I love New Year's Eve. It's one part contemplation and two parts anticipation. Time to clear out the flotsam of last year's perceived disappointments, focus on the positive, and forge ahead.

But first, a moment of retrospection. In 2009 like so many of you, I experienced a 'career transition' - in other words, I was laid off. I had already been doing photography on the side for some time, but now I wanted, and needed, more. Looking back on my work from 2009, I have to admit it was a great year. I visited New Orleans and New Zealand for the first (and not the last, I hope) time. My work was featured on the cover of a children's book (another first) and a major metropolitan magazine's cover. Friends became clients and clients became friends.

I can't wait to see what 2010 holds. I worry that this may sound forced, but it's true. For years I 'made it through' each work day. But now my time is my own and I'm working on what matters to me. It's a gift, really. That's why I'm happy to, at long last, be doing what I love.

A few resolutions to keep myself on track for the coming year:

1. Make more pictures.
Most people think I already shoot a lot of pictures, but I want to get out there even more, put myself in the way of inspiration, and really connect with the world and other people through my work.

2. Make photos for myself.
My best work consistently happens when I forget about what people want to see or will pay for, and photograph what I want and how I want. It's surprisingly hard to keep those little voices at bay when I'm out shooting. I've become better at it, but in 2010 I'm going to master it.

3. Keep an open mind about photography.
Beautiful work often happens in spite of the rules, not because of them. This includes rules of composition, style, and training.

4. Go out and meet new people at networking events, gallery openings, and other functions.
As mentioned before, I got my first city magazine cover this year. And even though I ordered literally hundreds of promotional cards (it felt like thousands) for myself, this and most jobs came to me through existing personal and professional connections.

5. Spend two to four days per month photographing my city of Los Angeles.
I've lived here for many years now, but there is still so much to discover. At some point, I started to over-think photography and it stopped being as much fun as when I was first bitten by the bug. In 2009, I rediscovered the fun of photography, thanks to new photo friends, made mostly through Flickr and photography classes. And now I have you to share it with.

6. Experiment, experiment, experiment. Try new photo techniques. Get down and dirty in post processing. Tackle subjects that seem scary or impossible.

Whatever your feelings about 2009, let's cherish this moment, when 2010 is just an idea, filled only with possibility and promise. Isn't that what New Year's is all about?

A selection of my 2009 work is below. I hope you enjoy it. Send me links to your work and I'll be sure to respond.

Cheers!