Planning Photography Projects and Goals for 2011
Looking back, I notice several themes running through my personal work. What do I want to do with these? Expand on the ideas? Move on? Start new ones?
Some ideas I may pursue in 2011 include:
- Retro black-and-white portraiture.
- Intimate or mid-range landscapes.
- Unique nature images, from places seldom seen or visited.
I also have a number of projects in the queue related to alternative printing processes. Some I have pursued out of curiosity, others involve a bit of nostalgia for darkroom work.
I now realize that what I have really wanted all along is to transcend the current limitations of photography in color, dynamic range, dimensionality, and the like. I’m thinking about how I might pursue this, yet still keep the feeling of “reality” in my images. Some of the new HDR software looks interesting.
In 2010, I’ve been a bit lazy about print competitions. Entering print competitions makes me work harder at image creation, editing, and printing. The competition is fierce, but whether my entries win awards or not, the results are worth it!
I’ve been (too slowly) reworking my website. Soon, my portfolio, promotional pages, and blog will be hosted on one server. There are all kinds of good reasons to do this, starting with ease of use. Consolidation can also move my site up the ladder in search engine and social media rankings.
Another business issue is my commercial photography. The recession has hit this hard. I need to re-energize my promotional activities, starting with creating some new images that focus more intensely on brand-building and tell the types of stories potential customers need to communicate.
My teaching work has reached a crossroads. I recently led a webinar on black-and-white image editing that drew a very large national audience. The ability to reach a wider audience is important, as is the reduced cost per session. But I greatly enjoy the personal interaction available during on-site seminars and workshops, and I feel that the students prefer it. It’s going to be difficult to decide on the right mix for 2011.
Last but not least, it’s time to start work on a new book. This time, I’m collaborating with another photographer. The book will focus on an important niche that leverages some of the new lighting and image-processing technology that has become available in the past year. More news on this later, but now I have to finish that chapter outline, and send it over to my business partner!
The coming year will offer challenges and opportunities. Like many photographers, I tend to work on my own, sometimes too much. I think the key is for all of us is to rely on our family, friends, and colleagues for support and guidance. That will make all the difference!
