My annual review of how I did with my goals I stated last January.  In many ways I obtained them to a point.  One I totally blew off…again!  Like Scrooge in my favorite Christmas story, one must look back before going forward.  Here I go.

1. Improve “seeing” photographically. As a photographer, this is a skill I will always be working on.  This year I feel I took a major step in the right direction in all the kinds of photography I enjoy doing from sports, industrial, events to travel. The photos I selected for my Best of 2011, to me, tell stories and invoke feelings more so than in past years.  I hope I am not looking at them through rose colored glasses. 🙂

Images of 2011

2. Time Management. I judge myself a minor success here.  I have done a better job of editing and processing photos, scheduling blogs and finding time to enjoy the things in my life which matter to me.  Hey, I even left my camera in my room at Walt Disney World not just once but twice on my last trip.  The world didn’t end either when I did.

3. Build a Website. I took a major step in the right direction here. I have decided to use the WordPress.com service for my blog going forward.  I have customized my Smugmug online account for better ease in use and worked on ways for people to find it easier.

4. Promotion of Website/Blog. Okay, I listed a number here.  Let us see how I did.  According to WordPress, my blog was viewed 57,000 times in 2011 for an average of 4,750 views per month.  In 2010, the blog averaged 2,675 views per month.  I wanted to double that to 5,000 views per month.  Missed it by THAT much! I promoted the blog via Twitter, flickr, FaceBook, photography forums and, a new comer to the Social Media world, Google+. I tried to be consistent and it looks like it paid off.

5. Six (6) Photo Assignments. This one I meet 110% with the extra year long assignment some of you participated in.  These assignments still remain my most popular posts in visits, participation and feedback I get from all of you.  Thank you!

6. Six (6) Photo Book Reviews. Yep, totally nixed this one.  I did not review a single photo book in 2011.  Not like I do not have any to read, mind you.  Not to mention eBooks.

7. Take a Photo Workshop/Tour. I fulfilled this goal a couple of ways.  I took an online photo workshop in the Spring on Night Photography.  Though these were not formal workshops, I consider my trips to Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in June and Walt Disney World in October and December where I interacted with, learned from and taught other photographers in a combination of workshops and tours.

You know what is coming next.  My goals for 2012! Tune in tomorrow.