Photography plans for 2011

[Matblack]

My photography resolutions for the new year are to get in a studio, to at least have a stab at marco photography and to use my ND500 to do some shots of moving water.

I also want to post here and on TP a lot more about my photography to get advice and ideas, hopefully this section will have a bit more traffic over the coming months but I promise I will try to contribute more and give as well as take advice and ideas

As far as upgrades go in 2011 I think I'll be holding off for a while, I'd like to move to the IS version of the 70-200mm f4L as I can't warrant the cost of the f2.8 and the f4L IS has some great reviews but it's a lot of money.

I've thought long and hard about a 5D and again it isn't something I can warrant at the moment, the increase in image quality doesn't have enough leverage against the expense at the moment and the 40D does everything I want for the time being. I am concerned about what will come after the 40D the new 60D is smaller and more plasticy, I've held it and it doesn't feel as right to me as the 40/50 and although the 7d is good I do wonder if it is worth the price but that is a decision for the distant future there is a lot more life in the 40D yet

I'm starting to get my kit together for more regular shooting with Amelie and whatever comes my way. I don't have the time to have the camera with me 24/7 and this is always going to be a hobby but when I do get the chance to shoot I want to get it right. I'm going to couple this with the odd few hours in a local studio which has lighting and can be hired for a reasonable fee.

I have recently aquired a few new bits for the bag and I think I am there or there abouts, bits which I'm not using will come up for sale here from time to time. At this point apart from better and better lenses can't see that I am missing anything essential.

In the bag
40D & Grip, cards, batteries, triggers which I won't use now I have the 580ex II, etc.
17-55mm f2.8 is
24-105mm f4L is
50mm 1.8mm
70-200mm f4L
100mm f2.8 macro
420ex
580ex MKII (new)
Various filters including an ND500 and CIRCPOLS

Other stuff
Manfrotto 055XPROB (new)
494RC2 head (new)

I'm hiring a 10-22mm over Christmas to try some landscape but I think the majority of my shots will centre around Amelie and family for a while so buying a 10-22mm outright would be a false economy and I have come away from the idea of a longer lens then the 70-200mm which has always served me very well and I'm not that heavily into wildlife shots.

I'm still thinking about moving the 100mm on and maybe the 420ex, although I am yet to try some off camera lighting which with the wireless between the two flashes should be fun and easy.

So thats the plan for the next year. I'm going to do a bit of a montage of the year in pictures over Christmas and New Year

MB