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We invite you to send your comments to the editor! On Jim Erhardt's Photographer Rights - A Matter of Policy article... "I am a first time viewer and I was thrilled to see your thoughts. Thank you!" Bob Benton On Darwin Wiggett's The Beauty in Barbwire article... "How true! I lived in Calgary for 5 years before returning home to the Maritimes and can appreciate your comments on taking advantage of what's in one's own backyard. In my case I live beside a river and am surrounded by covered bridges of various sizes and descriptions. Both make fascinating subjects regardless of the season. Thanks for validating what I've been saying for ages - home is where the picture is." Ceci Flanagan-Snow On Kerry Leibowitz's Non-photographers Say the Darndest Things article... "How funny! I laughed till I cried. Been there, done that!!! I’ll bet most photographers who spend time in the field have stories like these. I find that they always think I’m taking a picture of some big or rare or special animal, when I might actually be taking a picture of a leaf or a snail or a tiny flower. One guy asked if I was photographing an eagle, since I had a fairly long lens, and when I said, no, just some leaves on that tree over there, he looked at me like I was crazy. Great article for photographers." Jim Cash Hixson, TN On Darwin Wiggett's Orton Imagery - A “How to” guide for Photographers article... "Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading Darwin Wiggett's Orton Imagery technique. I often find myself with images that I feel would really benefit from an 'artistic/painterly' type effect but not really knowing where to start has always deterred me from pursuing this area further. Thanks to Darwin's article I'm now looking forward to experimenting using the described technique." Justin Cowtan On Darwin Wiggett's The Hibernating Nature Photographer: How to Get Great Studio Shots on a Limited Budget article... "I really, really enjoyed the article on getting good studio shots on a limited budget. Those of us who are not professionals just don't have the funds or space for studio lighting, etc. Any articles offering tips on getting good shots on a limited budget are just so appreciated!" Shirley Jones On Rod Barbee's Tripod Therapy article... "The timing of Rod Barbee's article on Tripod Therapy couldn't have been better for me - well done!" Tom Pepe "Just wanted to drop a note to tell you the article titled TRIPOD THERAPY was outstanding. Great concept for an article. I like the writing style and found it very useful. Please pass along my compliments to the author." Maureen Shaughnessy "I just read this article and would love to reprint it in our newsletter. I am the editor for Professional Photographers of the Redwood Empire in Santa Rosa CA. The newsletter is published each month and emailed to our 60+ members. I think they would get kick out of Rod's writing style. We are a not for profit professional organization so there isn't a budget for paying for articles. I am hoping we will be able to put this in our next newsletter that comes out the first of March." Eileen Allen Editor's reply - We're glad you enjoyed Rod's article! You may use the article for your newletter under two conditions; (1) permission is obtained in writing from the author (Rod) and (2) credit is also given to NPN. ...and on NPN in general... "...just wanted to say a big thanks for all that you and Donna do. I've been a member for a long time (number 0132 to be exact) and I can honestly say this is the best site on the web. The combination of the general forums and the regional forums is just great! I also really appreciate the variety of folks who are members. Having such a broad range of experience among them really makes it easy to get good advice. My photography has grown exponentially since becoming a member and most of it is due to being able to interact with so many fine folks. Visiting the site is the highlight of my day. Thanks so much!" Bill Stice "I know I don't say it often, but I really appreciate your great effort - This is, BY FAR, the best photo web site going, and I can't thank you enough." Bill Chambers On Rod Barbee's 10 Practical uses for the Depth of Field Preview Button article... "The topic on depth of field by Rod Barbee was indeed a great read and has helped me immensely in adjusting before my final picture taking moment........thanks!" Shiva Kumar On Youssef Ismail's Selling in Art Shows article... "I am so very fortunate to have found your online NPN article "Selling in Art Shows". All my questions were answered and all advice noted. I have been inspired, not overwhelmed and I'm back in the game of pursuing the selling of art. Thank you for your help. I feel much better." Denise On Jim Erhardt's All Day Macro Photography article... "Thank you for your article entitled "All Day Macro Photography". It is the perfect introduction I needed into a subject that has piqued my interest." Scott Carlin On Andy Rouse's Shots of the Month column... "What a great article on kingfisher photography by Andy Rouse. Thank you so much for sharing the article with us." Peter Wijn On Niall Benvie's Slow and the Curse of the Computer article... "Very thoughtful article by Niall Benvie. Not your typical nature photography instruction. Good stuff." Jim Cash "Bravo Naill Benvie! A fabulous article. I'm often pressed to find articles that give me something more about photography than what most seem to offer. Something beyond the light, medium, and tools - something inspirational. Occasionally, I come across a gem. An article that I will save and refer to often over a period of years to elevate me and get the creative juices flowing. Benvie has given me a gem." Alan McCord "Thanks a lot for this insightful article! I have had similar feelings for a couple of years, and for about 2 years concerning my digital photography (which I do since 1999). But I could never express myself so well! " Wolfgang Teschner On Jim Erhardt's All Day Macro Photography article... "Thank you for your article entitled "All Day Macro Photography". It is the perfect introduction I needed into a subject that has piqued my interest." Scott Carlin ...and on NPN in general... "This is a really good site on photography, with excellent articles and good site layout. Keep up the good work." Helmut K. "Thank you for such an inspiring website. I received a D70 for Christmas 2004 and have been dabbling in nature photos ever since. I have no formal training but feel as though viewing the images on the website and the comments has already provided me with an excellent start." Marshall Greiman "Fantastic site by the way. I found out about it through Darwin Wiggett's website. I'm having a great time commenting on all the great images and enjoy posting a few of my own humble photos." Pete Carroll On Andy Rouse's Shots of the Month column... "Another fine collection of stunning images all without exception are truly stunning - the mountain hare shot published in BBC Wildlife a good while back remains my favourite Mtn Hare by any photographer to-date." Geoff Simpson "I really appreciate Andy Rouse's change in approach to his work to show more of the habitat the animals live in. I believe it provides a more intimate image and conveys more meaning to the viewer. I am trying to change my approach and viewing his images has inspired me to continue to change. Change equates to growth, hopefully for the better. Thank you for providing the images." Leander L. Urmy "Just wanted to thank you for this very interesting and emotionally uplifting article , very well written and what a great photographer!" Avinoam Strahilevich On Niall Benvie's The Wildlife if Israel article... "Just a quick note to say thank you to Niall Benvie for his recent 'Wildlife of Israel' article. A thoroughly enjoyable and informative read, accompanied by an excellent selection of images." Justin Cowtan ...and on NPN in general... "I really enjoy NPN, I look at one forum or another almost every day. I am really looking forward to trying to put together some images worthy of your Portfolios site. I’m still a humbled by the quality of others work and I don’t think mine quite stacks up, but I need to get my images out there for photobuyers to see because nothing will happen if I don’t. Thanks again for what I’m sure must be endless work in keeping the site going. I think its great! I know my photography is better because of it." Wayne Rhodus On Garth McElroy's and Bob Steele's Peregrine Encounter article... "We all know these guys are great, but the Peregrine Encounter slideshow and article by Bob Steele and Garth McElroy is over the top. Congratulations on such a great capture!" Renae Sandberg "I just wanted to give my personal "wow!" on the peregrine sequence. Phenomenal! I have always strived for shots like this but even on captive falcons have never gotten close. Great kudos to both of you!" Rob Palmer "Outstanding article and truly amazing photos from what I feel are two of the best avian photographers of our time. Photographers that also give much of their time to helping others, so this is GREAT 'karma' that they shared this experience together. Congrats to both and thanks for sharing an event that most will never see, much less record on their cameras." Cindy Mead On Omar Attum's Ground Level Nature Photography with the GroundShot2 CSP article... "Excellent point and article! Sadly, many otherwise potentially interesting shots become rather drab because the photographer didn't go to the inconvenience of getting down there (or up there). I am often the subject of considerable amusement, a fat old bloke flat on his belly to get his shots. But I know it's well worth it." Jonn Merro ...and on NPN in general... "I have been a member of NPN for 2-1/2 years. Since joining, I have made many new friends, and refined my seeing and technical skills. For this I am most thankful, and therefore express my gratitude. "Quite recently I upgraded from my old digital imaging software to PhotoShop. While the written and on-line manuals for this program are excellent, they do not provide the nuance necessary for photographers. So, I perused the Digital Imaging archive and feature articles to see what the they had to offer with respect to PhotoShop. "I found a treasure trove of well written, interesting and superbly illustrated articles by Michael Gordon, Matt Hagadorn and Tim Grey in particular. What a resource! By the following the tips and suggestions found there, I saved time, reduced my frustration level to nearly zero, and obtained the kind of results I have been yearning for. "For those new to digital imaging or those who are looking to improve their skills, you have come to the right place! I believe NPN possesses resources that are second-to-none! "All the best for NPN's continued success!" Preston Birdwell On Darwin Wiggett's December '04 Cover Photo... "I would have to say this is one of the most stunning landscapes I have seen. Absolutely amazing!" Daniel L. Wolin ...and on NPN in general... "What a great website. I stumbled across Nature Photographers Online Magazine by accident then spent the next two hours reviewing pictures and reading your articles. I have to head off to work now, but plan on signing up as a member when I return. I’ve just started my photographic journey after being inspired this summer by a photographer’s work back home north of Boston. A month ago I purchased a Canon Rebel and an Epson 2200 printer. Really enjoy landscape and nature photography and your website has great information for an amateur like me. Thanks for putting this together." Dan Ouellette "I really wanted to take this opportunity to thank you both for doing what you do, and producing the great site that NPN is. I can't believe how big it's gotten in the past few years. The Colorado Nature Photographers site has been my home on the web for the two years it's been around. I can't tell you how many very good friends I've made just through that site alone. I consider a few of them some of my best personal friends, no doubt." Brent Doerzman "It's a little over two years now that I discovered the NPN website. First... well another site with some nature images ... some nature images ? Let me tell you people after a few hours lurking I was totally convinced these were not the average nature images, these were and still are the best nature images showed on the Internet! Not only great images but what kind of people over here. Some are pro's and are willing to share their experience with others, giving tips and tricks to help others making better photographs. Pros and amateurs giving comments to the images we post, commenting in a NPN-way, I mean giving critique without hurting people. Well as far as I'm concerned, I like it here and I think I will stay for a while - for a long while that is!" Jos De Braekeleer "I just wanted to say thank you for such a wonderful web site. I have learned so much and it is really great being able to be around folks who love photography as much as I do. Being up in rural Alaska I don't know too many folks who are into photography as much as I am. Thanks again for all your hard work." Carol J. Watkins On Jim Erhardt's Photos from My Back Yard - A Photo Essay... "Those pictures are a good reminder. I love to travel to get my pictures as most of us do. But if you can see in your own backyard you can see anywhere. The backyard becomes old hat. It really should be a comfortable and easy place to shoot." David Staff ...and on NPN in general... "I just signed up for NPN, and have spent hours wandering around its endless riches!" David Mantripp "I really appreciate all your good work making NPN available -- I've learned so much here." Tom Grey "I've learned an incredible amount on this site. (I hope it shows in my images!). It's a great collection of experience and knowledge." Anne Keeb "I just wanted to say thanks for considering one of my shots for photo of the week in macro. With all of the excellent work being submitted, it's truly an honor to be selected. I really enjoy the friendly and helpful interaction in the forums and it definitely makes photography more fun to have this constant feedback. I have been away from photography for quite a few years, but the digital bug and the Internet (and Ronnie G.) have brought back the interest." David G Chauvin "I really appreciate what you have set up with PhotoPortfolios.net, NPN, TPN and PNWNP. It is amazing the feedback and information I have been able to collect in such a short period of time, as well as met many friends. I feel my work has stepped up a level - most of that due to feedback with your websites." Elizabeth Joy Kimes "Thanks as always for the great work you do for NPN, it's a tremendous resource." Matt Hoberg "NPN is such a wonderful community and I'm very proud to be a member. Thanks for all of the hard work both you and Dona have put into making it THE best photo community online." Cindy Mead On Andy Rouse's Shots of the Month column... "I thought I might send you a few words I wrote along with Andy's link to a good number of my fellow Alaska businesses as well as State and Federal land and wildlife managers, all who share a concern about ethical photography practices regarding our wildlife here in Alaska. Andy Rouse is a credit to his profession and we applaud him." Letter as follows...
On Doug Benner's photo on the June cover of NPN... "About 2 or 3 weeks ago, I discovered your website through an online forum. What a great resource!! The photograph that was the entry page was a flower that was being viewed through a piece of glass that had water droplets on it. I bookmarked the page to show my wife, but the picture has changed since then. Could you point me to the correct portfolio/photographer who took this picture?" Jeff Wallace Editor's reply - Jeff, you can view Doug's "Van Gough Dream" image in his online portfolio on PhotoPortfolios.net. Thanks for taking the time to comment! JE On Ronnie Gaubert's Member Profile article... "Great work by Ronnie. His "macro" closeup work is super sharp with great light. Very nice and a portfolio I'd be very very proud to have myself one day." Steve Wyman On Bob Steels's and Garth McElroy's Bird Photography for a Birder article... "A very good article by two great bird photographers. Informative reading." George Forrest More on Mark Hobson's Just Do It article... "It seems as if the editors have a love affair with Mark Hobson. He definitely has his personal views and is effusive with them. He uses quotes to defend his perspective. I have found some of his images inspiring, but usually not. His vision and mine frequently conflict and contrast. He seems to believe that his way is THE way while I do not. I am reminded of William F. Buckley's comment in his book "Racing through the Pacific" wherein he states that it is sad that only about 5 people in the world truly know the definition of a word. Words to Buckley are as to images to Hobson. Unfortunately, Buckley's comment defies the actual meaning of words, which is that they are defined by useage. That is so in Latin, Russian, Swahili and all their derivatives. It seems to me that, though more than 5 understand Hobson's views, he does not allow for the views of the rest of humanity. We all have valuable views and hopefully, we all learn and grow. Remember one man's cliche may be a new discovery of another and should NOT be demeaned for being a new learned concept. Since we do not copyright insights and new learning, we should not look down or try to impose our superiority on those who learn something new." Steve Bein "I think the less said by Hobson, the better." Dan Ruf Editor's response - Yes, I guess we do have a "love affair" with Mark Hobson - at least those of us who value editorial that challenges the status quo and makes us think. Like or dislike his style or message, Mr. Hobson's articles continue to garner much feedback (both favorable and otherwise), which from an editor's point of view, is always a good thing. Many thanks to Steve and Dan for taking the time to read the article and comment! JE On Mark Hobson's Beauty, Cliche, and Other Empiric Tidbits article... "To me there is a no difference between what is beauty and what is sacred. It is the reverence in our art that takes the person who looks at it out of the ordinary and on a voyage of profound discovery. Our art poses questions that we dare not answer. We are like the school crossing guards. We stop traffic for a moment and allow the mind to cross into another place. A place suggested but not stated or defined by our art. I have said it often here and pardon me for being repetitious - the best of our art shows the quiet respect we have for the great mystery that placed us here. Those who are truly respectful in their portrayal of the sacred whisper like thunder. It is their voice that draws the eye into the magic of the experience." John T. Flickinger ...and on NPN in general... "I just want to say that I am truly Flattered that Garth and Bob picked my image for the "Editor's Pick of the week." I am speechless but I will say a sincere thank-you 10x's! Believe me since I joined NPN in February of 2004 my photography skills have improve 110% thanks to folks like Garth and Bob!" Ken Ki "Just also wanted to say how much NPN has helped me grow as a photograher. Thank you and Donna for all you have done on this wonderful website!" Carol Watkins On Darwin Wiggett's Pocket Power - Using Flashlights for Creative Nature Photography article... "Another nicely done article Darwin, you seem to write about topics I am interested in right now. I carry a flashlight with me all the time, along with a spot light for big objects... For me, the use of other light sources to create a different and other-worldly photograph is part of what I have been doing since I started photography two and a half years ago." Markos Berndt On Andy Rouse's Shots of the Month column... "Just wanted to say that I really enjoyed reading Andy Rouse's shots of the month article. It was very entertaining and informative. I hope you continue to present essays about particular photographic adventures as that really seems to bring all of the elements together that I like about photography." Gary On the NPN Gift Shoppe... "Just a quick note to thank you for the prompt shipment of my order. It arrived today, well in time for my trip to Greece next week. Thanks!" Martin Creasser - U.K. ...and on NPN in general... "Congratulations on a very well run site, I visit most of the similar offerings on the Web from time to time, and think yours is arguably the best." James Craner "I'm proud to be a member of the best nature photography website in the world!" Don Kurz On Mark Hobson's Just Do It article... "The perfect article! I am sending a link to all the other members of my camera club. Our focus this year is portfolio development and Mark's words hit the spot dead-on." B. Smith "Wow, what a wonderful piece by Mark! The vision he speaks of is so obvious to me when I look at a photograph - not only the subject but the care in presentation (composition)... In this world we spend so much time searching and too little time finding. A vision and a desire to communicate with our subjects will be a good thing." John T. Flickinger On Jim Erhardt's No Apologies Required article... "Love your article on 'no excuses.' I am in the middle of teaching a beginner’s class in photography and constantly point out that there are millions of pictures that you can creatively take with your present setup." Bob Elliot "Thanks! I needed this article. I was feeling sorry for myself. No time. No place to go. Aging film based equipment. I had taken myself into a pit of self pitty. Thank you for showing me the way out. Some times the obvious is so hard to see!" Bill Williams "I think you could emphasize the point that sometimes, very small and relatively cheap equipment will do the work. In this case I mean the pair of Litediscs and Plamps. The cheap instrument that will give you great control on light direction and intensity both in sunny and cloudy days, and may improve your performance much more than a $1000 macro lens." Gadi Eidelheit "This is a great article - quite refreshing! I think I will be staying here for a while..." Kurt On Jim Erhardt's Circles of Photography article... "First let me congratulate you on 4 years of NPN. I have only been a member since 10/03, but have found the site extremely educational and fun. In your article “Circles of Photography” you commented on the development many of us have undergone while actively participating in the critiques. I couldn’t agree more. I, personally, have grown tremendously as a photographer while participating in NPN discussions and receiving comments on my images. I have particularly noticed the recognition by other members of “styles” that don’t necessarily fit the standard “cookie cutter” mode of the traditionalist. I believe this is a tribute to the leadership of NPN as well as the high level of professionalism of the photographers who participate. When all is said and done, all of us, seasoned nature photographers, or newcomers, learn and grow in this environment. The result of this growth is that the art form is advanced to even higher levels. Thank you for all you do to provide us this site." Ed Cordes More on Darwin Wiggett's My Nature Photography Pet Peeves article (March, 2003)... "I don't know that I have a favourite photo, but your article on "Photographic Pet Peeves/Do We Need Rules of Etiquette" was classic. Truer words have never been spoken. I have to constantly remind myself to calm down, that I'm standing on public land, and that I don't have any special rights that anyone else has. Though it does get rather difficult at times when people seem to make a point of watching where I set up, where I point my camera, and then literally following me around trying to duplicate what I'm doing. Hard for a "lone wolf" to take." Frank Dzambic More on the new PhotoPortfolios.net online member portfolios... "...congratulations on this fabulous web site!" Bart Vannieuwenhuyse ...and on NPN in general... "Honestly, my friend, I don't know how you do it! Keeping up with all of the NPN stuff (and the band of crazies that inhabit same) must surely be a labor of love! Your efforts are deeply appreciated!" Preston Birdwell On Jess Lee's Beyond the Wildlife Portrait article... "Kudos to Jess for his fine article on moving beyond portraits to depicting habitat/behavior of wildlife. I think this is the most challenging and rewarding aspect of what we do. Showing the relationships both within and between species, and between individuals and environment, creates a better impression of what wildness is all about. When I look at the work of the top wildlife photographers (Tom Mangelsen and Frans Lanting come to mind) it is these types of shots that stick in my mind. Jess summed it all up nicely." Pete Bengeyfield "I am just another amateur photographer with too many opinions but I thought your article on wildlife portraits is similar to the tussle between studio portraits of people and people in their environment, working and playing. There are people who prefer the former and often they are quite the technical perfectionists, making it hard for environmental portraits to go head to head in "fact sheet" like debates. The environmental photo has less tangible reasons for it, they are harder to articulate while a studio portrait has all the technical parameters available to sling into an argument. Thank-you for the good article." Paul Watson More on Darwin Wiggett's The Hibernating Nature Photographer article... "Super article Darwin, I just wanted to add my 2 cents to what you use. As you stated, lighting equiptment can be expensive. For my needs it's either the window or a halogen lamp which for what I do, works extremly well. Great article as always, along with images to go along." Markos Berndt More on the new PhotoPortfolios.net online member portfolios... "I will soon put my portfolio together and upload it to the new web site: congrats for such a challenging new enterprise, which I hope will soon be a new success story!" Stefano Crosio ...and on NPN in general... "Love the site, great information and reference site." Mark R. Bertieri "Just wanted you to know that I appreciate the high standards of NPN." Cindy Mead "Honestly, my friend, I don't know how you do it! Keeping up with all of the NPN stuff...Your efforts are deeply appreciated!" Preston Birdwell "Thanks again for running such a wonderful site. It's been a great resource and real community experience. Looking forward to another great year." David Gottlieb On Andy Rouse's first NPN Shots of the Month column... "For those of us who have not been fortunate enough to visit some of the more exotic corners of the world, in search of exotic, elusive and exciting wildlife to observe and photograph, reading Andy Rouses's article has got to be the next best thing. A very interesting and amusing read, accompanied by some outstanding images. Can't wait for the next one - many thanks!" Justin Cowtan "I'm glad Andy has joined NPN - he will be a be a worthwhile contributor. His first article is really excellent and of course, some 1st rate images of the creatures encountered on his varied travels." Geoff Simpson "As a long term fan of Andy's work, I was fortunate enough to attend one of his "Birds of Prey" days earlier this year and got some good shots thanks to the great tips Andy gave on the day. One area it would be nice to learn more from him would be on exposing the shots, maybe using the images from this article as examples. Its the quality of his exposure, as well as the framing that has always impressed me and knowing when and how he compensates would be a great bonus." Stewart Niblock "Once again many thanks for getting Rousey onto an already great and established web site like NPN.... Keep up the excellent work!" John Fairclough "Just to say congrats on obtaining the service of Mr Rouse. He's one of my heros and is the inspiration behind me picking up the camera again two years ago after a break of some twenty years. I shall look forward to reading his regular column with much anticipation." Dave Clarke On Darwin Wiggett's The Hibernating Nature Photographer article... "One of the best articles on solving the "winter doldrums" I have ever read! Give my compliments to the author AND photographer!" Michael Bates On the new PhotoPortfolios.net online member portfolios... "The new site is fantastic!" AB Apana "This is a great service! Thanks!" Walter Rowe "Many thanks Jim - I appreciate all you do to make NPN *the* best!" Cindy Mead "Great to see the PhotoPortfolios daily requests up and running - NPN just keeps getting better!" Brian Small "The new PhotoPortfolios.net website is absolutely fantastic! Thanks for continuing to add value to an already fantastic service." Bret Edge "I've been visiting the main NPN site for several years now, but never considered joining until today when I noticed your new PhotoPortfolios site. Great idea!" Martin Grosnick "I am very pleased with PhotoPortfolios.net and want to thank you for the tremendous time and effort taken for our benefit." William Vrolyk ...and on NPN in general... "All worked out OK with the installation of Opera 7.23. It's abit slower than Netscape, but I can get my daily fix of NPN. Thanks again! You folks have a great site and you can count on my patronage for years to come." Dennis Jones On Trevor Ash's Quick Lessons in Computer Maintenance, Disaster Recovery, and Data Backup: Part 1 article... "Trevor makes some very good points that the average photographer may not consider regarding the proper archiving of digital images. I only hope that the word also gets out to the millions upon millions of ordinary people that are taking more photographs than ever due to the revolution in digital imaging. I genuinely fear that there may be an entire generation's worth of photos lost before the implications of most people's practices become known in regards to media degradation, file and file system incompatability issues." Mike Kovacs On Matt Hagadorn's Color Space: Beyond Adobe RGB article... "I just read the article Color Space: Beyond Adobe RGB and found it very educational. I am learning more and more about colors and color space as I participate in this Forum." Dr. Edward Cordes On Jim Erhardt's Art of Image Critique article... "I just wanted to say thanks to Jim Erhardt for writing The Art of the Image Critique. I participate in the PhotoSIG community and I see this article as validation for how I approach my critiques and encouragement to critique better. And more frequently. Especially on those photos that appear to be 'out of my league.'" Eric Holsinger ...and on NPN in general... "I would like to compliment you on what can only be termed as a wonderful achievement in NPN." John F. "I just wanted to express my sincere thanks for the (weekly Editor's Picks) election. I am truly honored that my shot was selected from such a fine group of photos. I've also had such a great experience at this great site that I've decided to become a member." Ken Kwan On our Member Profile of Garth McElroy... "Garth, a very nice write up which projects a great enthusiasm for the subject. Jim, these are excellent articles and a theme you should continue." Steve Wyman, U.K. On Jim Erhardt's New Editorial Schedule article... "I applaud your decision to publish new content more frequently than once a month. I wondered when an on-line magazine would change from once a month. By only publishing new content once a month, most readers would only visit the site once a month. Now readers are encouraged to visit more often to see what's new, thus increasing the number of hits and possibly increasing the sites revenues." Richard Camper On Brian Small's Photo Contest Tips article... "I enjoyed Brian's clear, well written article, lots of good information. What could be more meaningful than getting the scope from someone (a professional) who judges contest. Further, his published work is among the best . We're fortunate having him participating on NPN." George Forrest On NPN's new image critique forum software... "Congratulations on the NEW image galleries, they are a joy to use and the idea of thumbnails is excellent." Justin Cowtan, U.K. "…congrats with the new format, it looks great!" Jasper Doest, Netherlands "Just wanted to drop you a note to let you know what a great job you have done with redesigning the site. I love the thumbnail view and now when I'm home and have DSL I view all the recent images instead of just avian. Takes a bit of getting used to but overall great job!" Jim Zipp "Thank you very much for your willingness to make this change to the login process (Note - change to require log-in to view images). It's nice to know you're listening to members concerns, I believe it is a wise choice, and I applaud you for it." Jim Tomisser On NPN Gift Shoppe service... "Just a quick note to say thank you for the very fast turnaround time on my recent order. All arrived today, faster than if it had been sent from London." John MacTavish, U.K. ...and on NPN in general... "Great job on all counts with NPN, it has been a tremendous help and resource for me over the past year as well as enjoyable." Edwin Kaar "First off, thanks for NPN and TPN! I used to belong to a camera club a decade ago in NY. The camera veterans back then picked apart my work mercilessly until I started producing better slides, and my photography improved greatly. A decade later I take better photos, but I'm useless at the digital post processing work. Now the NPN veterans are mercilessly picking apart my images, and thereby helping me to be a better digital image maker. As I've never had any formal training in photography or imaging, this is how I learn. I appreciate that your work has allowed this to continue so successfully. My recent posts are better received, and I take that as a personal achievement!" Jim White, U.K. On Nick rains's The Erosion of Photographer's Rights – A Very Worrying Trend article... "Nick raises some of the concerns many of us have had for a long time regarding the right of governments to collect a fee for taking photographs, whether for commercial or non-commercial purposes, of many subjects. I do not know if it is still the law but years ago, one needed a permit from the Architect of the Capital to take pictures using a tripod of our capital in Washington. The idea that I must pay a fee to take pictures on a wildlife refuge really angers me. But then a reminder to all, we only have the rights we are willing to fight for. Just one clarification for Mr Rains. Indigenous people have not been given land by any government. We have had it returned. Uluru and other sites have strong spiritual attachment to native peoples. To preserve that sacredness it would seem entirely appropriate to have photos of these sites reviewed." John T. Flickinger On Jan Allinder's Creating Photo Galleries article... "Some feedback about the "Creating Photo Galleries" article. The article is good, but I would like to see there yet another possibility to be mentioned, and this is to create the photo gallery using the CSS only..." Peter Sedik Peter, Jan will begin covering Cascading Style Sheets in her upcoming columns. Thanks for taking the time to comment! - Jim On NPN's Site Tour feature... "Just want to commend you for the excellent "Guided Tour" facility on your web site. This is a sorely lacking detail of most web sites, and I'm encouraged to do the same on my own site. Good job." Jim Emery ...and on NPN in general... "I’m having fun looking through these new NPN critique forums. The “all photos” button is great. Seeing all the different categories in one place, I actually felt some excitement looking at photographs again." Gloria Hopkins "Thanks for picking my image in the Photo Arts section Tetons at Sunset for the Editor's Pick. It is an honor, especially the first time. Keep up the good work. NPN is a great learning adventure for Nature Photography." Bill Remlinger On Bill Silliker's How To Be A Professional Nature Photographer article... "An excellent article, well written and informative. These kinds of perceptions from a working pro are very welcome. Regards to the Mooseman and naturephotographers.net." Steve Wyman, U.K. On Jan Allinder's Tools for Web Site Design article... "I was wondering if you could tell me if there is a good way to get my website more noticable, without paying $300 a year to put it on Google, etc. I have started my own photography business, but I am still in the early stages and I don't have that much extra money right now. Do you have any tips?" Margs Seegers Musson Hi Margs, On the NPN News e-newsletter... "This is a wonderful newsletter. Thanks!" Ginny "Excellent newsletter, Jim and the September issue is great too. Keep up the good work!" Sven Bernert, Germany ...and on NPN in general... "Just wanted to send you a quick note to say keep up the good work - finally had a chance to look at the September issue of the magazine and it's terrific!" Brian Small "I frequently visit your site to browse through the interesting reviews and magnificent photo galleries, always a source for inspiration...Keep up the good work! A Belgian NPN enthusiast." Jef Schoors On Nick Rain's The 'Ethics' of using Filters article... "Couldn't agree more... this article confirms why filters are a MUST if we want film or digital sensors to start to see like our eyes see. And... stunning photography included, the horseback shot blows me away!" Darwin Wiggett "Super article along with lovely pictures. Hope to see more articles from Nick!" Markos Berndt On Guy Tal's First Impressions - Fuji Velvia 100... "Guy, what an excellent and in depth article on the new Velvia! I enjoyed it immensely. I may be one of a handful of macroites that still burn emulsions, and although I like the faster speed, I was never pleased with the results with Provia without serious PS enhancements. Yesterday, I bought a 5-pack to try it myself. Well done and thanks for the research!" William Brozy ...and on NPN in general... "A pastor from Washington State emailed me recently and asked for permission to use an image of mine - Back Road. He said that it was for a terminally ill woman and that he felt that the image would bring some solace to the woman. I gave him permission and we wrote back and forth a bit. The pastor related to me a stirring interpretation of the image: God's light and strength (represented by the strong trees lining the road) guiding her along a path. He wrote further that though we do not know what is at the end of this path, we accept that it is a good place. It was a most gratifying interpretation of this image and reflected much of what drew me to the elements in the scene. He said he found the image he set out to find, by searching the Editor's Picks section of NPN. He wrote that he knew immediately when he saw the image that it was what he had been seeking and felt that God had guided him to it. I am not a very religious person, but I appreciated the sentiment the pastor related to me. He went to my web site in order to contact me directly. There is not much chance that this pastor would have found this image were it not for NPN and the Editor's Picks section. This experience reaffirmed for me the degree to which our imagery touches people in a sometimes very meaningful way." Paul Grecian "I just wanted to drop you a line to thank you for being the bridge between myself and a client from Berlin. It truly is a 'small world' when someone in Germany can view an image from a Canadian photographer on NPN and make arrangements for using it in publication. Truly grateful for your providing the connection." Alan McCord "The website has given me much food for thought and I look forward to participating in all the aspects of the site." Beth Summer On Darwin Wiggett's Same Old, Same Old…Why does all Nature Photography Look the Same? article... "Thanks for the lift. I'm working an area and have been for about a year. I keep pounding away as it's not a very interesting area to photograph. Not much color. But I keep pounding away as I try to add interest to the shots and push them to the next level. To me, that's what your article was saying; If you really care about what you're doing, hang in there and it will happen. Your article was quite encouraging." Thomas Gardner "I enjoyed the article by Darwin Wiggett. It got me to thinking about how to improve my photography..." Bob Scherer On Guy Tal's Introduction to Large Format ... "I liked this article… very informative and well thought out..." Markos Berndt On Tim Grey's Focal Length Multiplier article... "This is the best understanding imaging/dpi I have read - thanks to you and Tim Grey!" Kevin Hughes On Gloria Hopkin's Vision Bird: A Photograph Three Years in the Making article... "I simply loved this article by Gloria. I am also searching for images that I have pre-visualized but have never seen. I read and re-read the article three times. I really got excited about the topic because I can relate to it..." Joe Elliott On our monthly e-newsletter, the NPN News... "Your email newsletters are crisp, elegant and professional. How do you compose them i.e. What program to you use to compose them, and what email program do you use to distribute them? My curiosity is inspired by the desire to improve my own photography newsletter." Berle Stratton Editor's response - Berle, thanks for your kind words! The monthly NPN News is constructed as a standard web page using HTML and then uploaded to the NPN server. We use www.bcentral.com to e-mail the newsletter to all NPN Reader's Forum registrants. ...and on NPN in general... "Although I am not an outgoing contributor to the forums, I really enjoy the correspondence and information exchanged and I am so impressed with what the staff accomplishes. You are always working to improve the website which keeps it from being stagnant." Don Kurz "My congratulations on one of the top websites on the internet. Your site truly appears to attract the best of all areas of nature photography and I really enjoy looking at all of your postings." Steve Ando "It is an honour to renew my membership. The vibe is so good on NPN and the standard so high." Trevor Quested "NPN is still the best bird/nature photo website I've found, by far." Don Cohen "What an awesome month for the magazine side. Sitting back in my recliner with my laptop, a cold beer, and some baseball on the tube in the background I spent the evening reading through the whole thing. I can't remember the last time I did that with a print mag. Of course I was downloading the video in the background while reading and was able to enjoy that new feature. I'm sure Donna deserves plenty of credit as well so make sure she knows that." John Fortner, NPN Moderator On Darwin Wiggett's The Slow Road to Better Photos article... "Excellent thought provoking article. I am beginning to see the importance of slowing down on several levels when I am out taking photos...and my photography shows it. It is articles like this that really made me decide to join NPN." Linda Yee "Darwin's writing hits home yet again - "The Slow Road to Better Photos" was great. Summer camping trips and holidays are when I take the majority of my outdoor photos, but the odd time my wife feels like I'd rather be with my camera than her! Darwin's article is an encouragement to not only make the most of our photographic subjects, but our families as well. Good job!" Jim Hutchison On Guy Edwardes's NPN Member Profile... "A stunning collection of images. I am very partial to Guy's water/land scapes." Markos Berndt On Tim Grey's Understanding Resolution article in the October 2002 issue... "Terrific article, you’re correct when you state that printer and software manufacturers muck up this information. You cleared up some very confusing topics." Jeff C. Rohrer On Dan Baumbach's Switching to Large Format article... "Loved this article!! Very timely as I've been contemplating the move to LF, too. I have gone through each of these "phases" and can identify with Dan's adventure." Mark Hulette On E.J. Peiker's EOS 1v versus Oak Creek article in the September 2001 issue... "This was a helpful article on Canon camera and lens repair. I was searching for info on disassembly of a 100-300 L series lens to repair myself since it's no longer under warranty. The article somehow convinces me Canon technicians are conscientious enough to work earnestly, and won't automatically tell me to buy a new lens like my nearest dealer did. I'll give the Canon service center first crack at it now." A. Kanemoto ...and on NPN in general... "Thank you very much for picking my picture (Editor's Pick, June 2003, week 1, Flora). I am very honored to be in such high company. NPN has helped my learning curve tremendously. Thank you for all the work that has been put into making this website the success that it is." Dave Uhlig On Mark Plonsky's Member Profile... "Wow! Those insect shots are some of the best I have ever seen! That they were produced with 'consumer' gear shows again that the 'best' gear doesn't mean your gonna get great photos... good photography is about creativity, understanding light, and good design. Mark's images have all this and more. And that he has come so far in just over two years is well... scary! Very inspirational stuff!" Darwin Wiggett On Bill Silliker's For the Love of Loons article... "Just finished reading the article by Bill Silliker about Loons. It is nice to read about how much care is taken to safe guard the animals that he photographs. I hope people read Bill's words and apply his good sense application to wildlife photography. They will only be rewarded for there efforts, and feel good about what they did to get the shot." Marie Celino On Tim Grey's Safe Cloning article... "Thank you for this very good article. I think "safe cloning" will save me a lot of time in the future when working with the cloning stamp. It came just in time." Tõnu Ling On Brain Spangler's Digital Image Storage/Archive article... "My thanks to Brian for tackling what is certainly a confusing issue for many of us. While I'm not sure he's found the answer (I can see him switching to bigger and bigger safe-deposit boxes over time, plus hard drives aren't the most stable archival storage systems either) at least he has a workable system to try. Don't think for a second I have a better alternative to offer though. I currently use multiple hard drives with additional backups to DVD and CD, but still wonder if I'm working efficiently or sensibly. Anyway, thanks for an informative article, and keep up the good work!" Dan Simon On Jim Erhardt's What is Nature Photography? publisher's commentary... "An eloquent editorial. It hint's at a person at peace with himself, a requirement for us all as a prerequisite for peace among us all. The subject of your editorial could easily be any of the questions that unnecessarily divide us. More important than being right is simply being and understanding that everyone shares the same status in being." Dave Swager "Good point. Maybe we argue because what we believe defines our photography." Dan Bezon "Webster defines nature as "whatever is created naturally"... so thats why Photoshop created the clone tool! I thought your comments were right on...."10 people might have a different interpretation of nature"....as well as a different photographic interpertation of the same nature subject." Duke Coonrad ...and on NPN in general... "I joined recently, and I have been amazed at the wonderful community that has been built around nature photography. I only wish that I had found it earlier." Andy Biggs "I've looked at a number of forums on the net and this is by far the best, most useful and, dare I say it, friendliest!" Brett Edge On Darwin Wiggett's My Nature Photography Pet Peeves article... "First… good article. I agree with all that has to be said. I stay away from other people in general when photographing. I’m not anti-social, I just think better alone." Markos Brendt "This one made me smile from start to finish!! What a great article. Although enjoying the occasional company of fellow photographers, I can relate to much of it. Excellent!" Jim Zipp "Thanks for an excellent and thought-provoking article. I agree that a code of conduct is necessary and that other photographers are way too free with their advice, editorial comments, opinions, etc. Like you, I have simply chosen to go elsewhere, and find nature in places much less crowded." Christopher Jordan "An excellent article written with great humour and nature behaviour related. The approach is good as it lightly points out the bad traits of some photographers." Jen Nee ...and on NPN in general... "I don't know if you're aware of this, but when I joined NPN a little over a year ago, I was as green as June grass with my bird photography. I owe my quick success to 3 things: hard work; my mentor and friend Brian Small; and NPN. I cannot put a real value on what I've gotten from NPN. It has been one of the best experiences of my life. The community you've built there is fantastic. I've made a bunch of new friends from my online dealings. I can truthfully tell you that NPN accelerated my learning beyond my biggest dreams. I'm very grateful to be a part of the NPN community." Bob Steele "I would also like to take the opportunity to once again thank you for your incredible work with the site. I am continuously amazed by the politeness, kindness and willingness to share the knowledge." Tobias Bäckström "As a new NPN member, I want to express my appreciation to the staff. I am a serious amatuer who is looking to take his photography to a higher level. I have never seen a magazine or website that comes close to the amount of useful information I find on NPN. I have learned more in that past few days than I have learned in the past 5 years. My thanks to all for sharing their time and expertise. I feel like a kid in a candy store." Skip Layman |
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