5 Photography NOT to Do New Year’s Resolutions

I like the idea of having a NOT to do New Year’s Resolution–much more robust than a ‘to do’ New Year’s Resolution:

1. Don’t shoot with more than one camera for the year

A fun idea:

What if you didn’t shoot with more than 1 camera for the rest of the year?

Treat this like a fun ‘creative constraint‘.

The benefits:

1. Less money wasted on camera equipment
2. Less stress (less ‘paralysis by analysis‘ when choosing what camera equipment or gear to use)
3. Consistent aesthetic style

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A good single camera to use is the Fujifilm XF10, just shoot JPEG on SR+ mode.

2. Don’t strive to make photos to impress others

Don’t seek to impress others with your photos; treat your photography as a fun experimentation for yourself, and only make photos that you like to look at!

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3. Don’t take your photography seriously

Make photos for fun; don’t take yourself ‘seriously’. No child takes themselves seriously; why do we?

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The more playful you can make your photos, the better. I think if you’re having fun while making photos, your photos will be more authentic, with more levity, and more originality.

4. Don’t upload photos to Instagram or Facebook

Spend this year only uploading photos to your own website or blog.

Uploading photos to Instagram or Facebook is like building your own kingdom on quicksand. Don’t make the mistake of being a ‘digital sharecropper‘ (thinking you’re building equity in yourself, where in reality, you’re just stuffing the pockets of Facebook).

5. Don’t be a self-tyrant

To be a self-tyrant means not allowing yourself to evolve or change.

I think this is why Henri Cartier-Bresson ended up quitting photography, because he was too much of a self-tyrant in photography (forcing himself to only shoot 50mm, black and white, decisive moments).

Allow yourself to enjoy your personal evolution, change, and flux. Don’t seek to be consistent as a photographer or visual artist; don’t put any boundaries, definitions, or labels to yourself.

Conclusion

The point of New Year’s Resolutions isn’t to punish yourself or self-flagellate yourself. It is to have new optimism, new hope, and new excitement towards the future!

Let us make this year an epic one!

SHOOT ON!

ERIC