How would you describe the specific flavour and interests of your blog?

AH:   What's The Jackanory? looks at all things photography that interest me, with a slant towards the magazine, commercial and contemporary scene.

Are comments allowed?

AH:   Yes. They are not moderated, all are welcome. I do not get involved in the commenting. To be honest I don't have the time but I do appreciate anyone who does, no matter what they have to say.

Describe your own background in relation to photography and why you decided to start a photography blog?

AH:   I am an editorial and commercial photographer from Dublin now living in New York. I started the blog primarily as a self promotional tool but it has evolved greatly since day one and has become about so much more than me and my photographs.

In your experience what have been the highs and lows of blogging? Are there any particular pitfalls to owning a photography-related blog?

AH:   In many ways I think of the blog as my own magazine, a place where I can be inspired and hopefully inspire. I had not written much if any before I started the blog and have enjoyed that challenge. It has also made me more open to accepting new ideas and experimenting with different media (slideshows, film, etc.) and gives me a venue with an audience to showcase this work. It also gives me an incredible opportunity to interact and collaborate with other photographers, something that would not have been possible without the blog. Creating interesting original content is key to any blogs success/longevity and this is certainly a challenge. The blog is incredibly time consuming but has been incredibly rewarding.

What are your top three picks from the world of photography in the last 12 months?

AH:   (1) Philip Toledano's Days with My Father - A hauntingly beautiful project.

(2) Tim Hetherington's (www.timhetherington.com) Sleeping Soldiers - 3 panel audio/visual show at the New York Photo Festival 2009. The highlight of this years festival for me. You can see it here.

(3) Martin Parr (www.martinparr.com) giving back. He plans to donate his collection of photographs to either the Victoria & Albert Museum or the Tate Modern. Parr has a unique collection of some 700 photographs spanning 50 years of British photography and includes work by photographers such as Tony Ray-Jones, John Hinde and Paul Graham.

Now if only he would open up his own house to tours. I believe it is chock to the gills with all sorts of priceless treasures.

If you could only subscribe to one blog (other than your own of course) which would it be and why?

AH:   I subscribe to quite a few and link to my favorites via the Blog Patrol on the site. Alec Soth, Joerg Colberg, Robert Wright and John Loomis all played a hand in me jumping in and I owe them all a huge debt of gratitude for their inspiration and resulting friendships. And of course then came Rob Haggart's A Photo Editor.