Today is the day I set out some photographic goals for myself. I do so with some excitement as well as some anxiety. After all, I realize I am not fully in charge of this life and many things can happen to get me off course. I don’t want to end up 2012 looking back at this list feeling I have failed. I know that although my hopes for the year exist, the year will also look very different from what I imagine.
So why do this?
Well, quite simply put, I am distractible. Easily distractible. And I need reminding, much reminding, to focus on what I would like to achieve, who I want to be, and how I want my life to be. So this list, these goals/hopes/aspirations, are put forth with the idea that I will review them periodically and they will help me to refocus. There are also items here I long to get involved in which take some planning and foresight, so this voicing of my intention helps to pave the long road toward those items.
Where was I?
Oh, that’s right! Goals!
So here we go: I’ve arranged these in the manner suggested by Steve Simon in his wonderful book, The Passionate Photographer. If you haven’t read it, do. Making this list in this manner, with these categories, has helped them be more focused and I hope will lead to more accomplishment, and therefore more joy.
Photographic Project Goals:
- Continue working on my Tierra Encatada Project (New Mexico Project)
- Develop and Complete an ebook on the psychology of photography.
- Create a notebook dealing with cameras.
- Create a notebook dealing with life in Cafes.
- Finish my baseball project (Put me in Coach)
- Create a photobook based on the Dia de los Muertos Parade here in Albuquerque, NM.
- Create a photobook chronicling my young family’s life with photo stories
- Create 2 photo stories with NM artist’s as the subject. I have 2 ideas for subjects here.
- Begin my Two Worlds Project dealing with bicultural couples.
Artistic Goals:
- Partake in at least one photographic workshop
- Either enter (deadline 1/20/12) or attend Review Santa Fe Critique/Review. My intent here is to learn more about what makes a good photograph, especially with regard to my own work, much of which I am often too emotionally close to in order to assess that effectively.
- Take an active part in an online collaboration/feedback forum to which I belong. Once again my effort here is to help me develop a more critical eye regarding my photography and photography in general. I also enjoy helping others work toward their photographic goals and this is a way to do so.
- Attend quarterly photography gallery viewings at galleries such as Verve and Photo-Eye
- Read and digest at least 5 of the following books:
- Develop a greater ability to tell visual stories by studying the craft through books, blogs, and producing at least 4 concentrated visual stories.
Technical Improvement Goals:
- Learn how to use a handheld light meter in order to learn to better meter my film camera.
- Increase my ability to use off camera flash and flash modifiers.
- Learn black and white film processing-Darkroom anyone?
- Update the firmware on my camera.
- Learn ftp protocol for my website
Equipment Goals:
- Silver Efex Pro 2 Computer Software
- Portable Softbox
- Umbrella & Stand
- Rangefinder camera- you know, a Leica M9 or a Fujifilm x100…
- An iPad, cuz I really, really want one.
- Wacom Tablet.
(Note: having written this before the new year and posting it here a week or so later, I have noticed that my “Equipment” list is short and-frankly-I don’t really “need” anything on it. The first three items would be nice and would help some with my vision of some images I want, but I can manage without them. The last three goals are just wants. I have what I need in terms of stuff. What I really need is more time to work on my projects, not more equipment.)
What about you? Do you have goals, dreams, aspirations? Are there things you would like to feel you have accomplished, created, enjoyed in the coming year? What point on the compass does you heart set?
Hi Brian,
The Harwood Art Center on 7th and Mountain has a funky but fine darkroom for community use. No instruction – you need to know what you are doing and provide own paper and chemicals. Incredibly cheap!
Kathy
Hey Kathy,
Thanks so much for that info. I didn’t know The Harwood Art Center had that. That makes me very excited. Now I just need to learn how to soup my own film so I can use the facilities. Do you know of anyone able and willing to teach that? I had thought at one point to learn and set up a darkroom in my house but visions of my kids drinking the chemicals and opening the door at the worst possible moment have put pause to that idea. So I’m happy with this news!
Wow Brian, hefty little list you got here. I truly hope creativity and luck winds will blow your way and you will cross most of those throughout this year. Strange how we all do things differently – i’m trying zenhabits approach this year:
http://zenhabits.net/achieving/
http://zenhabits.net/no-goal/
hoping for the best 🙂
Anyway have a great 2012 men
Thanks Radek. Yes, it has turned out to be a hefty list. I discovered that I’m excited to do all those things, but there are so many and they each have numerous steps to achieve them, so I thought I’d better put them in writing. I have taken the “ZenHabits” approach many times (most of the time, even) and like the approach. In fact, this list of goals has grown out of the “no goal” approach. I won’t feel guilty if I don’t achieve all or any of them for I’m aware that the journey will be interesting regardless. The idea of the goals is to get me started and see what grows-one does have to plant the seed. Thanks for stopping by, it is always good to hear from you. My best to you as you begin 2012.
There was a local fellow named Steve Donahue who used to offer darkroom classes at a place called Central Photography. Not sure if it’s still running. I’ve never been there. http://www.stevesphotomythology.com/about.htm
Another thing I’d try. . . call Harwood and speak with Darby Photos (her real name). If enough people are interested in learning darkroom skills she may consider running a class. That’s been considered in the past.
(I used to work there).
Go in to Camera and Darkroom and ask around?
Thanks Kathy, I will check out both those options. I appreciate the info. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your methodology which I used to restructure my goals for this year. Like you my list is hefty so I’m leaving it to compost for a few days then I’ll review and refine. Good luck with your goals for 2012.
Hi Julie,
Good idea on the composting! I really like that. I find it gives some clarity to what is important and what is just chaff. Getting the goals refined and structured really helps in providing clarity of purpose, even if that clarity is to simply wander and let life present itself.