The new year is an entirely arbitrary thing to celebrate, but there’s something about adding one more number to the year that imbues it with an apparent significance. So it’s not surprising that the transition prompts plenty of people to think about what they might do differently in the coming twelve months.
We’ve all had a think about the sorts of things we could do differently in the hope that writing them down will act as a spur and a reminder as the year goes on. So here’s our Photographic New Year’s Resolutions.
Mitchell
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| I recognize Mitchell’s idea of wanting to spend more time shooting with flash, but I know it’s unlikely I’ll have access to each brand’s TTL systems while I’m reviewing their cameras, and don’t feel it’s appropriate to have manual flash (that’s reflective of my decisions, not the camera’s) in just some of my galleries. |
Figure out flash
Flashes have never been a particularly big part of my photography. I’m somewhat familiar with the basics, enough that I can generally get the results that I’m looking for, but I’ve never owned an external flash unit or spent any time specifically playing around with a flash setup to see what works, what doesn’t, and why. I’d love to do that this year, to get a deeper understanding of when and where to use a flash.
Shoot less with my phone
In 2024, I took around 2,400 pictures and videos using my iPhone. Some of those are purely functional: pictures of receipts, parts I need to buy from the hardware store, business cards, etc. Most of them, however, are the snapshots that I use to remember my life by; I have an atrocious memory and scrolling back through the pictures I took is the best way for me to remember what I did in a year.
“In 2024, I took around 2,400 pictures and videos using my iPhone.”
My goal next year, though, is to be kinder to my future self and to make sure that I almost always have a dedicated camera with me to take these sorts of pictures, be it a point-and-shoot or whatever camera I’m currently working on reviewing.
Take more portraits
This may be more of a therapy resolution than a photography one, but I currently feel incapable of walking up to random people and asking to take their portraits the way I’ve seen my colleagues do so many times. It’s obviously a skill that’s built over time, but it’s one that I absolutely have not learned. My last goal this year is to at least work towards that, likely starting with asking the people I know if I can take their portraits and slowly moving further and further out in my social circle. It’ll be uncomfortable – my social skills are bad enough that I’ve let multiple people call me the wrong name for hours because I was too embarrassed to correct them – but I think it’ll be a worthwhile pursuit.
Richard
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| It’s possible to put together a very credible video kit without it taking up too much space. I just need to get back into the habit of doing the necessary planning. |
I’d love to be able to make a simple promise such as “I plan to shoot more wide-angle in 2025,” but the gear I shoot with is almost wholly dictated by what gets launched during the year. So, instead, I’m going to be a little more vague and state that it’s my ambition to put myself in photogenic situations, more often.
A combination of complacency about Seattle and a period of the site being short-staffed has meant I’ve often opted to stay at my keyboard, to generate another article or chip away at a review, rather than get out with a camera, the past couple of years.
“A combination of complacency about Seattle and a period of the site being short-staffed has meant I’ve often opted to stay at my keyboard.”
Beyond the bounds of the working week, I’ve tended to carry a camera with me, but haven’t always found myself doing things that have inspired me photographically. So my resolution is to go out when the light looks good and to say ‘yes’ to the things that I don’t usually do, so that I encounter things I don’t usually see. Or, at least, to try.
Beyond this, I’d really like to get back into the habit of shooting some short videos. Again, it’s something that’s had to take a lower priority while we’ve all been stretched a bit thin, but using the video features of a camera as they’re intended to be used is just as important as going out to explore the photo features. I enjoy the creative challenge of working out how to shoot and edit something to convey a story, so my ambition for the year is to create more opportunities to shoot videos as well as stills.
Dale
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In 2024, I began giving away some of my older cameras and lenses to aspiring young photographers. Will my Canon Powershot G3 (above, left) be next? Photo: Dale Baskin |
Give away camera gear
I’ve collected a lot of camera gear over the years but haven’t been very good at letting it go. Now, I have shelves full of cameras, lenses, and accessories that I’ve acquired, usually for good reasons, that I no longer use. I could sell it, but I want to give it away instead.
This year, I gave my old Canon EOS 7D, Panasonic GH3, and Panasonic GH1 cameras to some nieces and nephews, complete with lenses. As a result, all three have become interested in photography. I’ve decided that enabling and inspiring others to discover photography is more valuable than making a few dollars on eBay, so I’ll be looking for opportunities to give away more gear in 2025.
Shoot more with my phone
When you’re a hammer, everything looks like a nail. When you’re a photographer with a lot of camera gear, everything looks like an opportunity to use all that gear. I used to carry around too much gear for fear of missing the photo of the century because I didn’t have the perfect camera or lens. Over time, I’ve become ruthless about how much I bring. Now, I rarely carry more than one or two lenses unless a project specifically requires it.
“I used to carry around too much gear for fear of missing the photo of the century because I didn’t have the perfect camera or lens.”
In 2025, I’m challenging myself to use only my smartphone for more of my casual photography, like family and travel. The image quality may not be as high, but I’m hoping it will be a freeing experience. The challenge? My job as an editor at DPReview requires a lifestyle of constantly testing new gear, so we’ll see how this one pans out.
Print more photos
I suspect this is a scenario a lot of you can relate to. Over the years, I’ve shot thousands of photos. Whether they’re from personal projects, work I’ve done at DPReview, or just friends and family, I have untold thousands of photos sitting on hard drives and servers in my office.
Many of those photos have been published online or in print, displayed at public venues, or donated to organizations I’ve supported. However, I have surprisingly few pictures on display in my own home. What good are they if I can’t enjoy them myself? In 2025, one of my goals is to do more printing. I just need to find a way to keep my cat from trying to kill the printer whenever he hears it start a print job.
And you?
How about you? If you’re honest with yourself or feeling ambitious, what things do you intend to do in 2025 to spur on and improve your photography?
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This article comes from DP Review and can be read on the original site.
