Now that the new year is under way, I thought it would be a good idea that we could all choose a new year’s resolution in street photography.
I know how difficult it is to keep to a new year’s resolution, but I think it is something fun that we can all look forward to. I just came up with some ideas that we could try experimenting or doing for 2014. Feel free to pick and choose what appeals to you:
1. Shoot with only one-camera and one-lens for all of 2014.
2. Don’t upload any photos to social media for all of 2014 (and share your 12 best photos at the end of the year).
3. Buy at least one photo book a month (and read/analyze it intensely).
4. Pursue a photography project (of your choice) and publish it at the end of 2014 (around 15-20 photos).
5. Make a portfolio website with a tight edit of your photography (such as: yourfirstnamelastnamephoto.com). For a free option, I recommend 500px.com. For a professional paid portfolio site, I recommend 4ormat.com for ease of use.
6. Take at least one photo everyday (note: you don’t need to upload it everyday).
7. Take at least one photography workshop.
8. Stick to black and white or color for all of 2014.
9. Go on a road trip.
10. Mark all of your photos to private on Flickr, and only make your best 10 photos public (be warned: this will erase your “favorites” — but note this is hugely refreshing).
11. Go to at least one photography exhibition, gallery, or show at least once a month (doesn’t have to be photography, either).
12. Don’t buy any new cameras, lenses, or gear for 2014 (and stick with the equipment you already have).
13. Shoot only film (if you are a digital shooter), or only shoot digital (if you are a film shooter) for all of 2014.
14. Donate a camera or volunteer time to a local photography program.
15. Stick to only one film or digital preset for all of 2014.
16. Go at least on one trip somewhere overseas to photograph.
17. Do a photography project of your own city, town, area.
18. Leave at least 4 sentences per comment/critique on other people’s photos online.
19. Do a joint-photography project with a friend or fellow street photography colleague.
20. Have an exhibition of your work (can be in a small coffee shop, or even your own house!)
21. Do a “street portrait” project of interesting people you meet in the streets.
22. Only use the minimum focusing distance on your camera (or .7 meters) when shooting on the streets for a month.
23. Look all of the portfolios of the photographers in Magnum (for free on [MagnumPhotos.com](http://magnumphotos.com)
24. Print out your photos and give them to at least 10 of your friends.
25. Interview a fellow street photographer for your blog/website/etc.
26. Write a list of 10 of the most important things you learned in street photography and share it via social media.
27. Shoot using only a smartphone for all of 2014.
28. Learn how to develop black and white film by yourself.
29. Meet at least one local street photographer in your own city (and shoot with him/her for a day).
30. Watch at least one photography-related documentary once a month.
31. Read “On Being a Photographer” by David Hurn
32. Buy a copy of “Magnum Contact Sheets” and study every single page.
33. Learn another art (besides photography) like painting, drawing, sculpture, music, etc.
34. Look at all of the photos in the Hardcore Street Photography Pool.
35. Start your own photography collective (local or international).
36. Only check social media once a week.
37. If you are a 35mm film shooter, shoot medium-format for all of 2014.
38. Meet with another (or several) street photographers at least once a month.
39. Host a local group street photography show.
40. Start your own street photography blog.
(Feel free to copy and paste any of this, edit it, or add to it, and share it however you would like!)
What other street photography resolutions do you plan on trying out– or you would suggest? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below!