Another year over, so I thought I’d recap a few highs and lows from 2015 and look ahead to 2016.

My best shot by Flickr stats is this shot of a burger, taken at a pub near Rochester in Kent back in the spring.  Taken on my Samsung phone and processed with Pixlr – proves you don’t need expensive kit to take a popular photo.

My personal favourite shot of the year is The Spider and the Cow, taken on a chilly morning on my way to work;

What I’ve learned;

The most substantial thing I’ve learned this year is Food Photography. I’ve still got a way to go but am enjoying taking decent images of food. Part of my plan for 2016 is to get some more props – specifically backgrounds – to use in food photography. Santa has brought me a couple of books on the subject too so that’ll keep me busy.

What I’ve done well;

Kept up with Flickr, despite having a really busy Jan-May. In fact I’ve posted nearly 300 images to Flickr this year.

I’ve also started this blog and got the social media accounts set up alongside it too.

Disappointments of 2015;

I didn’t make it to any of the major art or photo exhibitions in London this year.

I missed a couple of local photo exhibitions too, put on by the lovely people at The Photographic Angle.

Although I own a number of film cameras (most of which have film in them) I didn’t get any of these rolls developed.

Plans for 2016;

Like many people, I’d like to find more time to take photos so this is something I’m planning for 2016. I also feel that my photography is quite wide ranging and so I’d like to start to specialise in one or two particular areas so that I can really delve deeper into these areas, achieve a higher standard and start to develop more of a style.

Get stuck into portrait shoots now I have my new kit of umbrella boxes and flash triggers. Sorry – this is one of me!

Sort out my portfolio web site and build up this blog and twitter. Maybe add a Facebook page.

Carry on with the Flickr challenges – this is what helps to keep me going when I’m busy with non-photography stuff and feel like I don’t have time to take a picture.

Try and make some money from photography. Whether this is through competitions, selling images, taking on more commissions or doing stock photography. I’ve also got a couple of ideas for some products that I’d like to market, so watch this space . . .

More film – I want to see what my various film cameras can actually produce and maybe think about doing the developing myself.

Improve my health and fitness. As middle age takes over I do need to do something about my fitness, so I plan to start walking in the mornings (I’m not sure my joints could take running just at the moment – perhaps that’s a target for 2017). But I’m also going to take my camera with me on walks and see if I can get some interesting shots in the local area.

I’d like to thank you for following my blog and I hope you continue to find it interesting.

Finally I’d like to wish you and yours a happy, healthy and prosperous 2016.