What Did you Achieve in 2008?

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As per the title, what did you achieve photographically in the last year? We have the New Year Resolutions thread so I thought a review of your 2008 would fit nicely. It can be anything from the smallest of successes to major life changing events. Did you finally get that shot you have been trying for for years? Did you build a studio? Anything at all....


For me, I finally did a wedding - ok, a tiny wedding and it was my dads, but still a wedding, and because of that, I was forced to 'achieve' something else - start using flash properly. Since then I have really started enjoying it and moved on to using it off camera, more than one and so on. Still very much a novice but I am experimenting and learning which was something I wouldn't have thought of doing a year ago, it all seemed way too technical and scary.



So come on, what small or large successes did 2008 bring you? :D


**awaits Edinburgh Gary's input with some trepidation, it could be a very long read** :lol: :hug:
 
Not quite as good as 2007, but for my 2nd year of DSLR usage it was still a cracker...

- Reached the semis of the Practical Photography POTY 2008

- Was shipped off to Paris for a weekend to write/photograph an article for DSLR User magazine.

- Had rather lovely emails from Mosler and Farbio (car manufacturers), sadly neither came to much (apart from a page on the 2009 Goodridge Calendar) but 'getting noticed' by proper companies that I respect was a massive boost.

- Found enough money / traded enough stuff to buy a Nikon D90, Sigma 120-300 2.8, Sigma 50-150 2.8, Nikon 10.5 Fisheye AND a Sigma 20mm 1.8 all in one year, if you saw one of my payslips you would wonder how the hell that was possible, I'm not even sure myself. If it's not gone on the mortgage, utility bills or food, it seems to have gone on photography one way or another.

- Most importantly, managed to attend 26 motorsport events despite this being my first full year of having a mortgage, I thought I would need to cut back now I have a 'family life', but we've found a nice balance, which is really pleasing.

More than I could have ever hoped for to be honest, it's the best feeling knowing I've found a hobby I really love, in some ways it's a bit of a shame that I didn't discover it until the age of 24 (2 years ago)
 
I got a dSLR and have had a wonderful time learning how to use it. Although that's an ongoing process I suspect.
I got 2 pictures published on the cover disk of the Sky at Night magazine.
I've managed, in part thanks to the SLR, to manage some decent Deep Sky and Lunar images (Astro Photograpahy).
And based on the feedback I've been receiving, I seem to be getting better (not good mind you, just getting better) at taking reasonable photographs. (I even scored over 20 on the TP POTY in the last few months of this year, I'm really pleased with that.)
 
I bought my first DSLR and spent the year practising and improving on my photography skills. Also sold 7 cards on Redbubble :woot:
 
June - I bought my first DSLR, my lovely EOS 30D
Then my girlfriend bought me a second hand Sigma 70-300

I've spent most the year getting to grips with it, but just this week I had a call from a marketing company who want to use one of my images, either as a backdrop to a play or as a promotion for literature, both for the Bristol Old Vic theatre :D
Details to follow in the new year!
 
I had surgery on my damaged right shoulder (freeride mountain bike crash) and in 2009 with enough physiotherapy I am hoping to be able to lift my camera up to my eye again!

Happy holidays everyone!
 
1) I sold an image :)
2) Had a couple of images published for free (no probs there though)
3) Weaned myself off HDR (I still love it but I don't need to use it all the time!)
4) Made and enjoyed a Baz777 lightbox/tent
5) Discovered the joys of macro food :)
6) Met and journeyed out with some great folk from this forum
7) Combined Pictures and Poetry
8) And, I hope, got a little bit better at this hobby of ours :)
 
Picked this up as a hobby with my first DSLR purchase in August (Nikon D40).

Have finally worked out which areas I'd like to apply myself and will be upgrading to the D90 with appropriate lenses. More from me in 2009. :thumbs:
 
Got some decent magazine work under my belt after taking a couple of years away from it (Max Power and M8 Mags plus The Sun newspaper and a few others).

Got a fair bit of freelance work and video work too which was good.

Upgraded to full frame going from my S3 Pro to a D700 (well, the 4th one they sent was good and had no hot pixels)

Didnt kill POAH, which was also quite a miracle.
 
I don't feel like I did that much this year, although looking throgh my hard drive I've certainly been busy with the old D200.

I only got my own DSLR in January (before that I've been using my works kit) and this year has really be a year of consolidation, getting my head back into photo mode and geeing myself up to go and take shots. I've managed to start a proper archive for the first time in six years but I've got a serious amout of time to spend with a scanner, scanning in all my old trannies and negs - that'll be fun!

I'm pleased at is I've not gone down the HDR route. I was seriously tempted at one point but I've seen all the crap that's been produced in Photomatix (that overprocessed stuff with loads of haloing) and thought I'd keep my money in my pocket for something more worthwhile.

I'm also happy that post-production Photoshop is now something I'm totally fluent with. I had a long break away from PS after my degree back in 2001 but now I'm really enjoying using it as a tool for getting my shots ready for print without over-manipulating them and making them look cheap and nasty. I'm also pleased that RAW is now something that I can see the benefit of and I've even managed to get it set up as the standard within my company.

I didn't have any specific goals at the start of the year, aside from producing a photography handbook for my employer, which is done and I'm really proud of. That was fun and I'm looking forward to expanding that soon.

Looking back, I'm gutted I haven't done more snowboarding photography. I've had the chance but I think I was overly-confident that I'd be doing freeride with £2000 worth of kit strapped to my back - that'll have to wait until next year when I'm confident of my boarding abailities. The smashed Sony digital compact sat on my desk is the reminder that I still have some learning to do about how to snowboard.

Off-camera flash was always something that I enjoyed utilising and with help/inspiration from several people (including the excellent Cherryrig) I'm using it a lot, especially for my work. I think the results are going to be great this coming year.

I haven't spent much on gear either, which is positive (apart from the initial outlay for my gear)because it means I'm having to get more from what i have, rather than buying new gear that would ultimately not really give me that much back. One more lens this year maybe, but I'm not that bothered.

Takphotography has also helped me a lot. I've not done as many comps as i should have but that's something to work on and i have my first wedding for year booked$–$plus it's proper money, which will come in handy –$and I have some prospective freelance work for a snowboarding magazine if I can get some trips in this year.

2008 hasn't been that bad a year but I know that I can triple my efforts and make 2009 a great photographic year.

Here's to the next 12 months :)
 
this is my first year in Photography really and it was great, been to some great places and events and cant wait until next year.

my technique i feel is better and are my shots but i feel in the coming year as i challenge myself more shots will get better

sold around 7/8 prints to which is good.
 
This year has been a funny year for me and my photography, because of all the building I am doing at home my macro photography suffered badly this year but all in all it's been an interesting year the main bits being.
Done my first portrait shoot and gained several more from it :)
Had my first move into landscape photography and I love it
Sold my first print (sunset/landscape)
Getting shots into 2 calendars
I would like to say I will have a lot more time next year for my photography but sadly it isn't going to happen as I will be starting all the building work on the house now all the buildings are up outside. :(
 
If I learn as much every year as I did in this one, I should be performing brain surgery by 2010. Started in the hobby in March and have been slowly improving but it's not until you're tested that you realise just how much has sunk in.

I need to explore different techniques but there's plenty of time for that in the future.

A good year that I can only improve upon :D
 
Brought my first DSLR - 450D
Brought G9

Discovered this forum

Now 2009 means I have to get off the 'green' setting and actually use them!

Happy Christmas All - Gray
 
Completed my City and Guilds
Improved a lot
Got L series lenses
Branched out from taking snowboard photos, to the point that I've not taken any for ages now.
Got media accreditation to motorsport events
Sold a lot of pictures
Got prints done that I am more than happy to have hanging in my flat.
 
1) Come over to the Canon crew :lol:
2) Started a 365
3) Ended a 365 after a week
4) Started another 365
5) Missed some days on the 365 and got busy doing other things :|
6) Then stopped doing the 365 all together
7) Got to meet Luke West off of here from King's Lynn
8) Started the book project (still progressing)
9) Got additive to photography
10) Got poor :lol:
 
#1 Met some members from here, at Whipsnade, and had a great day.

#2 Managed to get some shots of birds I had never seen before, throughout the year.

#3 Finally managed to get some half decent shots of a Heron. (next year; Kingfishers)

#4 Treated myself to an L lens.

#5 And got out as much as I could.

Pretty good year for me. ;)
 
Spent most of the spring/summer shooting nature stuff mainly Butterflies Dragonflies and Macro and learnt a hell of a lot.
Pete
 
Yep, same here, 12 months ago, I thought using 'manual' meant reading the book that came with the camera!! :D Now I'm much cleverer in that respect ;)
 
Main thing was I got front cover, October, November & December in a Calendar-1st Calendar publication.
Got my 1st three page spread in a magzine-small specialist Equestrian one, but still counts!
Hopefully carry on improving into '09 when I have two weddings to do as main tog, which I've never done before :S
 
What did I achieve in '08?


Sod all :D

I got into togging this year taking the plunge and buying my first DSLR :woot: I've now been appointed as my official unit photographer and I'm in the process of bullying my boss into paying for studio time for some new PR shots lmao
 
Yv said:
What Did you Achieve in 2008?
Click to expand...

Turned 40
Brought a DSLR
Joined this 'lil place
Brought more kit
Took a few pics
Realised I like this 'toggin' thing

oh... and got the missus 'in the club'... and I don't mean TP!

Not sure I'll have much time in 2009!
 
in '08 I got THE urge. The urge to do photogrpahy.

I started in May with my Powershot A590IS, had loads of fun with it especially in macro mode.

Then I did a load of overtime and purchased my 50D and lenses in September.

Bought loads of bits and pieces since.

Then I found Talkphotography, noticed that there are loads of excellent photos on here and am now striving to get good at this photography lark.

Merry xmas everyone!!
 
Photographically, I achieved more in 2008 than I have done in previous years.

After a few years away from SLR photography, I jumped back in with my first DSLR. Since then, I've been on various photo trips some of which involved more height than I've ever climbed before!

I've also had a few photos published in various publications, most notably, the Liverpool Souvenir (on the cover and first double page spread all to myself) book:



Sold a few prints too which I'm pretty pleased about even if it was only to family! :D
 
Well, took the plunge to force myself to learn more about photography outside of my comfort zone. Before I'd mostly been sports - car & football.

So I took a local 10 week photography course and committed to TP POTY, to push myself and I think I've learnt a lot from these and from others on here. I also submitted a few shots to a car club magazine which were published.

Quite a good year really :D
 
2008 has been a bit of a mixed year for me, while a lot of things have improved i havent been able to get out anywhere near as much as i wanted.

Anyway here are the highlights of my year.

1. Shot my first wedding as 2nd tog
2. Won my first club competition taking 1st, 2nd and 3rd places
3. Improved my photography, especially my motorsport stuff, attended 3 rounds of the bsb
4. Improved my critiquing skills
5. Got more into my landscape photography
 
Started our photography business (part time). Had a set amount of appointments for the year in which every single one was booked. We only missed 4 shoots all year and they were the past weekend as the weather was uncooperative.

Learned a LOT over the past year. Mostly from this website. :)
 
Took up photography as a hobby, buying a 400D in January.
Bought a 40D a few months ago, it is clear the bug has bitten, I am enjoying learning something new, all I need to do now, is learn enough to take shots I am regularly happy with.

And I joined this site, I am a member of a number of forums of varying subjects, this is my only photography one, and is one I enjoy using, the members here are helpful, friendly, and I enjoy the banter.

Thank you all for any help so far....
 
I achieved absolutely nothing apart from a new dose of motivation.
Hopefully that will carry me through to 2009 nicely.
 
Well at the beginning of the year i got my fisrt DSLR, (a 400D) and ever since then been out trying my best to take a photo that i am proud of. in this year i have taken quite a few photos that i personally am proud of.

even got one of my shots in this years TP calender (july) which has given me a huge confidence boost.

One of the best things i done was join this site, i have learnt a huge amount and also met up with a fellow member (you know who you are) and had a couple good days out to rallies and hillclimbs. (ok well i joined last year but still)

and the most important thing is that i am still enjoying it and sure i will never give this great hobby up.

Here's to another great year. :beer:

Chris.
 
Like many here 2008 is the year that I got the Photography bug.

Mate lent me a Nikon D100 for the Farnborough Airshow, 2 months later a D300 appeared !! I now have the BUG big time!!

Luckily I also found this forum which has been superb for simply reading up on basics getting ideas for pics etc etc.
 
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