New Year's Resolutions - Past and Present

[colrehogan]

As this year comes to a rapid close, I was wondering, how did you do on your goals/resolutions for photography this year? Do you have any thoughts on what you expect of yourselves in your photography endeavors for next year?

 

[mjs]

I don't generally make New Year's resolutions but every year at the end of the year I regret not having shot more pictures, made more prints, and just generally beat myself up a little bit for not taking the time to enjoy my passion more than I actually did. I'll do the same this year, and resolve to do more next year. If that's a New Year's resolution then I suppose, so be it.

Mike

 

[naeroscatu]

Same here, I don't make New Year's resolutions but close to the year end I do look back in retrospect and evaluate good and bad things in my life. My general state of mind is to make progress and so far I managed to move forward with very little setbacks. Photography is no different; my problem is the speed at which I can make things happen.

 

[Slixtiesix]

Don´t make New Year´s resolutions too. I´ve made too many resolutions
for this year and realized none of it In my view it is better to be spontaneous.
Benjamin

 

[danphoto_]

I think of the present. I am quiet a young one here so resolutions are nothing but text into a paper as of now as I would never be able to compromise myself with what I instantly want, rather I invest some time at planning something and try to cut off the setbacks. This year has been a good one, half lost in a huge setback though. But my recent move to London and the maturity I was able to attain from that overwhelmed the short activity I have had during the first six months of this year.

Being spontaneous is good. But tell me, do you believe spontaneity can only be achieved with a no-where-place to resort nor any ideas to actually lead your work trough ? Say I am in the process of making a portfolio consisting in London's streets. Will this and that photography be less spontaeous because I actually am photographing streets ? I do not think they will, what about you ?

 

[Slixtiesix]

My advice on beeing spontaneous wasn´t meant that strict.
I´ve made the experience that plans can set you
under pressure and on the other hand, fate always plays its
game on you. So it´s good to have few but one shouldn´t
make too many. I won´t judge a photograph whether it´s
spontaneos or not. To be honest, I´m a great fan of landscapes
and stills
Benjamin

 

[SuzanneR]

I made a resolution this year, that I would keep up with processing film. Last year, I had about 80 rolls in September, as I shoot a lot over the summer, and don't get into the darkroom as much. I was a little overwhelmed by it all.. and swore I would not let my film pile up like that! So, I've managed to more or less keep up with it. I've been shooting some, now in the fall, and I have maybe ten rolls backed up... but that's manageable, even though I won't be able to get into the darkroom for another week.

 

[Claire Senft]

Wait a minute...slow down...whats the rush. Do I need...at my very advanced age, I of very very advanced geriactrically enhancement...to be in a hurry?
Oops. I guess that I am in touch with my female side asking questions instead of answering them. Dang. After all the time I have spent critcizing my spouse for doing just that type of thing.

You know what? I am not going to tell you.

 

[danphoto_]

Should I then be in any kind of rush considering I am just about nineteen ?

 

[Edwardv]

New Years Resolutions!!!! What's that????? I gave it up years ago when I found I couldn't keep my resolutions
.

 

[colrehogan]

My intention wasn't necessarily that it has to be resolutions, it can be goals you have set for yourselves photographically.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I didn't make any, but should have. I have to get my butt in gear and develop some sheet film. I have almost 50 sheets of 4x5 and 20 sheets of 5x7 just sitting there, boxes staring at me, every time I go into the darkroom. I feel guilty every time I print, knowing I should be developing that film.
I love the big big negative, but developing the film is such a pain in the rear. But I hate developing film anyway... That's why I do all my roll film as stand development these days. Shake it up for 90 seconds and then let it sit for an hour while I cook dinner, then come back to fix and put it in the washer... Effective time spent: 5 minutes. I love that aspect of it, but still have a distaste for doing what feels like a chore. With sheet film, I have no way of getting out of the darkroom without fogging the film, so stand development is not an option, and that's why I dislike it so much.

On a positive note - I have done a lot of house cleaning lately and have settled on my three favorite cameras. It wasn't a New Year's resolution, but a promise to myself all the same. All 6x6. ZeroImage 2000 pinhole, Holga, and a Hasselblad system. That's it for outdoors. I also have a 5x7 for indoor stuff like portraits, but that's different. Everything else is packed up, awaiting a day that I feel inspired to use it. It made my life simpler by a landslide, and I now have the ability to focus on what matters - making photographs.

- Thomas

 

[colrehogan]

I know this feeling. I need to declutter my house and have been consolidating various boxes to at least try and clear off my surface areas. I also have several boxes of sheet film negatives to develop. I am slowly making my way through them. I can't shoot any more until I empty out the boxes which I can store my exposed film in while waiting to be developed.

Developing negatives gives me more possibilities for printing, which can be just as exhausting a chore as developing film at times. However, this is why I participate in these print exchanges here, so I can be motivated to get off my rear and do new work.

Diane

I didn't make any, but should have. I have to get my butt in gear and develop some sheet film. I have almost 50 sheets of 4x5 and 20 sheets of 5x7 just sitting there, boxes staring at me, every time I go into the darkroom. I feel guilty every time I print, knowing I should be developing that film.
I love the big big negative, but developing the film is such a pain in the rear. But I hate developing film anyway... That's why I do all my roll film as stand development these days. Shake it up for 90 seconds and then let it sit for an hour while I cook dinner, then come back to fix and put it in the washer... Effective time spent: 5 minutes. I love that aspect of it, but still have a distaste for doing what feels like a chore. With sheet film, I have no way of getting out of the darkroom without fogging the film, so stand development is not an option, and that's why I dislike it so much.

On a positive note - I have done a lot of house cleaning lately and have settled on my three favorite cameras. It wasn't a New Year's resolution, but a promise to myself all the same. All 6x6. ZeroImage 2000 pinhole, Holga, and a Hasselblad system. That's it for outdoors. I also have a 5x7 for indoor stuff like portraits, but that's different. Everything else is packed up, awaiting a day that I feel inspired to use it. It made my life simpler by a landslide, and I now have the ability to focus on what matters - making photographs.

- Thomas

 

[benjiboy]

My resolution was to get four of my cameras serviced this year, because I've had them all for more than twenty years, and they have never been done, so far I've had three of them done,I'm very pleased with them and, I'm taking my Canon FTb, the last one in next week so it looks as though I'll make it.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

My New Years' resolutions.

1. To always have a camera with me, even in the privy.
2. To buy more film.
3. To buy more chemicals.
4. To suffer from G. A. S. until I single handedly turn the United States' economy around.
5. To make a more sturdy base for this homemade 4x5 I picked up this year.
6. To beg people for articles for the magazine.
7. To continually make resolutions that I pretty much am already doing anyway so that I can say that I keep my New Years' resolutions. Shameless, I know.

 

[Alisha]

1. To always have a camera with me, even in the privy.

Same.

Actually, my problem is never getting around to developing/printing my film. I always say, why should I develop and print when I can take more pictures instead and have them developed and printed all at once. That way, the reward of waiting will be more filling, but this is just a lie that I tell myself because it gives me an excuse to waste my money on cameras and film, not actually developing/printing it. :|

To be on the realistic side, I really do want to always have a camera with me where ever I go, more perferably a film camera because I end up never keeping my digital images anyway. Plus, film's just funner to shoot with.
With this ending year, I just want to get out and shoot more because I have a long list of places that I want to visit. For next year, I want to get back into instant photography with my Polaroid 250 and possibly start shooting medium format as well as get a start on a pin hole camera.