Congratulations to everyone here, and thanks for including my picture -- I'm amazed I ever got into one of these, let alone more than one.  I do have my problems with this place but it's still a big honor to be featured here in such wonderful company.  Again, thank you.

I'm so glad my shot got picked, that's such an honor to be included with greats like deweygg, odie and unstrung65.  Thanks.

EDIT: How would I go about suggesting photos for next week's?  Or is this just something you guys decide amongst yourselves?  I looked around for a FAQ for Last Week in the Gallery but couldn't find one.

Thanks you guys for choosing my "sweater for a tree" pic.  I don't tend to keep up with things around here so I wasn't even aware of this but I'm glad I got picked, it's a great selection of shots and I'm especially grateful to be included alongside cbender.

Thanks to whomever suggested my shot.  I still hate everyone else though.

"May i ask though why that last statement was directed only at me?"

Because you seemed to be the most stressed out about feeling like you had to be commenting constantly, plus you've brought it up before.  The same goes for anyone else, though.

I've said most of this before, but this certainly is the best place to say it again.

You should not feel guilty for not commenting if you don't have the time or can't think of anything useful or interesting to say.  If you have nothing to say, I see no reason for you to feel obligated to say anything at all.  Also, the reciprocal system that's already been mentioned I think actually is hurting the community -- it's becoming more and more "uncool" to offer genuine advice and put real thought into your comments.  I don't want anyone commenting on my stuff because they feel like they owe me something.  Respect is infinitely more satisfying than guilt.

However, in terms of commenting in general, I think it is a tad selfish to just post images and never comment on anyone else's.  It makes you look like a snobbish, "too cool for this website" type.  If you have some artistic knowledge to share, by all means, DO IT.  You never know who might benefit from your input and encouragement.

I've only had one experience with somebody sending me IMs that "gently hinted" that I should drop by and leave a comment or two.  I'm not sure if it was his intention to be annoying or manipulative because he clearly wanted advice, as opposed to simple attention, but still I think that's rather self-centered behavior.  If I'm interested in your work, I'll check up on you.

The "copy and paste" comments are, I think, very disrespectful to the artist.  It's pretty much saying "I'm too good to say anything thoughtful but I still want people to think I'm nice".  That's not to say that everyone who does that is a jerk; they could just want to show their respect but not have the time to be eloquent, or they could just not have been here long enough to understand how common and irritating micro-comments are (I made that mistake a few times in my first month or so here, and I apologize -- I thought the word "woah" over and over again was the ultimate compliment).

Also, I think constructive criticism, when worded carefully and politely, is the best thing in the world for an artist.  I even appreciate the constructive crit I've gotten that I didn't agree with, because it's the thought that counts.  The thought that someone actually cared enough to tell me how they think my image could be improved.  Alot of people don't have the spine to accept true, helpful comments for what they are, and if you run into one of them, just back away slowly like you would from a rabid dog.  You've shown them respect by offering them advice, and if they can't take it, they can shove it.

And lastly, I want to say this directly to Zacko: you don't have to comment in my gallery anymore, even if I leave comments in yours.  Trying to be a Comment Wizard is clearly causing you stress and I figure one less gallery to worry about might do you some good.  I really respect you, and although I am honored by your critique, if it is a chore to offer it than you probably shouldn't.  Thanks for being awesome.

PeeWee, you just keep on leaving those criticisms no matter how much flame mail you get.  You've got the right idea, and it's your right to speak your mind.  Don't let anyone convince you otherwise.

Sorry I forgot to mention you when I was giving props to the people who'd left me proper comments.

Tofi . . .

I love you.

I agree 100%.  I like to leave compliments to show support for the artists I like, and I admit I've often been guilty of leaving copy-and-paste type of comments, but I never do it just because I want a comment in return.  That's just sleazy and wrong on so many levels.

Coincidentally, I was just considering whether or not I should ever allow comments in my gallery again, since there's so little actual constructive criticism or genuine appreciation that it's hardly worth bothering.  I posted an image awhile back where I specified, both in the submission form and in the image notes, that I wanted nothing but constructive comments.  One of the comments I got actually said "kewl work", and nothing else.  However, I did get comments from nikolais and eyeland that made me feel all gooey inside.

Which brings me to the saving grace of the comment feature: people who actually use it the way it ought to be used.  I've gotten sincere advice and encouragement from time to time, especially from nattarious, jinet and the above-mentioned nikolais and eyeland.  "Jade green frog - selective color version" was entirely inspired by jinet's comments on the original.  He specifically said "Nice photo indeed, but the color of water is really too awful. All the rest is allright. Have you tried to put it in black & white, or selective coloring by keeping only the green and yellow color of the frog?"  I'm really proud of both versions, and without his remarks there would only be one.  Thanks, jinet -- you and others like you are one of the best things about the internet.

So I'm still sort of on the fence.  This site is full of trolls and ass-kissers who just waste space with their comments, but on the other hand you have people like jinet and nattarious who aren't afraid to offer civil, well thought-out advice.  I think that one of the reasons there are so few good people like them are the artists who can't stand to be corrected, who in turn may have developed that overly defensive attitude because of people who leave troll comments in their galleries, and so on.  It really seems like a self-perpetuating cycle, and it's one of the biggest problems with this site.

As a side note, I also like what dBgrafix said about "Ultimatley your finished image should please you, and that is what counts".  I live by those words, dude.

And what TomDart said: "Strict critique is unfortunately prone to bias from the one doing the critique. Certainly, a constructive comment on an image I post is appreciated. When it is apparent I simply do not meet the 'photographic bias' of the commentator, that critique has little value."  Also true.  Glad you also acknowledge the fact that some people have different opinions than others, so few people actually believe that.

Looks great!  Although I have to say, niether of those shots are as good as your avatar pic, that's my favorite.

I may be alone in this, but photography doesn't make me see differently at all -- I use how I see things to help with my photography, and it doesn't seem to work the other way around.  I've only just started taking quality photos and it hasn't effected me one bit, except for making life less boring.

As for finding interest in the seemingly mundane, I'm all for it.  It's hard to put my finger on exactly what I think makes a great shot, but one thing I like is if you can get symmetry and balance without everything having to be situated towards the exact center.  Off-center symmetry, I suppose you could call it.  I'm a big fan of leaving alot of space around the focus of the shot because it accents the subject and doesn't leave the photo feeling cramped.

I agree that just because a photo showcases an exotic place/fashion/object doesn't necassarily mean it's quality stuff, but the subject itself is still important.  The way I see it, the subject doesn't have to be fascinating, it just has to look fascinating, whether by itself or due to the talent and skill of the photographer.  I'm at the point where I can make an interesting subject into an interesting photo, but ain't quite talented enough to make the ordinary extraordinary like girsempa, tofi or TwoPynts.  Fortunately I live only a short walk away from a pond with alot of frogs and bugs living in it, so I have lots of opportunities to photograph interesting subjects there.  As for finding inspiration in the home, my family also has six cats who make for some great photo ops if I can just get them to sit still.  Here's some cat shots:

http://www.metrocast.net/~stefburk/stuff/cats/

I don't know about the Photography gallery as a whole but I went to the Macro gallery yesterday and it was overflowing with pure, concentrated badass -- like a neutron star of badass.  Almost every photo uploaded within the last few days was miles ahead of anything I've ever done, just amazing stuff.  I binged.  It was only the second time I'd ever visited the Macro gallery but I have to say I definitely noticed an increase in awesomeness since the last time I was there, and I can say for sure I will be hanging out there often from now on.

If the Photo Gallery is indeed booming, I'm glad I get to be a part of it.

Let's see . . .

#5:  My school had nazi teachers and the vice principal was an abusive bytch, so alot of my stories involve revolutionaries/anarchists vs. opressive governments.  Does that count?  Actually, after that my life hasn't been very violent or stessful at all, but oddly enough my stories have some really horrible violence: lots of beatings and fights, some torture, one has a plot that centers around organ theives.

#8:  I'm wearing a baggy t-shirt and a pair of sweat pants right now and that's my standard outfit.

#10:  Not very often but a remark I made in a cafe years ago caught the attention of a writer who was there with her notebook.  She asked me if she could use it and I said yes.

#12:  Misspelled signs make me laugh.  My mom's friend sent her a slide show full of mistakes like that and it's still funny to me.  SOTP.

I'd looked on the forums and couldn't find any other references, so thanks for digging it up. It's good that she's at DAZ, instead of having vanished from the planet. I kinda miss her home page, tho.