First, I hope everyone had a safe and Happy New Year. Did you happen to shoot any fireworks display in your local area? Will you be there next year? I will. The Denver downtown display was very nice but I didn’t brave the 13 degree weather this year.

You’ve certainly put together a list of Resolutions for 2008, but did you include anything relative to photography? Here are some ideas.

• Have a personal project each month. Shoot something you’ve never tried before. Macro, portraits, off camera flash, a specific color, or B&W.
• Set a goal to learn (or expand your knowledge of) something new. Digital printing, mastering Photoshop, photo painting with Corel Painter, etc.
• Vow to finally organize your digital images. (My goal for 2008!)

Whatever your goal, use the S.M.A.R.T. principle. Specific, Measurable, Action Oriented, Realistic, Time Based. Write it down and stick to it. Give yourself a realistic time frame in which to complete it.

Make 2008 a year of learning and expanding your photographic skills.

Lithium Battery rules

As of Jan 1, 2008 there are limitations on carrying spare Lithium batteries onto airplanes. This doesn’t apply to batteries already installed in your digital camera, laptop, etc. Just the extras you may carry with you.

You can’t have them in checked luggage and are limited to how many you can put in your carry-on. They need to be wrapped separately, so just keep your spares in their original package and you won’t get hassled.

Get full details here at the DOT website.