Rick is very correct Aramina, people are not properly understanding the guidelines I think. Your image belongs in the fractal gallery. I've included a couple of links to images I've created in the past that maybe would not suit the fractal gallery and where one in particular is of the type where the fractal is definitely not the focus. This one, the fractal is only a colouration for an object in a small but unique way. The composition was posted in the Bryce forum (quite old now). http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=190734 This other image could probably have passed being put into the fractal gallery as the focus was on "what" could be done with a single fractal. However, I also chose to put it into the Bryce gallery as most of the work I did was with that program and was what "I" (note the quotes) felt comfortable with. If someone else created something along these lines I would be very happy to view it in the fractal gallery and state that it belonged there. http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=197335

Glad you care about the community enough to stick around Tery :) You're needed here!

It was a very close vote and because of that we will have 1/2 our population happy and 1/2 not so happy (understatement I know). All communities struggle when trying to find their "norm" and/or acceptable zones. We don't always like the results but if we're up to it we stick around and try to keep the "other" opinion in view and on friendly coffee talk status. I too also understand the need to get away from things here for a time - I've done the same thing myself. Sometimes it is a good thing! However, I found out that guidelines I like or dislike not withstanding, I really do like the community we have here. The diversity, the lively discussions and the willingness to share. Those are the things that hold the appeal of renderosity to me, this forum/gallery in particular. I can post art anytime in many places completely to my own specs and guidelines. But it gets lonely out there. Good luck to you cruelanimal and I hope you find what you're looking for. Perhaps that journey will one day bring you back again like it did me.

Congratulations Wolfbear! Not only is this a wonderful fractal but your whole gallery is something to be very, very proud of and pleased with. It's a wonderful place to go "surfing".

Well said Rick!

My first look (thought)finds the focus of this image to be "beauty" and "colour". The second look (thought)tells me it's a hummingbird feeding from a flower that is composed entirely of fractals. :) Most excellent imagery!

Actually, I am finding it very interesting to watch the votes and see the margins shrink, widen and the subtle changes occurring. Especially interesting given the long discussion and opinions that had invoked this vote!

Yes, this was an absolutely wonderful contest for the Fractal Community. The best I've seen in here to date! Congrats to the winners and to all the entrants on their wonderful entries. Nick, Barbara, thank you for working this contest for all of us and Pagan Poet... well, you are one very generous community member. Thank you!

I don't think the amount of complaints matter now do they? Really? What matters is that a large, knowledgeable and reasonably "nice" (ahem) threaded discussion has ensued and is resulting in the forum going to vote on a matter near and dear to them This same argument will surface again in a few months (I'd be almost disappointed if it didn't) in spite of the voting. But you know what? At the end of the day we are lucky to be heard and considered. This is still a pretty nice place to be. I also think that it's pretty cool that we can set rules, learn that maybe our original thoughts/reasonings weren't all that we'd hoped and reset the rules. Hope you all have a great day :)

What a long standing discussion and each time the different types of artists come together on fractal definitions, differences, purism or not purism I learn new things. It's one of the things that I have always enjoyed about this forum. Explanations on how colouring within fractal generators work, insight into other artists preferences, drivers, creative processes... aside from some bits of frustration this is a pretty cool thread. It was not really so long ago that we did not have our own forum or gallery here! How excited we all were to get it! Why not have one rule? and have that rule called "inclusion" or "expansion"? Yes, that puts us back to the way we were before the rules. Arguments abounded back then too - approximately one good one every 4 to 6 months :) You cannot have a decent community without passionate discussions and differences! Especially an artistic/creative community. Is it not the passions and differences that help drive us? inspire us? light the proverbial fire under our butts? I really hate the thoughts of anyone turning their back on this community. There is so much here that is worthwhile! Lets celebrate and enjoy our differences.

Hi All, looks like you're all doing well. :) and I hope you truly are! Sorry to add to this fray, but I can't sit and lurk any longer on this topic. Simply, I miss not seeing artists like Longrider when I cruise the fractal gallery. It would be a delight to see some of Little Red's work gracing our community again. Searching for an "fractal" artist whose style I remember but whose name I do not is now impossible as so many images are going outside the fractal gallery. Learning from our wonderful fractal artists happens in this forum more than any other place. Mixed Media does not have a forum and if it did, there are so many other art types that "fractal" imaging conversations would not work as well as they do here. I can remember and thoroughly enjoyed old discussions on how art "mixtures" were created. How a fractal was pulled into bryce and caused a simple 3D image to become magnificent. Vclaszlo, Dreamwarrior, I feel for you both. This is going to be one tough decision. A decision that you can either bear the brunt of for many moons to come or one you can put to a vote and let each one of us deal with our own feelings on the subject. If it does come to a vote then please consider these definitions within our perceptions of "Fractal Art": Artist: A person whose work shows exceptional creative ability or skill Art: The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty Fractal: Many mathematical structures are fractals; e.g. Sierpinski triangle, Koch snowflake, Peano curve, Mandelbrot set and Lorenz attractor. Fractals also describe many real-world objects that do not have simple geometric shapes, such as clouds, mountains, turbulence, and coastlines. I know these discussions are sometimes upsetting but on the postive side we see each others opinions and reasonings (if we're lucky) and are thereby given an opportunity to grow within our understandings and even possibly our art just a little bit more. Well, am going back to lurking for a wee bit :) wave to me now and again!!

When I see the beauty of a well done fractal image, that being an image composed of one or more fractals and/or/or not other items of interest... I do not think at all of the math. I only think of the wonder that has escaped from another human being in the "eye" of their art.

Nope, I've never been approached but then I'm not known or good enough yet! I'm glad to hear folks are getting approached about their art from here though. It is one of the reason for "being". There have been a few get jobs as a result of their galleries. :)

Welcome erisnyxeros! I'm so very glad you've come back to join us at Renerosity. As Bryan so wonderfully said, accumulative knowledge reaaly does enhance the fractal experience. Mind you... fractals still absorb me for hours on end in just the meandering phase (as opposed to concrete work phase). There are a lot of really knowledgeable and very friendly people in this forum who will be able to give you a helpin hand if you run into any stumbling blocks or if you just need advice. Brenda

Thanks Bryan :)