2009 Wrap

Once in a Blue Moon

This time last year, I created this blog as a vehicle for my 2009 Project 365 photographic journey. I set out at the beginning of 2009 to document each day with a photo, posted to this blog. After two short months, I realized these Project 365 images were better suited for my personal blog (whose content had become rather sparse during these months) and Behind The Lens became a repository for what I considered to be more creative, focused on technique and post processing. I may not have posted every day, but came pretty close, and as a result, just about doubled the images I originally sought to capture in 2009.

As 2009 comes to a close and as I complete my Project 365 collection, I’ve decided to continue taking daily images, in essence, starting a new Volume of Project 365 (Volume 2, the Year 2010). The every day captures will continue to be posted at my personal blog. For Behind The Lens, I will continue to take pictures, using a more themed approach:

• Best Shot Monday
• Morning Captures
• SOOC Saturday
• Table Views
• Weekly Photography Theme from 2Peas

I’ve also set some technical goals I want to achieve this year:

• HDR Processing
• Use Mirror Lock Up
• Use the BULB shutter release mode
• Read through The Complete Guide to the D300 by Thom Hogan
• Continue to learn and apply new Post Processing techniques

Maybe I'll purchase some new gear - I've had my eye on a Lensbaby Composer and a compact Canon S90. Unfortunately, these purchases may have to follow a lens repair, as I'm fairly certain my 70-300 VR lens has some focusing issues. I probably need to buy a bigger camera bag too, I think I may have knocked my lenses around too much in my smallish bag. Oh, well....

But 2009 has been a tremendous year. I took over 6000 pictures and posted 1275 to my flickr account. I upgraded my camera body. I learned how to use textures, layer masks, blended exposures, adjustment layers, and a host of other techniques I can’t remember. I doubt I would have learned and grown so much if I hadn’t embarked on this Project 365 – thing, and I recommend it to anyone wishing to improve their photographic skills. Really. Just get out there and take pictures!

I wish everyone a wonderful, prosperous 2010!