It's 2015...now what?

[Geoff F]

Retiring, Bob, oh dear! When that happens you get so very busy! So much to do and not enough time for half of it.

But at least you are able to filter out some of the tasks which you really don't want to take on.

[Manfred M]

Let's see. it's Jan 5, 2015. That's 5 days on from Dec 31, 2014.

Why does that seem to suggest I change the way I do things or take on some additional (self imposed) tasks.

No thank you. 2014 was busy enough; I think I'll continue just where I left off 5 days ago.

[davidedric]

To be honest, to make it through to December.

[Shadowman]

1. To continue working on improving my landscape images, especially the ever elusive mountain scenes.

2. To capture some beautiful images (like Dan's) of eagles in flight

3. To photograph Brown Bears (Grizzlies) in the wild... I'm hopeful that I will be able to join a photograph trip/tour to see these bears next fall.

4. To improve the artistry of my images simply by seeing through photography.

5. To create an especially artistic, fantasy-like image of a bird(s) through post processing. Chauncey... Just FYI I still have that swan image on my to do list. I haven't forgotten about it... I simply can't do it well enough, yet... One day this year I'll surprise you with it.

Christina,

Have you done any research on grizzly treks?

[Shadowman]

Ah was planning a ruthless cull, then sale, of 10-12 manual lenses and a couple of my cameras. Then, a dealer ah buy regularly from, had a 40% off sale which has resulted in the acquisition of 3 more lenses and a v. old Zenit SLR (in excellent condition) which ah'd been searching for.

.....Plus ça change.....

I was just thinking about at least dowsing my desire for new lenses.

[Shadowman]

For me:

Shoot more
Hold back and post far fewer images
Refrain from processing images as soon as I can - taking stock
Shoot Medium Format film (I have my eyes on a Fuji GW 690 ii in a local store)
Finally buy that 35mm rangefinder that I'm saving for

I sometimes wish forum members would post more per posting. When I first joined I think I averaged about three per started posting, the past six months I've dropped to one per posting, but usually add additionals to the same thread.

[chauncey]

Dave...make it to December???...it's a crap shoot.

[Mike Buckley]

Dave...make it to December???...it's a crap shoot.

My motto: plan for the future and live for the present. Easier said than done.

[PhotoByTrace]

I've enjoyed reading these varied responses

I set new goals quite often for all aspects of my life; they help me prioritize. The most recent ones for photography are perhaps more about my mentality towards my photography, then skills per se. I'd like to have more confidence in my artistic vision for post-processing and to feel more comfortable shooting people. Skills-wise, I'd like to better understand the intricacies of printing and calibrations and make time to learn more about using flash effectively, though that is a bit further down my priorities.

Of course the ongoing goal is to have better time management so that I can enjoy shooting in peaceful natural settings more often, which in turn, assists my health management .

[wilgk]

Well, I had a nice response already typed to send last night & then bing we lost power & Internet, so couldn't even use the tablet to load my msg...
I have forgot what I wrote too, but it was sometng along the lines of practice more landscape scenery images - do something with the images I have that I like! Print, make a book or whatever...
Cull the clog on my computer of those not part of the plan as described above!
Remember why I like photography & not try to learn something every time I pick up the camera, shoot for fun & take photos I like & know how to do...it's ok to have a wee rest in the comfort zone before leaping out into the fray of learning again.
I would also like despite the busy world, to make time to post here regularly & in turn, comment on others work & share any skills I have learnt along the way so far.

[mknittle]

Well, I had a nice response already typed to send last night & then bing we lost power & Internet, so couldn't even use the tablet to load my msg...
I have forgot what I wrote too, but it was sometng along the lines of practice more landscape scenery images - do something with the images I have that I like! Print, make a book or whatever...
Cull the clog on my computer of those not part of the plan as described above!
Remember why I like photography & not try to learn something every time I pick up the camera, shoot for fun & take photos I like & know how to do...it's ok to have a wee rest in the comfort zone before leaping out into the fray of learning again.
I would also like despite the busy world, to make time to post here regularly & in turn, comment on others work & share any skills I have learnt along the way so far.

Don't feel bad Kay, I can do that without a power outage

[NorthernFocus]

My motto: plan for the future and live for the present. Easier said than done.

Life is what happens while I'm making my plans

[Paniaa]

Wm C: what is a crap shoot?

Dave: make thru to December - I'm with you there but also need to shoot more, & more & more. Perhaps put a toe over the line & actually submit images - eeek!

[IzzieK]

Wm C: what is a crap shoot?...

Like the ones I do, Paniaa...like the ones that I posted at times...funny question...

[chauncey]

[QUOTE]Wm C: what is a crap shoot[/QUOTE
It's a rural/country expression meaning throwing the dice, AKA, playing craps.

[IzzieK]

Wm C: what is a crap shoot

It's a rural/country expression meaning throwing the dice, AKA, playing craps.

[inkista]

My photography goal for 2015 is both easy and hard. My brain got eaten by Mike Johnston's digital variant of the OCOLOY exercise (One Camera, One Lens, One Year aka "A Year with a Leica"). But I know my limits--there's no way I'm doing that project. There's no way I could do what he proposes, because a) I'm pretty sure the camera/lens I want for the exercise would be an X-Pro2 and either the Fuji 35/1.4 or the Touit 32/1.8 and the X-Pro2 ain't out yet. b) I know me: shooting 5-15 minutes every day is the impossible ask, and c) I don't know how to print.

Well, time and money will take care of a) [and hell, I already put in 20 years with one camera/lens combo before with my Oly OM-10 and Zuiko 50/1.8], b) is the actual obstacle, but c)--that I can do something about.

So as a Christmas present to myself, I bought a printer. Canon's having a mail-in rebate on the Pro-100 and Pro-10 right now (runs until the end of January, at least in the US). You buy the printer and a 50-sheet pack of 13x19 paper, and you get a $250 rebate. The Pro-100+paper bundle has a $400 price at B&H, so it's a grand total of $150. In other words, you buy the paper and the ink and get the printer for free.

Since Christmas day, when I opened it up, lugged it up onto a table (this thing is not light and it's huge), and got the wireless set up, I've made at least one letter-sized work print a day on super-cheap matte paper I can grab for $4.50/50 sheets on Amazon. I'm going to see if I can keep it up for the rest of the year. If I last out the year, THEN we'll see if I can do the OCOLOY thing...

I hadn't realized how much I missed making prints and having the physical object in my hands. My first 13x19 print on the not-cheap-matte paper made me do a happy dance.

Plus, now I can print on DVD-R discs.

It's already been pretty much worth it, so if I tank out by mid-February or something, I'm ok with that. But I'm hoping I'll make it the whole year. Anybody wanna join me?

[Shadowman]

My photography goal for 2015 is both easy and hard. My brain got eaten by Mike Johnston's digital variant of the OCOLOY exercise (One Camera, One Lens, One Year aka "A Year with a Leica"). But I know my limits--there's no way I'm doing that project. There's no way I could do what he proposes, because a) I'm pretty sure the camera/lens I want for the exercise would be an X-Pro2 and either the Fuji 35/1.4 or the Touit 32/1.8 and the X-Pro2 ain't out yet. b) I know me: shooting 5-15 minutes every day is the impossible ask, and c) I don't know how to print.

Well, time and money will take care of a) [and hell, I already put in 20 years with one camera/lens combo before with my Oly OM-10 and Zuiko 50/1.8], b) is the actual obstacle, but c)--that I can do something about.

So as a Christmas present to myself, I bought a printer. Canon's having a mail-in rebate on the Pro-100 and Pro-10 right now (runs until the end of January, at least in the US). You buy the printer and a 50-sheet pack of 13x19 paper, and you get a $250 rebate. The Pro-100+paper bundle has a $400 price at B&H, so it's a grand total of $150. In other words, you buy the paper and the ink and get the printer for free.

Since Christmas day, when I opened it up, lugged it up onto a table (this thing is not light and it's huge), and got the wireless set up, I've made at least one letter-sized work print a day on super-cheap matte paper I can grab for $4.50/50 sheets on Amazon. I'm going to see if I can keep it up for the rest of the year. If I last out the year, THEN we'll see if I can do the OCOLOY thing...

I hadn't realized how much I missed making prints and having the physical object in my hands. My first 13x19 print on the not-cheap-matte paper made me do a happy dance.

Plus, now I can print on DVD-R discs.

It's already been pretty much worth it, so if I tank out by mid-February or something, I'm ok with that. But I'm hoping I'll make it the whole year. Anybody wanna join me?

Nice agenda for the year, yes printing can be fun; until you venture into B & W and I'm sure you'll enjoy the journey.

[inkista]

Nice agenda for the year, yes printing can be fun; until you venture into B & W and I'm sure you'll enjoy the journey.

Actually, B&W is probably where I'm having the MOST fun, and having the most sensory flashback to pulling prints off the dryer drum... My old inkjet made B&W a frickin' nightmare, but the Pro-100 was Canon's attempt to keep up with the Epsons , and has dedicated cartridges for B&W printing. Could'a knocked me over with a feather the first time the new toy spat out an absolutely color-neutral B&W print at me with contemptuous ease. Doesn't mean I can get the blacks I want (yet), but it's hecka closer than I've ever been before. I'm simply enjoying being at the least-critical part of the learning curve right now.

"Ooo! It's a print!" is still enough to make me happy right now.

[Brownbear]

Hi John,

Sorry, somehow I forgot about this thread... Yes, I've done a lot of research on the tours. Alas they are in out of the way places and while the tours are affordable the accommodations are especially expensive, but I'm hopeful that I will be able to to do so this Fall 2015.

Christina,

Have you done any research on grizzly treks?