I want to make a conscious effort to understand my photography, learn and practice more. I’ve been on autopilot to some extent, so below are a few things I’ve done already to start this journey, and things I’m planning to do in the near future.

My primary goal is to take better photographs of animals in a wider variety of situations. Most of my existing animal photos were taken while they were stationary - and in the case of my dog, Molly, she is mostly zipping along or jumping - so being stationary in all of my photos doesn’t reflect what she’s really like.

I had built up a camera collection over the years - which was a lot of fun. I got to learn what I liked and what I really needed to make photography fun and efficient.

I’ve traded in most of my camera collection and I’m left with 2 primary cameras. A fixed prime lens camera and an interchangeable lens mirrorless camera. I can’t shake my love of fixed lens cameras, but it’s really the interchangeable lens camera that I think is going to be more useful for fast-moving animals.

I’m so used to photographing things at close range that I don’t currently own a zoom to use to track a fast-moving animal - so that’s on my to-do list to sort out.

I have done a lot of photography workshops. A few years ago I planned out several during one year in a wide variety of photographic genres. These included portraiture, landscape, street and astrophotography. They were all very good. I definitely learnt things that stayed with me from all of them.

I’ve booked a generic online course about learning from the greats, on the Leica Academy website and I’ve also got an in-person close-up animal photography workshop booked in August which I’m really looking forward to - so expect to see a few rodent photographs!

LEARNING FROM THE GREATS: TAKE BETTER PHOTOGRAPHS

GOING DIGITAL - UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL - WILDLIFE DAY

I’m going to continue to look for more opportunities to learn as well as deliberately plan trips to put myself close to animals to practice.