What Changed This Year?

[MarkBarbieri]

What was the biggest thing that changed your photography this year? Something you learned? A new camera? A new lens? A book? A class? Something that inspired you? What made the biggest impact on you as a photographer this year?

I bought a lot of gear this year - 1 camera, 6 lenses, a printer, and a bunch of random stuff. I also went to some seminars, a model shoot, and a photo walk. I read a bunch of books. In the end, I'd say that the thing that had the biggest impact on me was the printer. It wasn't even close.

I'm not going to claim that having the printer made me a significantly better photographer. It helped some. Because I can print larger, I focus on getting sharper pictures. I learned that I prefer to err on the side of detail with noise rather than the opposite in most situations. Those are fairly minor tweaks in my shooting.

The big impact was not in improving my pictures, it was the joy of a new creative outlet. I had fun trying different types of papers. I tweaked pictures in different ways to get the prints to look better. I really fell in love with having prints after years of being primarily a "view on screen" guy. Maybe it's just an infatuation, but for now I'm big into printing.

I also learned the love the flexibility of cutting my own mats but I can't deny that I hate mat cutting. It's a pain and I don't enjoy it. I just like the results.

So for me, getting a new printer and really getting into printing was the biggest change from last year. What major change (or changes) made the biggest difference for you?

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

2010 was sort of the year that I rekindled my interest in photography. 1 new lens, several books, took a class, started printing more photos, put out my first photobook just last night, found this forum, and started listening to a couple of photography podcasts.

The biggest change for me this year was knowledge. I've had my 300D for years now but this is the first year I actively started to LEARN more about what makes a particular picture better than another. How to take the camera off the magic green box and start shooting at different appetures, shutter speeds, and ISO settings. I'm not great, far from that, but I am getting better.

 

[C&B Young]

For me, it was a combination of new lenses and more experience. I think my photos from our recent Disney trip show considerable improvement vs. last year's batch because of these 2 factors. Of course there's always room for further improvement and growth, bring on 2011!

 

[JoeDif]

For me it was attending the Joe McNally seminar in Philly this year. Attending that has sparked an interest in doing more people and portrait work. I never had an interest in buying and lugging tons of lighting equipment around but actually seeing what he does with 2 - 3 speedlights and some reflectors was eye opening.

 

[spinetnglr]

The biggest change for me this year was learning more about people pictures particularly kids. I was hired as a photographer by a local youth sports photography firm for the typical sports photos and products that everyone is familiar with. It was pretty much hands on learning both in shooting more people portraits but also switching gears in learning a few things about Canon gear. Being a Nikon owner and having to shoot with the company gear I was forced to learn some about the Canons. The best part of the job is definately doing the action shoots. Most of the action shoots I was using the 1D with a 300mm 2.8 lens. They are now starting to phase out the older technology 1D and replacing them with the 7D. It will be exciting when I get to start shooting with those.

 

[Quicklabs]

For me, it's sharing the joy of photography with someone who really "gets it." In my case, it's my new resident, who was a combat photographer for 10+ years. Just last week, he was leaving the office at 5 pm. He came back in and arrived in my office a few minutes later, ""Ma'am, I'm sorry to interrupt your work, but you've got to come outside and see the light right now." I went outside with him in the freezing cold, and we enjoyed the light together and talked about how we'd photograph the images before us in lthat light.
We still can't go out and shoot together, but we have lots of great lunchtime conversations about being being "in the moment" of capturing an image. I get to use lots of great analogies with him about making decisions about the "technique and strategies" of photography is similar to the decision making process in our clinical work. From looking at the photos he's taken in some of the most awful places in the world and hearing his comments about them, I'm developing a new appreciation about the human process involved in photography.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

This was a big year because I bought three new lenses, an additional flash and PSE 8. There was a total leap in knowledge in all aspects of my photography. I keep repeating that the more I learn, the more I learn I don't know. While not at the level of the experts here, my PP skills are getting better. Since I really didn't know much about PP, this has probably been my biggest accomplishment. I still have a long ways to go. I also was invited to shoot the Chicagoland Speedway races with our team of track photographers. Unfortunately, my job at the Speedway prevents my total participation. I run out when I can and shoot some laps or pitstops. My goal for this upcoming year is to work on my composition. In the equipment arena, I'm looking at a new camera body (K5) and a Sigma 30.

 

[wkrider]

So far this year my changes have been my new Pentax K-7 and a Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DI II f/PENTAX AF. My goal this year is to shoot more RAW and practice my post precessing. I am also going to try and take a couple photography classes at the local community college.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

I learned:
take multiple pictures (so you dont have to paste eyes on people)
I learned how to fix my camera without having to go to the camera guy (it was a simple DUHH fix)

I dont know what I want to make my goal for this year yet. Mabey getting out more with photos. I moved up home and withn walking distance of the local marinia so hopefully thats more inspration (lots of historical buildings on the way there). Now if only I could teach the dog to ride in the stroller (so I dont look so dumb stashing my gear).

 

[PrincessInOz]

Two things:
1. We purchased our first DIGITAL SLR for DH to enjoy for our trip in May.
2. I discovered the photoboard summer scavenger hunt in June.

The dSLR is now mine and I've been pushing myself out of the auto modes and into playing and setting aperture, shutter speeds and ISO.

My goals for next year?

• Take photography classes
• Purchase another f2.8 lens
• Learn to photoshop or i-photo equivalent

 

[WDWFigment]

It's really tough to say. I think (hope) I improved this year, but unfortunately/regretfully, I don't think I did a whole lot to foster this improvement or growth. I didn't really push myself, I got out there to take pictures far less than I did last year, and I did hardly any 'book learnin'.

However, comparing some of my photos to 2009's, I think overall I did better this year. I don't really have an explanation for it, though.

My goal for 2011 is definitely to push myself to learn more. I want to learn Nikon CLS and better composition.

 

[DVC Mike]

For me, several things changed:

• New Nikon D7000
• New Nikon Lenses (10-24mm and 16-85mm)
• Started shooting RAW (NEF) instead of JPEG
• Learned Nikon Capture NX2
• Learned Adobe PS Lightroom 3

The combination of the new gear and doing post-processing really got me interested in trying different shots (composition). I'm still a novice, but I really learned a lot this past year!

 

[Experiment_626]

It's been a real whirlwind year. This time a year ago, we had just welcomed a new baby boy into our lives (on the 23rd of last December, he was 11 days old). Over the course of the year, I've worked to become better at shooting informal portraits of him and his older brother. He's such a happy baby (unless there's something wrong, he's usually smiling and laughing) that I can't wait to see him everyday, and he's fun to photograph. On another level, I feel a special connection to him because he is my only blood relative -- I was an adopted child, and even though I love his older brother and consider him my son as well, he "came with the mom." When you live 42 years without a blood relative, it is a novel thing when that finally changes. He looks like me! I've never had that before now ...

I got laid-off for a few months and I used that time to try to market myself and my photography. I can't say I had huge success, but there were ideas formed during that time that I'm still pursuing, just at a slower pace. I lost my job at the end of April, only to get it back in early August when my former co-worker retired earlier than expected. Now I'm a one-man graphics shop for my department at the university, and it's very different. I have to keep track of jobs and supplies and such, whereas before I didn't worry about that stuff. On the other hand, I can try any crazy idea I get without having my co-worker quash it before it gets going. Sometimes it pays off and sometimes it doesn't, but it has put the challenge back into the job that had been missing for several years. The crazy ideas I've been chasing include some photography projects, and I'm pleased to say they've worked out so far.

For years, I've avoided shooting with flash because I "didn't like the way it looked." I finally realized I didn't like it because I wasn't doing it right and I didn't want to take the time to learn how to do it better. Well, now I'm pushing myself to learn how to shoot with the Nikon Creative Lighting System and also how to shoot with the strobes I have here in the office. So far, I'm pleased. I have a long way to go, but everything got so much better after I put just a little effort into it -- I am excited about prospects for the future as I continue to try to upgrade my skills.

Scott

 

[boBQuincy]

This year I bought *no* new equipment, accepting that more gear would not result in any great improvement in my photography. Instead I read a lot and worked on my capture and processing skills, along with trying to remember to use some sort of camera support as much as possible.

All this is a lot of work so next year I am going to buy equipment again, it's a lot easier! A Canon 60D might be a good start (although they don't have the dynamic range of a Nikon).

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Good luck with your job search, Scott.

I upgraded my Olympus gear and lenses. Spent some time learning to use them (a work in progress). Got another new bag to hold everything (#3 ). Developed a swollen arm and wasn't sure why but figured out both my work and camera bags were doing a number on it so I needed to reconfigure the way I carry them (official dx: tendonitis requiring evaluation and PT - add another cha ching to my photography habit, as have been carrying my work bag for 25 yrs!).

Ran and really enjoyed the Summer Scavenger Hunt (and getting Winter Hunt ready now). Also developing beginner photography class for friends who've asked me to teach them the basics and hoping it will take off to give me a little extra cash sans my usual nasty commute. Didn't read as much photography wise as I did in previous years but probably will next year.

Happy Holidays, Everyone and Best Wishes for a Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

 

[NLD]

My biggest learning experience and challenge this year had to be shooting a couple weddings for friends. Learned that I am not good at posed portraits, at all, but not sure if I'll really work on that, because I have much more fun shooting candids, learning to anticipate when "a moment" is about to happen and capture that.

Also did a little experimenting with off-camera flash. (Very little. Need to do more.) This is what I need to work on more... flash--on-camera, off-camera, whatever.

With gear... I purchased and upgraded a lot. D700, 50 1.4, 28 2.8, 85 1.4, 80-200 2.8, 28-300 super zoom, some gels for the flash, and finally got Lightroom. Don't expect to buy much this year, though I would like a second flash to work more on lighting/Nikon CLS. But at this point, if I take a crappy picture / can't get a shot, I figure more gear isn't going to help in the least.

 

[Experiment_626]

Good luck with your job search, Scott.

If you mean me, I got my old job back after about four months away. Prior to the layoff, I was the "junior designer" in an office of two. I had about 15 years experience versus my co-worker's 37 years. He retired, I was recalled to the job, and now I run the office by myself. I'm still at the same pay rate as before the layoff, but now the job is challenging again whereas it previously had gotten rather boring.

I found out the layoff was coming on the day our new baby was due (he was actually born three days later). The department chairman hadn't known we were expecting, and I think finding out that day made him physically ill, as he hadn't wanted to have to lay anyone off in the first place. I believe he was only too happy to bring me back into the fold when the opportunity arose.

But thanks!

Scott

 

[MarkBarbieri]

This year I bought *no* new equipment...

Then why even bother with photography?

 

[Buzzguy]

Project for 2010: working with off camera flash
Project for 2011: working with off camera flash, improve with LR3 and other software

 

[handicap18]

The biggest thing this year was that I "found" the Nikon Creative Lighting System and how WICKED AWESOME it is. I bought a 2nd speedlight and have played around with softboxes for the first time. I absolutely LOVE using the multiple off camera flashes using just my popup flash to trigger everything. It made my annual Down syndrome portrait shoot SO much better.

I've also been using my flash in manual mode a lot more and am finding I like the results better. I still need to get used to a few things and pay a little closer attention to my settings, but I'm finding I get better light using the flash in manual and even using the camera in full manual with the flash has given me better results.