I posted a long time back that I wanted to compile a set of 32 (or 33) images, one from each of the London boroughs. I thought this would be a good challenge, get me out to new places and let me practice photography all at once.

I have singularly failed actively to pursue this project. I may as well have set myself a 27-photo challenge, one for each EU member state. (Are we at 27? I think we are. Maybe 17, for the Eurozone – but better hurry…) Or 192, for each UN member. I digress.

Doing something new was what I wanted to achieve, but it was the challenge of actually getting out and travelling round that led me, I think, to failure. I had no purpose other than to go and take photos of something, and that purpose didn’t really make me jump out of my chair.

When I was home for Christmas in 2009, I did manage an early morning start to catch the sunrise at Britain’s most easterly point; I tied in an existing trip with a photographic goal. I tied a visit to the Isle of Wight with the goal of taking some great photos of splendid wooden boats at sea; I went on holiday and photographed common, garden birds feeding.

Sometimes we just need that extra little helping hand to meet our photographic challenges; setting goals that tie in with other activities is one of them.

The great series of photowalks run by PhotowalkLondon (of which I count myself part) takes us all over the city; maybe, if I can make sure I’m there on the last Saturday of every month, I’ll get my 32 boroughs after all.