My 2026 Creativity Action List

In my first story for the year I told you that I don’t make New Year Resolutions, but that I had, however, made a creativity action list at the start of 2025 of things I wanted to do photography-wise during the year.

By New Year’s Eve 2025 I had managed to do 4 out of 5 things on my list – an 80% achievement rate which I was quite happy with.

I started my 2026 list – my “2026 Creativity Action List” – with 5 items as per 2025, but I have now expanded that to 7 with the possibility of expanding it to 10. I told you I wasn’t going to share my list, but I’ve changed my mind to make it more real and embed it in my mind.

Be warned – this is going to be a real rambling story, so please try to stay with me.

Incidentally all the photographs in this story were taken on a recent motor homing road-trip – some taken while on the move – so I was tempted to call this story “Drive by Shootings”…

But anyway – back to my list…

My 2026 Creativity Action List

1. A logical #1 – get out and take more photographs;
2. Post at least 2 stories to my blog each month;
3. Be more daring/creative with my post-processing/photo editing;
4. Experiment creatively at the time of pressing the shutter;
5. Create a calendar and a photo eBook;
6. Print more photographs;
7. Stop worrying about what people think of my images and the stories I publish here.

1 – Take more photographs

This is a bit of a no-brainer really.

Up until early December 2025 I was incapacitated while waiting for a total right hip replacement so I was physically unable to get and about to take photographs. Now, after 10 weeks or so of rehabilitation after the operation, I am moving freely so will be able to spend more time on photowalks or bike rides to take photographs.

In the first month and a bit of 2026 I have probably taken more photographs than I did in the previous 12 months.

More photos = more fun, more images for my blog, and more images to share with you all.

2 – Post more stories on my blog

There is nothing that I find more annoying than popping over to visit a photoblog I follow, only to find that the last story appeared there several months ago.

Or when I do a Google search for photoblogs like mine only to find when I visit a blog that there’s been nothing new since 2021!

That annoys me – so I don’t want people to visit here and find old stuff and end up being annoyed.

Having said that I missed out in January with only one story published.

3 – Be more creative with my post-processing

I’m sure that everyone who takes photos gets a real buzz out of getting them out of camera, onto the computer, and “tweaking” them.

I know that I love that process – and it really has come about because over several years I have tried to develop a personal style. A look that is clearly identifiable as mine. I’ve never quite achieved it though, and I am pleased about that as I find my photography moods change so much, normally according to the weather, but also as much as my internal mood itself.

I can almost hear many of you saying that I should be pre-visualizing the end image before I click the shutter – and mostly I do – and that’s where the PP comes in to try and make the final image match my pre-visualization.

That makes sense to me – I hope it makes sense to you…

And talking of post processing, my go to package – DxO PhotoLab combined with FilmPack – was used to process all the images here to give a slightly nostalgic, old-world finish to them.

(And yes – DxO did provide me with their software at no charge, and I am still a DxO affiliate. So if you use the code RickH15 at the DxO store, you’ll receive 15% discount off any NEW DxO product purchase, and I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.)

4 – Experiment creatively at the time of pressing the shutter

Clearly there are some things that must be done at the time of pressing the shutter. Not just getting the overall exposure correct – but also composition, and other stuff – like long exposures to capture clouds and water.

I’m going to break – or ignore – the “rules” of photography, because they are not rules really are they? Call things like the rule of thirds, leading lines, fill the frame, etc. suggestions, or guidelines. Forget blue hour, golden hour. Forget that photographs have to “tell a story”, or “ask a question”…it is okay to take photographs because you can, or want to.

I think, for me, this is where I may find a tripod very useful (traditionally I don’t use one, although I do have one…).

I’m hoping that using a tripod will slow me down so I look for different angles, different compositions, different foregrounds, and so on. And of course using filters, of which I have some, but never use.

5 – Create a calendar and a photo eBook

Every year I say to myself I’m going to create a calendar of selected photographs for friends and family. Not to make money – but more as a collection of memories – I guess to replace the old family snapshot albums of years gone by.

And I’d like to do a photo eBook for the same reasons.

6 – Print more photographs

So many photography-centric YouTubers keep saying “print your photos…”., as does this contributor at Fstoppers.

It doesn’t matter what size you print really but just get something physical to hold and look at. Photos you can compare today with what you printed last month, last year. This, the experts say, will help improve your photography. Time will tell.

But I’m not going to rush out and invest in a new several-hundred dollar A3 printer with multiple ink cartridges and all the bells and whistles, I’m merely going to make do with what I already have and press my trusty old Canon printer into service.

7 – Stop worrying what people think

It is said that as you get older that you learn to not give a f**k what people say and think.

In my case that’s not quite true.

At 76 I haven’t quite reached that stage yet. I know I am entitled to my own opinions about photography (and other things), but I still find I hold back on expressing my opinions here and elsewhere.

Is “such and such” a photo good, bad or indifferent? Is what I publish on my blog meaningful? Or a load of old trash? Is that article I just read over on Petapixel worthy of reading or recommending? Or what about that YouTuber (yes, while I was incapacitated I watched a lot of YouTube) who says you must always shoot in RAW, or this camera is better than that camera, and so on.

I have decided that I really shouldn’t concern myself with such things so I have decided I will write whatever ramblings I like, and share more of my photographs – good, bad or indifferent.

Yep – I know I’m rambling – but I don’t really care any more – ha ha.

I’m about to call it a day and sign off here, but just before I go the following images were all “Drive by Shootings“:

• Fox River Bridge;
• Moeraki River;
• Jacobs River.

If you agree or disagree with my ramblings – don’t hold back let me know via the Comments section below.

Thanks for visiting – I appreciate each and every one of you.