Still around

I haven't posted anything in quite a long time. I'm not much of a writer, especially about myself. I joined Facebook, but don't spend much time there either.

My biggest struggle, at the moment, is finding inspiration for my photography. I'm in a dry spell and haven't found a way out yet.

2008 Photography Goals

Knowledge Goals

1. Take two photo classes
   1. Mar 2008 -- BetterPhoto Class: Composition - The Essentials
   2. May 2008 -- BetterPhoto Class: Image Design: Essential Design Concepts
2. Read at least two books on Ansel Adams' work
   1. Jan 2008 -- Ansel Adams An Autobiography
   2. Feb 2008 -- Examples: The Making of 40 Photographs by Ansel Adams
3. Learn how to use the Bibble advanced tools
   1. Jan 2008 -- Curves
      1. Measurement --
      2. Success criteria --
   2. Feb 2008 -- Black & White Plug-In
      1. Measurement --
      2. Success criteria --
   3. Apr 2008 -- Color Enhancement
      1. Measurement --
      2. Success criteria --

Technique/Weakness Goals

1. 1st Quarter 2008 -- Correctly apply the use of the polarizer filter on a regular basis
   1. Take a photo excursion to practice with water and reflective surfaces
   2. Remove glare
   3. Enhance color saturation
2. 2nd Quarter 2008 -- Correctly use and apply the neutral density filter
   1. Take a photo excursion to practice with the "darkening" properties of ND
   2. Successfully render a bright sky with a darker subject
   3. Use ND to facilitate the use of a slower shutter speed with a bright subject, i.e. create the silky effect of flowing water
3. 3rd Quarter 2008 -- Adjust my workflow (more thought and detail needs to be added for this goal)
   1. Standardize my naming conventions
      1. Be better able to catalog and find images
   2. Simplify storage and directory structure
      1. Be better able to find images
      2. Make backups easier
   3. Establish standad process for image processing
      1. Download from camera
      2. Tagging/Rating images
      3. Editing images
      4. Transferring output
         1. Email
         2. Web
         3. Print
         4. Presentation
4. 4th Quarter 2008 -- Improve my use of depth of field
   1. Be able to isolate my subject; creatively blur background so subject stands out
   2. Figure out "hyperfocal distance" so that i understand and can explain it

Quality Goals

1. Produce 8x10 (or larger) prints that I frame and hang on the wall
   1. 3 by 3/31
   2. 6 by 6/30
   3. 9 by 9/30
   4. 12 by 12/31
2. Contests
   1. Jan 15 2008 -- Enter one photo in the Shutterbug "The City At Night" Picture This!
   2. Feb 15 2008 -- Enter one photo in the Shutterbug "Skyline-A City's Face" Picture This!
   3. Feb 20 2008 -- Enter two photos in the Outdoor Photographer Winter Photo Contest
   4. Enter at least one photo per month in the BetterPhoto Monthly Contests
   5. Look for other contests throughout the year
      1. 3rd Quarter 2008 -- enter at least one photo in a contest not sponsored by BetterPhoto
      2. 4th Quarter 2008 -- enter at least one photo in a contest not sponsored by BetterPhoto
   6. Ultimate goal -- Receive at least an honorable mention in a photo contest
3. Online
   1. Redesign my personal website
      1. June 2008 -- Make my website a photo gallery to display my work; not for sales at this time
      2. July 2008 -- Include a short bio
      3. Aug 2008 -- Preview web site to friends and family
      4. Sep 2008 -- Add to Google Search Engine
   2. Once a month, clean up and update my BetterPhoto web site
4. Print
   1. 2nd Quarter 2008 -- Use an online service, i.e. MPIX, to create a photo book
      1. The book must have a theme
      2. The book must be at least 20 pages
      3. The book must inlcude at least 20 photographs
      4. The primary audience of the book is myself
   2. Nov 2008 -- Create a 2009 Calendar
      1. Create one image from each month of 2008 for inclusion in calendar
      2. Distribute the calendar freely to friends and relatives

Quantity Goals

1. Spend a minimum of 4 hours each week photographing and editing images
   1. Time spent resets each week
   2. Must measure and decide success criteria over the long run
      1. Use a simple tool, i.e. spreadsheet or notepad, to track time spent
      2. Need balance between shooting and editing, so track each task
   3. Start this goal on Jan 21
2. Take at least 2 photo excursions per quarter, outside the Charlotte area
   1. 1st Quarter 2008 -- Biltmore/NC Arboretum
   2. 2nd Quarter 2008 -- Linville Falls/Granfather Mountain
   3. 3rd Quarter 2008 --
   4. 4th Quarter 2008 -- Outer Banks?

What's Your Goal? by Thom Hogan

Originally from Chicago

I'm originally from Chicago, but have lived in several places.

I now reside in Charlotte, NC. One of the cool places to visit is the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC.

I never have anything to say

I don't know why I'm starting a blog. I am not really interested in posting my thoughts to the world or turning this into a rant. I decided to try this out as a new method of posting my photographs to a general audience. I'm still an amateur, but consider myself a serious hobbyist when it comes to photography. I got the idea to use a blog from a magazine article.