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B+WForget the gym membership, diet plan and coffee cutbacks, says Trac y H a l l e t t,
now’s the time to make some resolutions that you’ll actually enjoy sticking to – and
the more you stick to them the more rewards you will get from your photography.INSPIRATION
© Brian A Jackson/ShutterstockTWENTY NEW YEAR
PHOTO RESOLUTIONS
most of us never realise the full
potential of what we already own.
Before you invest in a new piece
of kit, dig out the old manuals
and make doubly sure that your
current camera and lens can’t
deliver the goods. Make 2015 the
year you get to know your gear.4
2
Photographers can receive feedback from
industry experts at the Quad and Format
International Photography festivalfestivals (such as formatfestival.
com) offer portfolio reviews
enabling you to discuss your
work with someone in the know.
Book your session today.5
Make room
for improvement
Identify three aspects of your
photography that you would like
to improve and take the
appropriate action to boost your
skills. Sign up for a Photoshop
course, study the history of the
medium – do whatever it takes
to hone your craft.6
Dare to compete
The chances of winning the
lottery are low, but taking part in
a competition that involves skill
and creativity gives you a much
better chance of coming out on
top. Annual awards such as
Wildlife Photographer of the
Year (nhm.ac.uk) offer superb
prizes, as well as international
recognition. This year, be brave
and aim high.1
Finish what
you start
The world is full of unfinished
projects: knitted jumpers with
one arm, loose bathroom tiles,
the Sagrada Familia (a work in
progress since 1882). Don’t let
your photography suffer the
same fate. Start a new project
and tell as many people as you
can – hopefully these allies will
encourage you when you put in
the hours, and chastise you
when you don’t.2
Be prepared
When the alarm goes off at
dawn there’s never enough time
to charge batteries, clean
lenses and format memory
cards. When your kit isn’t ready
for action you’re much more
likely to roll over and stay in bed.
This year promise yourself that
you’ll get everything prepped
the night before.3
Be thankful for
what you’ve got
It’s completely natural to hanker
after the latest technology, but4
Review your
progress
Sometimes it’s hard to see
where a particular project is
heading, or if a series has any
real merit, so it helps to seek
advice from experts in the
industry. Some photographic© Charlotte Jopling40-42_NEW_YEAR_RESOLUTIONS_171 ER/MB.indd 4040-42_NEW_YEAR_RESOLUTIONS_171 ER/MB.indd 40 30/10/2014 10:3330/10/2014 10:33