Photographic goals for next year

slimrbp · #1 (**permalink**) 10-12-2010, 09:31 AM

One of the things I have been doing recently is to try and set my self a photographic goal for the year.
This year it was to get together a portfolio to use for a Licentateship assessment with the Royal Photographic Society. It's all done but the earliest assessment I could get is January so overran a bit

So as next year draws near I have decided on a couple of goals/resolutions.

Enter more competitions
Try and photograph insects in flight
Photograph aquatic beasties

Does anyone else do something similar or is it just me

Weedy · #2 (**permalink**) 10-12-2010, 10:12 AM

Just one simple goal ..... capture something with the WOW factor! Not fussy what it is but just ONE would be great.

PMG · #3 (**permalink**) 10-12-2010, 11:03 AM

Yes - you are not alone

For me its species rather than attainments and I set a list for 2010 and intended going for some things very determindly by knowing exactly when to catch them ...... their whereabouts have been known to me for years but somehow the years go by and I haven't been organised and the important time factor just slipped away! This year I was determined and made plans and a calendar and stuck more or less to it.

This thread had me sitting here 'hazy' and thinking 'oh I haven't done much' ... so I've been and checked and by heck I've been busy and certain images bring me a lot of pleasure - not cos they are particularly good but cos I have eventually seen that particular thing at long last!

Here is what I aimed at and went for:

Ptarmigan - the better half goes for these - I don't 'do' mountains!
Black Grouse - long known about but timing critical for seeing them
All the 'morel' fungi family - three quaters of which I would not have seen or photographed without the aid of 'Fungi John' - many, many thanks my mate

Spring Gentian - seen previously but not photographed to my liking
Hawfinch - as above seen but not got till now
Spotted Rock Rose - wanted to see this for years - a completely new 'tick'
Hebridean Marsh Orchid 'Ebudensis' - been within spitting distance many times but didn't know it was there ........
Irish Lady's Tresses - been within spitting distance and didn't know till this year - always wanted to see!
Limestone Woundwort - as the rock rose - long wanted to look at
Silver Studded Blues - wanted for a long time - these were completely new 'tick'
Dune Helleborine - only seen seed heads - never seen in flower before
Wilsons Filmy Fern - seen over the years - never got a good photo
All the above involved journeys or holidays to the right place at the correct time and in some cases quite a bit of effort!

Others that have fallen into my lap have involved being told and then going (dare I say this?) twitching .......... oh and I said I never would - funny what retirement finds you doing ............

Osprey, Green Sandpiper, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Iceland Gull and Waxwing ....... all local to home!

I take it all back - I've not had a bad year at all

Pauline

PS and thinking about it the one that gave and still does give me the most pleasure is the Spotted Rock Rose for a number of reasons and associations ..........

Geoff F · #4 (**permalink**) 10-12-2010, 06:27 PM

Well as another year draws to a close, I am thinking along completely different lines to you, Richard.

I've finally decided that photography should be a relaxing hobby so I will not be entering competitions, where I get depressed because I didn't get a single vote etc, and will completely ignore what other people may think about my photos.

I don't like images that have been forced to conform to an artificial 'Rule' of Thirds which ignore the randomness of the real natural world. And the same goes for those slow shutter speed photos of seascapes where the surf becomes a milky blur. As an ex professional fisherman, I like my surf fresh and sharp.

The only thing which may make my blood pressure rise slightly is continuing to capture macro insect shots, from the correct angles, which are sufficiently close and sharp to enable identification. And I will invest in a few more identification books.

The only current dilemma which I face is whether to purchase Adobe CS5 before the VAT increase.

My present software, Serif Photo Plus X3 does 90% of what I want (I tried X4 but didn't like it and eventually gave it away). So would one of the top programmes be a good one off investment or just a waste of money which could be put to better use buying more lenses? I just can't decide.

Otherwise, I am simply going to do whatever pleases me next year.

david156 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-12-2010, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff F

I am simply going to do whatever pleases me next year.

As Geoff says

Farplace · #6 (**permalink**) 10-12-2010, 07:10 PM

Next year I want to get a few good shots of "boxing" hares, dippers .... er... dipping, and the roe deer in my wood.

GTH · #7 (**permalink**) 10-12-2010, 08:06 PM

As Geoff, with the addition of encouraging a few more new species of birds into the garden... and "snapping" them

turkeyneck · #8 (**permalink**) 10-12-2010, 08:44 PM

Interesting thread this one, having only just gotten a half decent camera, I've not really had the chance yet to think of targets but off the top of my head.

1. Enter a competition (heaven knows which one or what I'd enter, worry about that later)
2. Try my hand at some landscape stuff (once I've got a lens).
3. Try and learn more of CS5 instead of the basics I know at present (arty/farty stuff).
4. Photograph a wren in flight (start off easy next year in the BIF category)
5. Oh nearly forgot, to actually own a genuine Canon lens of some kind (Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM would be nice)