I write about New Year resolutions every year, and I just read over some from past years and liked this one from 2015.
The prospect of new opportunities is always exciting and I suppose jotting down a personal list of goals (resolutions) at the beginning of each year might be a good idea. This past month I asked other photographers what they would make as resolutions, and most responded with the usual:
• Use a tripod more.
• Turn off auto mode.
• Buy a new camera or lens.
• Try shooting RAW.
• Learn more about lighting.
• Take more photos.
• Learn about composition and the ‘rule of thirds’.
• Learn better post-production techniques.
However, I also demanded some friends to come up with something a bit more inspirational and with a bit of online searching I put together the following resolutions or goals that seemed to be about improving within this exciting medium in year to come.
1. Pay more attention to creative ideas. “This could be the year to begin evolving creatively”.
2. There is too much focus on what is the best camera. When we spend too much time worrying about the camera we forget about the story. “We should be concerned with making images that tell a story”.
3. Take risks and move away from always trying to please.
Make this year to push-the-envelope beyond the comfort zone without being concerned with other’s opinions. Maybe this will be the year to put “me” in the photograph.
4. Learn a new technique. It’s as simple as experimenting, and taking the time to read up on some technique and then give it a try. Photographers should always make the effort to learn new techniques. Take a class, or buy some books or CDs written by accomplished photographic writers.
5. Choose new subjects to “get out of the rut of shooting the same thing over and over”. While practicing portraiture or landscapes is good, doing the same thing the same way over and over lacks inventiveness and creativity.
6. Make every shot count and stay away from the spray and pray shooting style. “It’s about quality photographs, not massive picture snapping sessions”.
7. Become more ruthless with one’s photography and what is done in post-production; “conditioning oneself to throw out the crap is the best way to keep improving.”
Finally, I’ll wish everyone a great 2018 and end with a quote by award winning English author, Neil Gaiman.
“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.”
These are my thoughts for this week. Contact me at www.enmanscamera.com or emcam@telus.net. Stop by Enman’s Camera at 423 Tranquille Road in Kamloops. I sell an interesting selection of used photographic equipment.
Don’t hesitate to call me at 250-371-3069.
