Where Have You Improved In 2011?

Since the end of the year is rapidly approaching, tell us what you do better here in December than you were doing back in January...

As for me, it's absolutely my processing skills. I'm much, much better in Photoshop today than I was at the start of the year. The reasons are varied but most of the credit goes to:

1) Tips derived from a presentation on aviation post processing given by Mike Fizer (Senior Photographer for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) at the annual symposium held by the International Society for Aviation Photography (ISAP)

2) The incorporation of Nik Viveza and Silver Effex Pro 2 into my workflow.

3) A new i7 2600K Win 7 Pro computer with 16Gb of RAM and tons of storage that can run my workflow without breaking a sweat!

My efforts this year were vindicated by placing in two categories of the 20th annual Aviation Week and Space Technology photo contest with both a 3rd Place and a Readers Choice award!

Looking forward to 2012!

Seen definite improvements this year.

Processing is much improved after taking continuing ed courses for Adobe.

I've been concentrating on my framing more this year. Notice at lot less SW zooming (cropping) in my processing.

Picked up some reference material on lighting, noticeable difference.

I'll be continuing the courses to attain more skills. Probably do a advanced photography class as well. I'm self taught, so not sure what I may be missing.

Great topic Jay!

I've seen drastic improvement in several key areas over this past year:
- I've focused on going beyond just taking sports action photos and really focus on telling the story of the game. I owe alot of credit to feedback from several forum members and local pros who offered advice. Some of my best images happened on the bench as well as before and after the game.
- Thanks to trial and error over the past year I've become much more knowledegable and proficient with my LR3 and PS5 skills. Helps being organized too! Saves a great deal of time when you know what you're doing.
- I've also worked on a different approach to my selection of lenses this past year. Switching it up so to speak. Not immediately going for the 300mm for sports or the wide angle for landscapes. It's helped me take a different view of my composition. For example, how can I incorporate my 85/1.2 into my baseball shots. I've noticed It's helped me slow down and plan the shot out more.

That being said there is still a huge amount of improvement needed!

After five years of loving taking pictures i finally started photography school and learned more than i could imagine! I had never shot a film camera and today i can't leave the darkroom for a day wihtout missing it.

improved in spending less money on gear i dont need

In 2011, the area in which I think I've improved the most is in anticipating animal behavior. Knowing what an animal is going to do a few seconds before he/she does it is key to "getting the shot", and I've benefitted from spending a lot of time afield studying the animals.

for me just simple basic preparation of whatever it is I want to shoot, be it RC aircraft, kids, birds etc.

My timing on shots has improved, like Tom just mentioned anticipation of what is about to happen. Also I have been doing a lot of slow shutter panning, and that has definitely improved.

I still need to learn a LOT more about composition, I still suck at that, and picking an exposure off the bat. I still need the camera to show me the way when I start shooting something, which is fine I guess, just be nice to be able to look at any scene and say " I need this exposure" then set it and it is spot on.......but that's all time and experience.

And basically I think I'm slowly getting closer to matching the shot I see in my head as the one that ends up on the screen....if that makes sense?

In 2011...

I began working with raw files using Canon's DPP (jpeg shooter before that).

Got PSE9 and started learning how to use it.

Improved my panning technique.

Bought the 300 f2.8 IS

Started MFAing my lenses


For 2012...

Continue to improve on my composition, panning, and post-processing skills,
and learn from others here.

i did my 1st portrait shoot in 2011. i'd like to think ive improved in that and with post processing.

My biggest improvement has been putting effort in trying to get it right in the camera rather than relying on PP to fix whats broke. Before joining POTN in October, I was visiting a couple other forums and not really learning anything but still reading books on photography and trying what was suggested with little if any noticeable results. Most of the space on the other forums was a waste of time, with very little actual constructive information given.

Since joining POTN, I have learned more in three months than I have in the last couple years , and things are explained in a way that makes sense. Worthwhile equipment and learning aids/books/websites are suggested so I don't waste time and energy on things that are useless or don't work well. I have been less afraid to shoot in full manual,including manual flash. The more I do it, the more I find it easier to do and with better results. Still have a way to go, but I am very patient and willing to take the time to learn.