Photography - One Year On

So a lot has happened in a year. I've steadily increased my camera gear and my ability to make pictures that I'd want to actually hang on a wall. I'm more deliberate with my shots. I still make a ton of mistakes, but I am also making more on purpose shots as well.

One thing that blind sides you is the need / desire to buy all of the camera gear. I know I don't have it as strong as some, but even when I know I don't need it, I will still want it. I've upgraded to a weather sealed Fujifilm X-T2 which is good solid workhorse of a camera. I've got a nice cheap Chinese 25mm prime lens and a super decent 18-135mm Fujinon lens. Next year I'm targeting getting a Fuji 70-300mm and a Fuji 16-80mm trading in my 18-135mm to part fund the upgrade. I've got a nice travel tripod, small carrying bag, a few filters and I have pretty much all I need. Although I'm also aiming to head back out on a travel adventure or two and if I have to prioritise travel over lens I will.

Photography also seems to have spawned an interest in hill walking and climbing Munros. I've been collecting the necessary bits and pieces to allow me to walk further and start turning my hand to camping on the summit of mountains. It really is so much easier to take nice looking photos when you are on the top of a mountain as the sun comes up.

I've branched out from landscape photography and tried a little street photography. Dabbled in portraiture with a son who thinks he's the next David Beckham. And most recently started attempting astrophotography.

I've kept up posting my work on Flickr, but I've fallen into a rhythm of weekly photo posts on Facebook. I attempted to take requests to spice up my photos and even got a request. I'll have to think about how I can present cool interesting non-traditional Scotland to the folks back home in Iowa.

Hopefully by this time next year I'll have added travel photography to the list of things I've tried. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.