2023 to 2024 - Looking Back and Looking Forward
Looking back in order to look forward is not something I’ve done regularly over the years. I generally scoff at people who make new year resolutions because, as much of a tradition as they are to make in the US, it is just as much of a tradition to break those resolutions within a week or two. However, I realize I’ve been overly harsh, and after spending time at the end of 2022 to think about how I wanted my photography to change in 2023, and then actually working methodically to make those desires a reality, I willingly concede that setting a goal for the coming year has a great deal of value. How one gets to the end goal may change and morph over time, but as long as that goal remains in focus, it can still be achieved. I’m also a proponent of directional goals, which are extremely helpful when one is learning something new and aren’t quite sure where one wants to end up. As long as movement in the desired direction is being made, it is still considered progress.
2023 - Looking Back
So, what was my goal for 2023? It was simply to include more people in my photography. That seems simple enough, but it was not something I was comfortable with. I am an introvert and because of that I tend to avoid confrontation and things that carry a potential for confrontation. So, no pointing a camera at people who could potentially get mad at me for taking their picture!
Did I achieve my goal? Yes!
In most situations, I’m still uncomfortable taking photos of people who don’t know me but less so now than before, and I continue to make a concerted effort to tackle that fear and to find methods that work well for me. One of the ways I did this was to volunteer for community-based photography projects, like taking actor headshots for Wylie Acting Group (WAG), a local community theater group. Opportunities like that force me to learn new skills and work with lots of different people. Working with non-profits and other local groups contributes to the overall good of the community, builds connections, and can lead to further opportunities. You just have to put yourself out there, get over your fears, and be willing to do the work to prove your value.
While street photography is not really a thing in suburbia, there are community events, parades, and the like, where people go to see and be seen. These are another great source of photographic opportunity! One such opportunity was the local High School Homecoming Parade.
Consciencely, including people in my photos also resulted in one of my photos from Alaska being published in volume 4, issue 14 of Finland-based Docu Magazine, which can be purchased from Blurb (see page 29 in this online preview).
2024 - Looking Forward
So, what does 2024 look like? I’m not entirely sure, but I’m looking for opportunities to transition from taking somewhat random photos of people to something more meaningful, like documenting people’s stories. This could lead in many different directions, so I’m excited to see where this path takes me!
