Light Box

The end of 2009 is approaching and I’ve been thinking of what I’ve done with photography this year and what I’d perhaps like to accomplish in the coming new year.

I’m considering a 365 project, with one photo taken/posted per day for a year — not hard and fast, but with a bit of flexibility. My focus for considering this is not so much about the photos, although I’m sure that in itself would be rewarding, but about testing my resolve under the requirements of a project such as this. Of course there are thoughts in my head that perhaps I wouldn’t see this project to completion, but then I consider four years ago when starting this blog I doubted it would last. We’ll see January 1st, 2010 on this one.

I’m going to make some changes to my web presents in 2010. I currently use Zenfolio for my gallery but I may change this. This is not due to any complaints about their service, it has only to do with reducing cost. This move will also give me a change to reorganize and filter the images I post. I’d like to also harmonize this blog, Flickr, Twitter, and Facebook web presents.

I’ve come to realize this year that I’ve not made the best use of the WordPress Categories function on Meandering Passage so I’ll see what is possible to improve this.

My key-wording and metadata maintenance in Adobe Lightroom is a continuous battle — definite room for process improvement there.

These are a few things I’m considering to address in 2010. I’m sure there will be more.

Do you have any projects you’d like to tackle next year?

The photo was taken earlier this year and is of a brass overhead lantern/light. I spent a lot of time in post-processing taking the image a couple of different ways until deciding I liked this abstract/drawing result best. You can make out the reflections in the brass lamp shade of photos hung on a nearby wall in the bottom right hand corner.

18 Comments

  1. Pretty cool shot, Earl. I was sitting there trying to figure it out after having enjoyed it for a bit. Damned left brain! :-) I don’t think that I have any project in mind, but I’m sure that some will p0p up. I would like to keep tinkering with my site and would love to get involved in taking lots of portraits. I feel the pull in that direction. All B&W portraits.

    Sounds like you’ll be pretty ambitious in the coming year. Of course, I’ll keep stopping by and seeing what you’ve done.

    • I definitely did right-brain post-processing on this image.

      I don’t know how ambitious I’ll actually be — what’s the saying, aim high, hit low. ;-) On the b&w portraits, that’s where your energy and vision are now and you need to run with it. I look forward to seeing the results.

  2. I have nothing specific in mind. It looks like I may be moving back to Colorado in the near future, so have some decisions and planning to do. I would like to come up with some challenging and long term projects, which would require me to work on a daily basis. I do want to continue to interact with the photographers I have met over the internet. The idea of a mentor is appealing to me, someone who will offer me a challenge and growth.

    Sounds like you have a bigger plate than mine or maybe I need to add a bit to mine.

    • Monte, moving back to Colorado? Has this been in the works or is it something you only recently found out about? The beauty of the Internet is that you can maintain your presents and on-line friends from just about anywhere.

      Like I was tell Paul above, no matter the size of the initial plate I’m not sure how much will be served on it when all is said and done.

  3. I’ve been in Ohio for 19 months and thought it would be longer. My kids and grandkids live out there. I have been renting my condo since moving out here. Republic Airlines has purchased Frontier and opened a base in Denver. So, I can put in for a transfer to move back out there. I was out there this past September and really missed those mountains. It may be around the end of February when it happens.

    • I know you’d be happy to get back closer to your kids and grandkids, as well as the mountains. I hope it works out for you!

  4. The lamp makes a beautiful abstract. I think you picked a very strong version. You have some great ideas for changes in the coming year. I’m mulling over some but not ready to make any decisions.

    • Thanks, I glad you like this image. With projects I kind of believe in the old saying that you’ll know when the time is right. That’s why I’m not totally committed to the 365 project yet — I’m waiting to see if I’m feeling it at the first of the year. :-)

  5. Hm… yeah, I do have a few in mind. One thing with this computer/Internet era is that I tend to spend more time studying/reading about what others have been doing, rather than producing a more thought-through crop of work myself. I would like to create at least one series of photos around a theme that matters to me.

    • Ove, that seems like worthy goals, do you have a theme or themes in mind?

      • I’d like to start off a few series from where I live, that’s something I have been saying for years now that I must do. But I’m also considering continuing on a path I started in January, with combining an image and a haiku, but this time doing it as a series of related images and haiku. I have to come up with a good theme that suits for this, first. In a week, I will have more time for new thoughts.

  6. Man Earl, you will be a very busy guy in 2010 if you move forward as planned. Being involved in project is never a bad thing in my book. For me there’s just too much left to be done in the present year to think much about the next one. Mabye I’ll have to start planning in the next week or so.

    • Steve, the 365 project would be a big one, if I decide to try it, but the rest spread out over a year wouldn’t be overwhelming. I find I do better if I challenge myself a bit, other wise I’ll just sit around. ;-)

  7. that makes a very interesting abstract

  8. Great abstract Earl. I really like it.
    As far as plans, well – a redo of my website is on the list, I am hoping to get most of it down during the holiday breaks though.