On Photographic Resolutions

TreeToTheLeftNo1, originally uploaded by carolsLittleWorld.

It’s almost time. In just a few days it will be 2009. With the new year comes some hopefully high resolutions! No, this isn’t about upgrading my camera and getting the most mega pixels money can buy. No, it’s about what I plan to do over the course of the next year. Time to talk about what I think 2009 might bring.

In 2008 I did a few international juried shows, mostly in the United States and mostly outside of Texas. I expect that to continue into 2009, probably setting my sights on California a bit or maybe New York (again.) Hard to say though, because I tend to evaluate the opportunity more than the location. 2008 also saw me get published a bit, both in terms of the book and in terms of the newspaper and magazine route. I expect that to continue into 2009 as well, especially since there seems to be an increasing demand for use of my images in publications.

In 2008, I started my first “real” gallery style website and, I have to say, it’s been a blessing. It’s really helped me get organized and stay on top of things, so I expect to do more (a lot more) on the web in 2009. Expect House of Carol to continue in a big way in 2009 and I might even launch several (other) things on the web. Series wise, my Eden series remained strong and my Surface series was a bit popular. I would love the opportunity to continue doing sepia-toned garden prints as well as expand upon the surface series, but I expect that 2009 will take my work in a very different direction.

As far as traveling, I can’t say what the plans are right now. With the downturn in the economy and the increase in studio work, I’d just as soon stay home and work out of the studio a bit more. I would expect 2009 to bring a much-needed upgrade to my studio lighting setup as well as a lot more “at home still life” type of work. I naturally go through phases as a photographer and, especially lately anyway, it seems as if I’m turning inwards and moving more towards the studio work. At least for now, that seems to be the case though, as you might be aware, I change my “photographic” mind quite frequently and anything can happen (and often does around these parts.) I guess we’ll just have to wait and see with regards to this one, right?

2008 saw my participation in the Picture the Cure exhibit in downtown Toronto and I expect to continue with the “PTC Folks” (as I like to call them) as best I can in 2009. I would also like to increase my charity presence by doing another show, possibly the Heart Gallery, but maybe something else, something completely new, in 2009. In 2009, we’ll also start to exhibit the Texas wine making project, so I expect to be a bit busy with that.

I know I’ve been talking about it for years, but *sigh* I have yet to achieve that pinnacle of success, the “one person show.” Didn’t do it in 2008 though, as you might expect, I’m going to, once again say now, “but I’m closer now then I’ve ever been before.” Yes, and Santa will come back for another visit any day now. No matter the outcome, I shall try and continue to try for that reclusive one person show as best I can. I expect to complete my portfolio in the early part of 2009 and start sending out “real” packages of my work to that end, but, like so many times before, I don’t expect to actually get anything. Well, you know, not for a while anyway.

2008 saw me making the large version of my first “real” book, Drive, and I expect many books in 2009 to follow. Some big, some small, some this, some that. Expect the book production to really start hopping in 2009.

Now, for the fun stuff. What kind of projects do I expect to be working on in 2009? Well, for starters, there’s the projection stuff. The “projected pixels” and “pieces of me” series were quite fun for me to start, so I anticipate kicking off 2009 by throwing myself full force into those. Look for a lot of projected images to come in the early part of 2009. I can’t really explain the need for me to do these sort of “self portraits” but they are fun (oh, are they fun) so I expect you’ll be seeing a lot of them in the new year. Right now, anyway, they are the work I’m most excited to do.

I also plan to purchase a new lensbaby that will allow me to do different lensbaby work. I might finally invest in a fish-eye or some sort of more wide angle lens as well as probably purchasing a “nifty fifty” or a beginner lens that’s a flat (fixed) 50mm capable of shooting “wide open” at F1.2 or F1.4. These are quite suitable for bokeh, and I’ve been toying around with that for a while, so it logically follows I would invest some into it. I will probably continue some of the running themes I have going already (religious “iconography”, dress forms, reflections, masks/personae, architectural details, botanical leaf studies, and so on.)

From where I sit, 2009 is already shaping up to be a huge year photographically and I can hardly wait. I really feel there’s a lot coming up and a lot going on, so I’m looking forward to jumping in. I’m finally getting my house cleared a bit and, once that’s behind me, I expect to be able to devote a lot more time to all things photographic in 2009.

If I had to guess, I’d say that my prediction for 2009 will be that it will become “the year of the studio” for me, as it’s been a long time (maybe too long) since I’ve turned to the inside world. I’ve always enjoyed studio work before and I’m looking forward to getting back into it in a big way in 2009.

That’s how the resolution looks from where I sit. I hope 2009 finds you making and exceeding your own photographic resolutions as well.

Until next time…