Sum up your 2010 part of your photography journey

[Phate]

Hey all,

Was going to leave this for another week or so but I'm bored so thought sod it and get it done

So can you sum up 2010? Heres my effort

Started 2010 looking to expand my portfolio more, and wanting to get experience of weddings, especially after having a little taster for it at my cousins wedding...

So I started to look around and after a month or so I saw Marks advert looking for an assistant, I responded, we met up, had a chat, and I got signed up for a couple of weddings and the rest is history, I think I'm doing my 7th or 8th wedding this weekend and I'm booked up for more next year

To summarise the wedding side of things it was the best decision I ever made - I've learnt buckets and buckets from a true professional, had a lot of laughs, and thoroughly enjoyed every second of it!! I highly recommend others doing the same

In between weddings I got my site rebuilt this year, this was pretty much No. 1 priority for 2010 really, my old one was just DIRE, and I hated it, was 3 years old...needed to change! So I spent a fair bit of time working with a web developer found on this forum and got my new one built and working - That went live in May, have since made a few changes/updates to it, got 1 or 2 more to come but overall I'm much happier with it - REALLY needed to be done.

Photoshoots this year, I've not done as many as last year, mainly due to having too much going on and having trouble cramming them in...I've done a few though, have been paid as well which is a result!

This year I really wanted to focus on setting myself up for next year properly, so new/more equipment (check!), new website and look (check!), better portfolio and experience (check!).

A big part of this year for me was my first wedding I did as a main photographer (for a fellow forum member too), ScarySquirrel assisted me and we had a blast, was a long hard slog, but kudos to Nick, he kept shooting for hours with precision aim...then we went and did the wedding - I learnt a lot that day but got a lot of shots I was very happy with and overal can't wait to do more!

After a quick calculation I've spent roughly £2.5k on photography equipment this year and I've earnt back around £800-£1000 of that - Will try and get it to profit next year hah, also I've taken nearly 10k images this year.

Plans for 2011?

More weddings! Got a few booked up with Mark already and a couple of enquiries for my own as well, also want to look to pretty much finishing off my lens collection and getting a backup body as well, I'm after more studio equipment as I've reached the limits with what I've currently got and want to experiment with gels and hair lights - But thats all dependant if I can get another contract or not...got other important things to pay for...like somewhere to live and a car

Think that pretty much summarizes it really...your turn

 

[Derek W]

you've got a new look as well as a website you mean no more freakish hair!

Equipment wise I think i just upgraded to the 5DII from 450D got a few accessories as well, new flash and wireless triggers.

Got myself sorted with a website but seriously need to go through it and get it organised properly.

Got offered the job of Club photographer for my local football team but since then all games have been off cos of snow bar one!

Think I'm progressing with my landscape photography, the trip to Vegas did inspire me along with hiring the Canon 16 - 35 f2.8 II for the duration.

2011 - More footy photography, more landscape photography and looking to upgrade to a 70 - 200 f2.8, 16 - 35 f2.8 and a 24 - 70 f2.8 and possibly supplying some footy photos to the Dundee Courier

 

[neoboy]

My journey began just 2 months ago when I needed to do some product shots for the website that I'm planning on launching, picked up my first DSLR in form of Canon 20D along with Sigma 18-50mm and nifty fifty plus few essential accessories. It isn't really something that a major hobby or something that I will ever be taking professionally but it's fun nevertheless and I didn't invest a huge amount into it either.

 

[Phate]

you've got a new look as well as a website you mean no more freakish hair!

Most of the colour is gone

 

[Derek W]

Most of the colour is gone

YIKES!

Still get a haircut

 

[Phate]

Still get a haircut

It's longer than that now, needs cutting big time!

 

[Side5wipe]

My aim for 2010 was to get better at doing motorsport, throughout the summer months i could see the improvement. Still got a long way to go, did manage to sell a few from my last race meeting and got a team photo in the club calendar .

Next year, aswell as doing classics hopefully ill be doing some bsb.
And more improvement and hopefuly more sales.

 

[Rojin]

2010 was up and down for me. Up because it is my first year in dslr photography and I've really enjoyed it, down because I had wanted to get into event photography but reality came a calling! Just content with being a happy snapper now (well nearly!). I have massive regrets that I didn't get into photography sooner. I never really appreciated how rewarding it can be.

 

[dannyjo22]

I can sum 2010 up in one word.

Expensive

 

[Shadowness]

I dread to think how much Ive spent this year! Three new lenses, LEE filter sets etc.......

I'm pretty disappointed in my photography this year, I've not been out with the camera as much as I'd have liked, but that is partly because Im travelling so much.

Next year will be better, I plan to do a lot more automotive work, a few things in the pipeline, and get out to do more landscape work too.

I will probably do a project 52 too, I wont have time for a 365, so one a week will give me the motivation to get out there!

Roll on 2011!

 

[OG]

Well my journey has only really began this year. Bought my DSLR late December and gone from there. Just started out taking pictures of random landscapes and people. Took it travelling with me and started doing work for events and night clubs.

Back in the UK and at University, doing photography for my SU, hoping to expand on this after the new year. Canon 40D and 17-55 2.8 are probably going to be the next purchase.. really starting to find the limited of my current gear Hoping more paid work will be available too and really wouldn't mind shooting more gigs

 

[koolpc]

A first step on the DSLR ladder for me. A vast amount to learn and at my age, nearly 47, a long journey!!

 

[Bucket]

Start: Started out last year at some point playing around with a 350D, bought a 40D in January this year and haven't used it too much in all honesty!

Progress: Gig photographs are coming on quite well - and the dabbling I've done in anything else has been exciting, just i've been really slack with getting on and doing other bits and exploring my camera fully.

Highlight: Being asked to Photograph Biffy Clyro this week of course!

Next Year: Already had offers from other Magazines/Online publications for gigs next year, so more of that! Get a few new lenses, maybe a cheap 2nd body as I found shooting with two was incredibly handy!

Fave Photo:

Probably not my best, technically or anything - but for some reason is my fave.

(P.S, sorry if I ruined the format... )

 

[SteveBon]

A first step on the DSLR ladder for me. A vast amount to learn and at my age, nearly 47, a long journey!!

Ditto-ish ^^^. Hopefully a rewarding journey, too.

 

[Mp4]

Well having my Canon 400D since 2008 (ish) and using "Auto" all of the time i finally done something about it and went to college this year (finish in 2 weeks & go back in Jan) and i know most of the camara settings and what they mean, I feel that i have become a lot better at taking photos and understand light a lot more and feel that photography is now a passion and want to make something out of it. I still have a lot to learn & will be getting a flash gun at Xmas £300 jobby!


One of my photos from 2 days ago

 

[bigredshark]

Well it's maybe the first time in 3/4 years I've made money out of it (a consequence of not spending much of anything rather than actually earning much more unfortunately). I've done some more commercial work and have a few days shooting on another assignment just after new year which is working out all right. I've also settled more in my own style for personal projects which is nice and I'm actually making more of that work (that is, not just taking a photo, going 'that's nice' and forgetting about it - making a few books out of it and the like).

Next year I'll hopefully fit in a few more paid projects as it's going to be an expensive year with new gear (my D200s are really up for replacement now) and I'm still struggling with exactly which path to go down. Some new glass is on the cards too (35mm f/1.4 before Christmas I think). More creatively speaking I just want to settle down a bit and produce consistent output for a while. It's also going to be the year I finally do some proper video work.*

* Dear Nikon, please could you find it within you to produce a full frame DSLR which does video and costs just a little bit less than a D3s? Pretty please? Thanks.**

 

[roger_37]

I can sum 2010 up in one word.

Expensive

yes big time, got my car wrote off.
broke my neck so yeah,bad year.

 

[prUnE]

2010 has been an exciting year for me in terms of photography.

Firstly I moved up from my trusty little cybershot into the world of the dslr; in the form of a 400D. I instantly fell in love with the control and quality of shots that can be produced, and really enjoyed learning all about aperture, shutter speed etc.

Although I loved the 400d, I knew the kit lens wasn't doing me any favours and so invested in the Sigma 17-70 DC macro, which is awesomely versatile and a quality lens. I also made an expensive decision and bought a Sigma EX 70-200 f2.8 APO HSM, as my interests led me on to shooting sport for the uni paper. Having this lens has opened up a whole new exciting area to get stuck into and I've really enjoyed the chance to learn more and get a couple of photos published (even if it's just for the uni paper).

 

[Raymond Lin]

2010, the first six months was relatively quiet.

The second size months was hectic, busy and practically non-stop.

I have earn some money from it through weddings, which I have put it all back into my gear. So I have spent a LOT! I have almost every lens I want to do what I want, and only a couple left to do what I like. It is something I could only DREAM off a year ago, and I am grateful for that.

In terms of work, my portfolio is coming along, I am learning all the time through every project. I have gotten really comfortable with the camera in my hand this year. It has become an extension to my body almost.

In expanding that aspect a bit more. I used primes a LOT this year, and having 2 bodies now have made me a different but i think better photographer. I know the lenses in terms of focal length much better from shooting with primes. It all started with my decision going to Hong Kong for 10 days with a 50mm on the 30D. Something that I think has made me a MUCH better photographer. From composition, positioning myself, knowing how far something is without looking through the camera. I see shots now in my head, and walk to the position (set focal point whilst walking), and snap when i get there. It makes me think more, which is a good thing.

Also, through photography i have met a LOT of nice people. Travelled to places I would never ever go to, and I am looking forward to 2011 for more of the same

 

[Gaffer]

So can you sum up 2010?

For me, 2010 was the first year with the 800.

The fulfillment of a 2 decade dream. Not that this particular lens was available 20 years ago, but the desire to have the longest, fastest glass has been burning since the late 1980's.

It is such a pleasure to use. There is a strange thing with it, where you use it in situations where "you can't justify it" but since there is no incremental cost, there is nothing to justify.

The pictures below all taken with (or of...) the 800mm