Travel/Urban in the title since the beginning, and I even chip in the occasional landscape shot. Although “experts” suggest a certain specialization to be successful, I found that I don’t want to limit my creativity. So I do occasionally post about other photography related activities I try out myself, like my portrait series “Off topic – Studio Anywhere”. Or I post about my travel experiences with the series “StoNur on the road”. And from the feedback of my readers this variety of photographic topics seems to be the right approach.

Things really took off once I started my advice series, the “Street Photography  Quick Tips” and “Instant Inspirations”. I was surprised by the demand for those easy to use tips around photography, appreciated both by beginners seeking starting input as well as from advanced shooters who simply wanted to give their photography a fresh angle.

Posting photographs from the Streets of Nuremberg and by introducing parts of my home town trough my “Nuremberg Explored” series I also want to be an “ambassador” to my city. Through this I connected to many bloggers who either have visited Nuremberg before or were actually born in our around the city and were able to retrace part of their roots through the “Streets of Nuremberg”.

One year down the road I think I found the right mix that this blog doesn’t get boring neither for my readers nor for myself.

A couple of posts that showed the evolution of this blog:

Gear & Camera Settings for Street Photography
Saturday Rush (or running after the subway bird)
A Street Photographer’s Business Card
StoNur on the Road – Blood Mountains
Are you a Hunter or a Gatherer ?
Stages of Life on a Street Photography Morning
Off Topic – Studio Anywhere
Want your own Logo ? DIY !
Instant Inspiration (I) – Get Down Low
Street Photography Quick Tip (1)
Nuremberg Explored (3) – Hangman’s Residence
StoNur on the Road – Banana Streets
My Sunday Miracle

So what is next?

I want to do more posting on the educational side of photography. I receive so much positive response to this that I want to keep empowering and inspiring other photographers, those relatively new to the genre and those who want to give their photography a fresh angle. I plan to start a “Learning Center” page, accessible from the Top Menu were I will bundle all my educational posts for easy access and searching for specific topics.

Another important goal for the next year is to actually meet some people I met through blogging face to face. Some invitations have already been extended and I hope life is so good to us that we can actually make that happen. This would mean the world as well.

And if you have some suggestions regarding what I should pick up on, let me know!

Thanks for having joined me on this wild ride during the first year of blogging on the “Streets of Nuremberg”. I love that you are here. And I love to take you into year 2.

Thanks again !

Marcus