The New Year is here, and with it, many promises to ourselves to achieve bigger, better, and greater goals. With this upbeat, positive outlook in mind, we might also work to improve our photography this January, whether for our own hobbies and personal interest or for our ever-growing career pursuits. To best advance your technique and hone your skills, first decide if you desire one vital area of focus, or if you wish to diversify your portfolio. If you decide to soak up as much knowledge as you can about all areas of photography, consider purchasing or subscribing to all or at least some of the following. Books are always a nice way to stay on top of tips and techniques, but magazines are great because they provide a wealth of variety on a regular basis.
If you choose to enhance one particular area of expertise, concentrate on that area and stick to it. Read everything you can about it, and get out in the field and take photos until your fingers hurt. Here's some great reading, no matter what you decide to do:
Outdoor Photographer
So you and Mother Nature get along well? That's great, because for a little over a dollar an issue, you can read up on some fabulous outdoor photography tips and techniques. Outdoor Photographer comes out 11 times a year and includes advice and encouragement for photographers to get out and try new things, new equipment, and to explore uncharted territory. The mag promotes photography as a lifestyle, and urges practical use of cameras and accessories out of doors, especially in recreational situations.
Digital Photo Pro
This publication is jam-packed with great, helpful reviews of photography equipment, editorial pieces filled with tips on technique, and also a gallery of unique photographs. This subscription is a bit more expensive than the Outdoor Photographer magazine, but it also covers a lot more ground.
The Digital Photography Book
Author Scott Kelby really reaches out to his readers in a candid, friendly way in this book. He walks the reader through a particular shooting situation, as if they were together shooting the same subject. The advice he offers is thorough, yet simple enough to comprehend through text, and often rather intuitive. Kelby pronounces every tip and trick of the trade openly and with ease, holding back nothing. Whether you are a beginning photographer or a longtime amateur hoping to transform your "good" shots into masterpieces, The Digital Photography Book could be your answer to a successful, happy, and memorable New Year. This book rated four and a half stars out of five on Amazon.com. * * * No matter what you choose to read this January, remember to get out there and practice what you learn as soon and as often as possible. * * * Here are some handy New Year's Resolutions for the avid photographer: 1. Learn at least one new photography tip every month. (Or, if you are extra ambitious, make that every week.) 2. Add another piece of equipment to your inventory and learn how to use it. Try a zoom lens for your digital SLR camera (if you own one) if you don't already own such a lens – you will love the diversity. 3. Find a shooting buddy. Go out together, take photos, and compare notes – techniques and photographs. Find new places to shoot, explore, enjoy. 4. Learn how to process photographs within a software program, if you don't already know how to do so. It can come in very handy! 5. Try picking up a new type of photography, be it outdoor / nature photography, portrait photography, fashion photography, or even underwater photography.