Goals are Great, but...

The beginning of a new year is a natural marker for setting goals. I do that myself. For example, I commit to coming up with one new product or service each year.

But before I get to "what I should do," I want to take a moment to review what has been accomplished. As a community, I don't think we do that enough.

I'm not talking about, "I worked hard this year and deserve a new car." Personally, I can't stand it when people say they deserve anything. Life, as I see it, seems to be a combination of challenge, hard work, and occasionally, good fortune. 

I've earned a few things and have been blessed with others. I not sure I deserved any of it. But I certainly am thankful.

And professionally speaking, much of what I have to be thankful for in 2013 involves my friends online. To put a finer point on it: you.

The support I've received  for The Digital Story, The Nimble Photographer, Photo Help Desk, lynda.com, Macworld Magazine, and a season of photography workshops... well... I feel very lucky.

I'm going to apply those positive feelings to the challenges waiting for me in 2014. And that's why I think we should take a moment to reflect upon our accomplishments. Doing so helps us have the confidence and the energy to push forward.

Thank you for a productive 2013. It was quite a ride. And I'm going to work hard to keep you by my side as we move forward. Let's see what we can do next.

-Derrick

Notes from the Road - 12-28-13

I'm staying at a Best Western in Southern California.

The WiFi is terrible (shocking isn't is?), so I'm posting via my iPad mini with Verizon.

They offer in-room coffee with Wolfgang Puck Signature. It isn't bad. But I'm using bottled water instead of tap. That always makes a big difference in S. Cal.

Best Western offers a free continental breakfast in the lobby. But that would require my getting dressed and combing my hair. I guess that's why I travel with energy bars...

This morning's Jimmy Fallon's Wake Up Call was "Shots." How did he know?

All in all, a good morning. I'm ready for the day.

-Derrick

Tech Support

I know doctors go through this all the time. You're at a party and someone wants you to evaluate a mole on their arm. 

The technology equivalent is a misbehaving camera or mobile phone. Actually, I take that back. I'd rather look at 10 malfunctioning cameras rather than one questionable mole.

The bottom line is, every family has a tech support guy. And he's busiest during the holiday season. When the wrapping paper comes off, the nerd hat goes on.

To tell you the truth, I don't mind this role. For years, my family had no idea how to describe what I do. They still don't really. But they can say, "Derrick is really good at tech. And he knows how to set up printers too!"

Like I said earlier... it beats the heck out of looking at someone's birthmark.

-Derrick

Bringing Nature Home

I have a pretty good set-up here at the studio. My worktable faces a big sliding glass door, which opens up into my patio garden. Since this is the South side of the building, I get plenty of sun in the Winter to help warm the downstairs area.

The patio, which I can see from my desk, features a variety of plants, a small lemon tree, and two birdbaths. The shallow bath is used by the smaller birds, and the larger one is frequented by Towhees, Jays, and anyone else who passes by.

During the offseason, the birds provide entertainment for both me and Dibs. I'm amazed to watch them bath in 35 degree weather. But they seem to enjoy it. 

In the summer, I use this area as my backyard nature studio. If I have to test a lens, or assemble a handful of interesting shots for a new camera that I'm vetting, this is the place. I just open the sliding door, grab a reflector, and choose my subject from the selection of plants and birds.

Bringing nature home is a big deal for me. As I watch the seasons cycle through my townhouse patio, I feel more relaxed, think better, and am at times rewarded with some lovely images. 

(Dibs just jumped off the table here to attack a string that's on the floor. Very entertaining for both of us.) I guess having a cat at work isn't bad either.

-Derrick

San Francisco Hotels

I've liked San Francisco ever since I was a kid and my parents took us there for a family vacation. Now the City by the Bay is just an hour away from my studio.

So it seems odd that I've never organized a workshop there... that is until May 2014 when I'll debut the TDS San Francisco Street Shooting Workshop.

As you can image, there are a million details to address to pull off this type of weekend event. But at the core of the planning is the location where we'll have our classroom sessions, informal gatherings, and sleeping accommodations.

In order to find just the right place, Leah and I have spent the last month researching hotels around Union Square. We narrowed the list to five candidates. And today, I visited each one to determine where our camera bags will rest in May.

After spending time at each facility, the field quickly narrowed to two. And the finalist is the Cartwright Hotel on Sutter St. It's wonderful - classic San Francisco architecture and furnishings, a terrific meeting room, and helpful staff. And when you step out the front door, you're immediately immersed in the charm of the city.

I've stayed in so many San Francisco hotels over the years. And my favorites are the unique establishments that couldn't exist anywhere else on the planet. 

The Cartwright Hotel is one of those places. And I can't wait to host my first San Francisco workshop there.

-Derrick