2009 Goals: Multimedia, Cycling, Running

OK, some goals for the coming year.

These include both multimedia and athletic goals. How I'm going to manage all of this and still do my day job isn't quite clear. On the other hand I never would have expected to do all that I did in 2008.

MULTIMEDIA:

GENERAL:

--Take the small cameras -- the compact Canon and the Flip -- everywhere, every day. (I already do this most of the time.) Use them to document daily life, or at least weekly life. Possibly do a weekly video or maybe monthly with material gleaned from this. The problem there of course would be lack of focus, but probably a theme would emerge or I could be focused in what I look for in a random way.

--Now that I've learned some of the basics myself: Find more ways to train others on two levels: At work, and as a volunteer with photo or video projects with NY Cares or other organizations. The latter involves working with middle-school or high-school students in less-privileged areas, which is highly appealing.

--Take more classes, through NYU, ICP, Media Bistro and lynda.com. Also the free seminars at B&H and the Apple store.  Aim for at least one course of some sort a month.

WEB and GENERAL ONLINE:

--Learn rudimentary Flash (taking short Media Bistro class in February)
--Learn Fireworks
--Become proficient in basic CSS and HTML
--Create personal website using Fireworks and Dreamweaver
--Become a more active commenter on others' blogs
--Resume using del.icio.us and start using Publish2
--Build a better base of people to follow on Twitter
--Explore and use the various Twitter applications
--Keep up the blog, of course.

VIDEO:

--Learn Final Cut Pro (taking NYU FCP class starting in February)
--Do two projects artfully combining still photos and video (taking NYU Visual Storytelling class starting in February)
--Become more involved in the Vimeo community and do at least three of their projects.
--Do at least one video incorporating voiceover or narration by me
--Get some training in more advanced video shooting and production. Probably through NYU.
--Find opportunities to do more video of training groups in the workplace, such as the planned DVD or online video of the headlines seminar last month.

STILL:

--Master the damn camera (it's still hit-and-miss as far as the f-stop/aperture settings go, and too often the successes are because of sheer perseverence or luck than actual intention or skill)
--Move beyond the pretty scenery and into photos of people engaged in their lives
--Related to that, take the Street Photography course at ICP
--Dive more into night photography, when it's not quite so frigid outside. (A little frigid is fine.)
--Tackle some of these resolutions:
http://photojojo.com/content/guides/2009-new-years-photo-resolutions/
--Get more involved in the various Flickr communities

AUDIO:

--Relearn the Marantz and the Zoom H2 and use them.
--Do at least one podcast.

ATHLETICALLY:

--Get back in shape over the winter through NYRR running class once a week, spin class once a week, weights at work two or three times a week, one long run or ride a week, and assorted running and riding the rest of the week. (Wait, I'm out of days ...) 

Also, focus on hills when the weather is decent.

--Stretch religiously. The padded mat is about to arrive, so I can do this better at home (the hardwood floor is pretty, but lousy for stretching).

--Foam roll, frozen-pea and tennis-ball religiously.

--Cycling: A19 SIG starting in March. (Must accomplish Numbers 1-3 if this is to be viable)

--Running ... I don't know. I'm so far behind in running that it's hard to figure out a reasonable goal.  But really, age-graded percentiles of at least 62 percent for 5K, 4M, 5M and 10K should be doable at some point during the year. Maybe even 65 percent (I am, after all, getting a lot older ... (I'll do some comparison charts in the next few days)

--Lose 5 to 10 pounds. Because it makes all of the above so much easier.

--All of this is contingent on being injury-free, and that's been the problem all along.  The other problem is managing this in addition to the multimedia goals and ... my day job, of course!! 

Comments

[ksteinhoff]

That's quite an impressive list you have there. Everything that's on yours should be on mine.

I put up my first video yesterday and it sucked canal water, but, at least, I made that first step.

Now I have to learn how to shoot and edit it.

I took a one-day course at the paper before I left it and thought I'd have no problems because I already knew how to do picture stories in stills; how to shoot from a variety of angles and mix in wide shots, medium shots and closeups. I've done enough interviews to be able to get people to say stuff that's interesting.

The REAL challenge was mastering the software and putting the pieces / parts together. I'm a PC kind of guy, so putting me on a MAC was a major handicap. I missed that right mouse button for context menus.

I think I'm going to keep concentrating on stills.

Thanks for stopping by my blog at http://www.palmbeachbiketours.com/

It's still trying to find its voice, but it's getting closer.

[Paula]

Oh, keep doing the video -- it's so much fun! And once you get the hang of the Mac, you'll never go back.

But I know what you mean about learning the software being the challenge. It's a huge challenge for me.
The fact that I haven't been trained as a photographer is something of a challenge too!

You should be able to control-click on the laptop for the context menus. And I think there's a way to set up the mouse in the system preferences to enable a version of right-clicking.

[Paul]

The NYRR classes are great and really help with reducing race times. If Bob Glover is still teaching, get in his group.

[Paul]

BTW, you'll kick ass in the A19; I wish I could ride with you again! Good luck stretching!