2011 Photography Goals

[Wicked Dark]

Not really being a person to have resolutions as such, I put some goals together for last year and did pretty well; 2 partial wins and a fail (but for a good reason). Obligatory Blog Post

So this year I have these -
1. Improve composition; read a book or two, podcasts, tutorials, essays etc.
2. Strive for more distinctive images
3. Maintain post-processing workflow discipline

I hope to make some headway and continue to improve.

Anyone else have photography goals? Feel free to share. Also thoughts on how to keep them in mind or any support you need from the forum. We're all here to get better, aren't we?

[Iguanasan]

Interesting post and interesting thoughts. This line has me perplexed though "...This kept me focused and less distracted. I didn’t do this with every shoot though and often went into the field without a plan so only a partial win here..." I'd give yourself a full win. The fact that you even did it once is a full win in my book. I'm not sure that you need to do it a lot just to consider it a win.

Of course, I really haven't taken the time to set and write down goals myself so maybe I'm not the right person to comment on this.

[Wicked Dark]

Thanks, Ig.
I guess I just saw a big difference between the shooting sessions I had a plan for and the ones I didn't. Keeping a particular image in mind keeps me focused and I'm afraid I miss the good stuff when I don't plan. Too much chatting w/other people or goofing around going for the obvious. One of the best photographers I know posts hardly an image a month because he plans everything he shoots. Now, that's an extreme, I know, but I admire his results.

[Iguanasan]

Thanks, Ig.
I guess I just saw a big difference between the shooting sessions I had a plan for and the ones I didn't. Keeping a particular image in mind keeps me focused and I'm afraid I miss the good stuff when I don't plan. Too much chatting w/other people or goofing around going for the obvious. One of the best photographers I know posts hardly an image a month because he plans everything he shoots. Now, that's an extreme, I know, but I admire his results.

Sorry, don't get me wrong... I think you should totally plan, just don't be a slave to it. For instance, yesterday, before I headed out to shoot the Polar Bear Dip I looked the itinerary up on the website and I looked up the location up on Google maps and then spent some time trying to figure out where I would get the best shots. I must have done something right as I ended up sitting next to a fellow from The Canadian Press. He had a 400mm f2.8 that was almost as big as I was! Planning is a good thing but don't let it ruin your enjoyment of photography.

[angd]

Well, I might as well jump into the forum with some goals for 2011. I'm a complete newbie. So here's my list.

1. Learn what I can do with my camera. It's a Canon XS.
2. Learn about photo composition and framing etc.
3. Learn how to use editing software.
4. Complete my Project365.

[Iguanasan]

Well, I might as well jump into the forum with some goals for 2011. I'm a complete newbie. So here's my list.

1. Learn what I can do with my camera. It's a Canon XS.
2. Learn about photo composition and framing etc.
3. Learn how to use editing software.
4. Complete my Project365.

Welcome to the forum, angd! Not only a fellow Nova Scotianer but a fellow Haligonian!

Those are awesome goals but be careful on the Project 365... it's a hard road to follow... I've tried twice