OK, I'll ask.

I had a really quiet year travel-wise. Went to Sharm-el-Sheikh which was purely for a rest so pointed the camera at a few fish and crabs but that was about it. A wee trip to Onich and the Whitby Goth weekend was about as adventurous as I got.

I don't know about anyone else, but I always find it realy difficult to take photos when travelling with a partner. They seem to think you point the camera at the thing you want to photograph and press the shutter, so you tend to get nothing better than holiday snaps. The only holiday where I had lots of time to take lots of photos was on safari.

Nothing planned for next year. I really need to try and get out a bit more when I'm not flying and try to get some 'proper' photography done.

I think the Glasgow meet will be worthwhile. It's far too easy to miss what's on your doorstep.

Plans for 2011 involve upgrading the Pentax K20Ds and replacing with K-5s, but that will probably wait for the end of the tax year.

We also plan on visiting some of the areas that we haven't explored yet - so Kent and Norfolk will be first on the list.

I also plan to make submissions to more online galleries. I've been slow as I've been very busy in 2010, but I put the first 10 submissions into PPG yesterday and today. We'll see how many make the grade!

I know this feeling well and unfortunately I'm just not sure of my abilities anymore and with that my enjoyment vanished as well. I think maybe just to hard on myself and unless it's perfect I feel I've wasted my time. So maybe the mojo will return in 2011.

Well most of summer 2010 was taken up with dissertation-writing, but I had a generally good year. My main aim for 2011 is to take more 'good' photographs - I don't mean that in a dismissive way. A lot of my time since I got my K20D has been spent learning what type of photography I like, and on occasions where documenting the event is the primary aim (ie birthdays etc.). I've now got (I hope) at least a basic grasp of what it is I'm looking for in my photography, and hope to get more shots of the kind I'd want to mount on my wall (got two in the last month-and-a-bit so getting there!)

2010 was eventful.
March - Brother-in-law had a brain haemorrhage the night we arrived in Christchurch (NZ), our 25th Anniversary return trip down under. Hung on for 10 days then died peacefully with family close by. Then having left Coff's Harbour at an unholy hour for the mad dash down to Sidney to hand back our hire car and get our plane home, a certain Icelandic volcano intervened and we spent another 9 days stranded down under. University weren't sympathetic, so cost me another 5 days leave.

June/July - usual 2 weeks on our favourite corner of Dodecanese paradise - 4th year running.

November - Egypt for someone's 60th (no bus pass/winter fuel allowance 'til next July but she'll survive!) K7 proved to be equal to the failing light at Kom Ombo. Down to 1.5 days leave (all TOIL from call outs) to get me through to end of March.

Bought 2 DA* lenses - 60-250 in late spring and the 300mm this week - finally succumbed to Mifsud's offer on e-bay. Arrived today.

As for 2011 - plans

K5 at Easter, Halki in June and somewhere warm next January (NZ would be good for the Rugby World Cup - but I'll need a lottery win for that so soon after the 2010 trip!).

and wishes

Bath to start winning again. Started well but been all down hill since then.

Both my parents to see in New Year 2011/12. Both pretty remarkable for 82 (even if they are starting to repeat themselves now!).


Steve

I did exactly the same thing a month or two ago as I'd had a Super Takumar 35mm f3.5 and a Spotmatic case with a KM I bought earlier in the year. If you keep watching you can find them for comparative pennies, although I find I use my K mount bodies more.

2010 has been a bad year for the family. The worst being the sudden death of my son, who left a partner and kids. He was cremated at the beginning of this month.

Taking a walk with the camera has been a great diversion and escape from troubles.

Roll on 2011

My sincere condolences Alan. I cannot begin to imagine how you feel.

I am glad your camera provides some solace.

I hope 2011 brings you peace and, in time, happiness again.

Alan, my condolences.

My son died 3yrs ago, and that is why I decided to get more into photography.

Like you I found (and still finding) that a good walk with the camera, helps escape from the problems associated with his death.

As I have now retired I will be taking more walks in 2011 so bring it on.

Regards

Much appreciated Gwyn and Colin.

As you say, Bring on 2011