How did you grow photographically in the year past and what are your goals for the new year?

[West Coast Birder]

It's time for the annual ritual of figuring out what you are going to target photography-wise in the new year. Are you planning to explore a new genre in photography, something you have always wanted to do? Are you setting goals for how frequently you shoot? Like sharing a photo a day, or a photo every week? Are you planning to visit some place you have always wanted to go to? Are you planning on taking a class or teaching one? Entering a competition? Having an exhibit? Publishing a coffee table book?

As far as I am concerned, I want to spend more time on macro photography. I have dabbled in the genre but I think I want to work on putting together a decent lighting solution and explore this area.

Share your plans and your goals and inspire others!

 

[RDKirk]

I really ought to complete my PPA Craftsman degree. I've been three points away for darned near a decade.

 

[West Coast Birder]

I really ought to complete my PPA Craftsman degree. I've been three points away for darned near a decade.

What’s PPA? Well, I did Google it and figured out what it stands for, but can you describe what the craftsman degree entails and what the benefits are?

 

[RDKirk]

What’s PPA? Well, I did Google it and figured out what it stands for, but can you describe what the craftsman degree entails and what the benefits are?

The Photographic Craftman's degree is essentially a teaching/speaking acknowledgment. One can teach PPA-sponsored courses and workshops, write articles for PPA magazine, and such. I've been three merits short for eight years.

 

[wxjef]

Definitely want to try and photograph more and experiment. Been on a bit of a shallow DOF kick lately. Also try to get along more with my EOS R. Not sure I am going to try and continue to pursue bird / wildlife stuff however.

 

[Bill in Texas]

Get better

 

[Well Bonded]

To have fun and make a buck or two in the process if I can.

 

[Ltdave]

do better than a $7 loss on the print sales i do thru my hosting site. goal #1

make enough with my photography, i can retire from the paying job that's supported the family for the last 30 years. goal #2

 

[Joeseph]

I'd like to learn (like, properly learn and understand) all the useful functions on my camera.

 

[Daffodil Hunter]

Very fortunate to have a bald eagle pair in my neighborhood. They're often perched on a dead tree, on the lake shore or on the lake gazebo.

Goal is to photograph them.

First need to buy an Olympus 300mm F4.

Then take graduation photos for daughter and her friends: Ivy League Law School!

 

[Daffodil Hunter]

I'd like to learn (like, properly learn and understand) all the useful functions on my camera.

Most useful function #1, put it on automatic mode and shoot away.

 

[Dragonspeed]

I want to be more active with my camera this year. It has been hard to get out of the COVID slump. I need to make myself get out more.

 

[Tom Reichner]

.

In 2024, I purpose to:

1: learn how to use the little Sony mirrorless camera that I got last summer

2: familiarize myself with the 15mm Macro Shift lens well enough to produce a half dozen satisfying images with it (of small reptiles / amphibians / shellfish)

3: produce high quality images of at least 3 warbler species of which I do not yet have high quality images

4: travel to one new region and develop a modicum of familiarity with the wildlife photo opportunities there ... possibilities are anywhere in New England, inland Georgia, the very southern point of Texas or the east coast of Texas (the part that has barrier islands)

5: if I am able to get back to Arizona this year, my goal will be to get quality images of at least one species of Rattlesnake that I do not have yet

.

 

[West Coast Birder]

.

In 2024, I purpose to:

1: learn how to use the little Sony mirrorless camera that I got last summer

2: familiarize myself with the 15mm Macro Shift lens well enough to produce a half dozen satisfying images with it (of small reptiles / amphibians / shellfish)

3: produce high quality images of at least 3 warbler species of which I do not yet have high quality images

4: travel to one new region and develop a modicum of familiarity with the wildlife photo opportunities there ... possibilities are anywhere in New England, inland Georgia, the very southern point of Texas or the east coast of Texas (the part that has barrier islands)

5: if I am able to get back to Arizona this year, my goal will be to get quality images of at least one species of Rattlesnake that I do not have yet

.

Very eclectic set of goals, Tom! Looking forward to your sharing of your adventures.

 

[damianmkv]

To take more photos, for the joy of it..

i’ve lost that in the last 2 or 3 years..

 

[stevejack]

For me, to really delve into the history of art, learning as much as I can about design theory and what makes for compelling, balanced images. I started looking hard at this only 12 months or so back and I've probably improved more in the last few months than I did over the last 20 years.

Being able to understand why certain arrangements of elements within a rectangle (canvas, photograph, etc) work better than others has always eluded me. I could *sometimes* understand why a particular image worked when another didn't, but often not.
Now with some reading behind me, I'm much better able to grasp the reasons why the artist did what they did - and I'm able to apply this to my photography.

It's made me far more intentional and now 99% of my photography happens before I ever bring the camera up to my eye. I much prefer it this way.

I feel like I've spent the last 20 years learning about cameras and lenses, and only the last few months learning how to actually make a photograph.

 

[gjl711]

I have two projects I've been trying to start, one macro with ants and the other in the kitchen. Still working on an earlier one, restoring all of the old negatives/slides/prints I have accumulated over the years. That's so time consuming.

 

[OhLook]

I have two projects I've been trying to start, one macro with ants and the other in the kitchen.

Try not to combine them.

 

[gjl711]

Yea, that would be buggy.

 

[MakisM1]

To shoot a photo on 11:59:59 pm on 12/31/2024 to prove that I made it through another year!...

A worthy goal for a septuagenarian...

As such, I don't need to set any goals, enjoy each day as it comes along...