I saw this but couldn't believe it was on the up and up so I didn't explore it. Now that you have also pointed it out, I think I'll take a look. :-) Thanks, dear.

Thanks, Sugar. I'm like you...I love the artisitic side that comes from a good photo. The more I edit, the more fun I have. :-)

This is so well deserved. Boris has excellent and consistant work with a flair for awesome skills. Congratulations, Boris!  I hope to see your work for another 10 years!

I'm totally a fan and the honor is so deserved!  Congratulations my dear. Congratulations!

You don't have even a hint or how much that means to me, Tara. Thank you so much.

Thanks, and a good new year to you and the Mrs.

Thank you guys for looking. I truly work hard to express myself in photographs. Knowing someone enjoys them too is a compliment.

Love ya Tom, Ilona, Bruce, Rich...and of course Carin who stepped up to the plate when I left my post.  You are all people I respect and for good reasons. I only hope that in our strive to produce quality products for the public, we can educate those coming up behind us about how to view art and, more importantly, create good artwork. Not all things we do are perfect but when we hit on the perfect image, it needs to be appreciated and when it is not, I hope the community will help to teach us the better way. The forum and the comment section are more than a place to pat us on the backs.

I heard the movie was excellent for many reasons and this one really grips me. I will have to see this when it is available on my satelite TV. Thanks for the lighting review! I also believe it was movies  and TV that made photo tipping so popular. A lot is promoted and learned from watching a good movie and seeing more than what seems to meet the eye.

I agree. I think we'll miss all that stuff here. Freezing weather and too many trees to see much. I don't want to be on a city train or bus after midnight either so you'll have to see fireworks there for all of us!

The forum is and was, for me while I was on staff, a place to learn and gleen hints for better skills. I felt the challenge, the different games played and the announcements of achievement/personal elations were s big draw. Every day I checked for something. I tried to find hints and links after Bruce left but with the backlog of the 7 galleries I stood over, and keeping the features active in each one, I fell short. Tom Dart and Jeroni threw in and filled out the form from time to time with threads that made the community respond, but no one seemed to want to perpetuate the discussions or initiate anything.  I remember posting questions in several forums I moderated about what types of things people wanted to see in the discussions. I asked for input for ideas I was developing to peak interest. Even when I ran the occasional contest in the forum, out of all the photographers in the community, I would be lucky if I got 30 voters stepping up to simply say "1, 2 or 3" as their vote.  The appathy is astounding.

I don't blaim it on anyone or anything, but, Rich, you are right. Our community is shrinking. The other day I found only 40 posts in the Photography Gallery were done in a 24 hour period. Only 2 pages archived for the day. I remember when 7 pages per day was not unusual in a day's time. Now it seems sad to see the few struggling photographers posting and trying to find someone who has the same passion; who  wants to reach out and say more than "nice photo," or "good job."

Guess I know what you'll be doing on New Years Eve. :-)

Attached Link: clickable link for the exposure guide

Thanks, team. I've so enjoyed the Ft Bragg series and I am please others are finding the beauty in my photos.

Great to see you have been awarded this honor again in such a short period of time. Usually this is only given once in 5 years or longer. Congratulations on a both great achievements - a second honor in about 21/2 year's time and a stellar gallery.