For some reason intentions make more sense to me than resolutions.  I intend to do this…I intend to do that…instead of that dreadful word…(ugh)…resolve.

So with that said, what do I intend to do in 2012?

Let’s start with photography.  Do I want to grow up and be a famous photographer?  No.  Do I want my photography to make an impact?  Yes.

So my intentions this year continues with my love affair…with improving, learning, experimenting, getting out of my comfort zone…having an impact with my photography.

Let’s start with improving and learning…I intend to continue shooting daily. I’ve learned this is absolutely THE best way to improve.  Adding to that is increasing my technical skills by learning lightroom which is a software that organizes photos (I have volumes!) and provides the ability to tweak for change or improvement.  After that comes photoshop elements which will assist my desire to experiment.

Experimenting and getting out of my comfort zone…I intend to be diligent in getting my photography out in the world and not just posting on my blog.  I’ve joined several groups on Flickr and look forward to feedback from other photographers.  I intend to share more of my photography thoughts, challenges, successes as well as failures…as I continue to blog about living in NYC (and the Sonoran desert and the farm!) and traveling the world.  Mixed media photography (which is where the photoshop comes in) is an area of interest and even though many people think this hampers the true sense of photography, I feel it’s simply a different way of creating a picture.  It’s art.  Artists play.  I intend to play.

Having an impact…I’m embarking on a huge project.  A project that will showcase two very important people in my life.  My parents.  More details to come, but a portion of this project has to do with Alzheimer’s.  My father has this dreadful disease and my mother is the caregiver.  Need I say more?  I want my photography to have an impact.  First, to bring awareness to the disease.  It blows my mind to read that every 69 seconds, someone in America develops this disease and by mid-century? Every 33 seconds. Somehow I want to help.   I recently came across the term “Reminiscence Therapy” and that’s a perfect description for what I want to do with my art.  By using photos from the past it gives the person with Alzheimer’s a sense of value, importance, belonging and peace.  How incredible would it be if I am able to help just one person? I intend to do just that.

As important as photography is to me, friendships are right there as well.  I intend to surround myself with friends who really care, friends who want to spend quality time with no expectations.  Friends who are incredibly passionate about what they’re doing.  And I mean passionate.  Fired up, excited, can’t wait to wake up and do it type passion.  Because when you surround yourself with people like that, you can’t help but get all fired up yourself.  Right? But friendships take work, and that’s what I intend to do.  Provide that love and attention through shared experiences and moments and common bonds.

You know they always say…write it down, tell people…and it’ll happen.  So folks, there you have it. My intentions for 2012.  Here’s to an incredible journey!

“Teach this triple truth to all:

A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.”

Buddha