I learned about fractals in 2003 when someone in a Bookcrossing forum posted a link to Janet Parke's site. Then I downloaded Ultra Fractal and it was a revelation. I've worked with UF, Apophysis, Incendia and MB3D -- the first two are still what I'm more comfortable with.

I'm a programmer, but I've never touched the math/programming side of fractals. It'd be too much like work! ;-)