NOTE: If you FAV my photos but have nothing available in your photostream for me to view, I will BLOCK you. If your identity is a complete secret - no name, no location, no nothing - I will BLOCK you unless your photostream convinces me you're legit. If you are a legitimate photographer, you will understand. If you're new, you will understand in time.

Hi!

I've been on Flickr since July 2008 & made a lot of nice friends here.

My favorite subjects are my critters and creatures of any kind, but anything is fair game if I'm inspired. I like to have a broad base of, at least, book experience so I'm not completely ignorant about methods, regardless if it's something I choose to do.

I shoot what I like and hope that the final effort is something others enjoy. As far as others' work, I try to pick up something from every photograph - a new POV, or technique, or simply an appreciation for another way of life. I love photography for the worlds it opens up and the people it draws together.

I willingly share what I know, and I've been pleased that my contacts, many who are so talented and have reason to hold their techniques close to their vest, are generous with their knowledge and experience. I've never had to ask twice, and never been ignored, when I ask, "How did you do that?" I choose to be part of that generous community and not the one that fears.

I try to keep my Contacts and Groups to a manageable number because I DO visit, I DO comment. Regardless, if you make me a Contact and I don't reciprocate, please don't be offended. If I see you've commented on my photos, I WILL visit your photostream. Contacts are a priority with me, so I visit their works as often as time permits.

I have had to block some people. I'm sorry, but if you have no photos available to me, if you concentrate on a subject matter I find objectionable or distasteful, or you have only a couple snapshots on your photostream yet have fav'd thousands of other photos, I will probably block you. Unfortunately, there is an element on Flickr that steals photos and thinks it's okay to do so as long as no financial gain is had. Sorry, but financial gain or not, if you use a photo without permission from the photographer, this IS stealing. This note will only apply to very few people. I'm sorry the rest of you have to read through it, but I'm also sure you feel the same.

PLEASE DON'T POST in my comments large or glittery or animated awards or group icons or invites. If you have a small, plain (no larger than 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 inches) image, that is fine, but I WILL DELETE anything else. I personally find these things distracting when I visit people's photos and they take away from the photo, which should be the main point of focus. Most of my contacts feel the same. So to make visiting my photos easier on them and myself, I remove those comments. I know some people like them and know you mean no harm when you post them, but I do ask you respect MY preferences as it is my photostream. Thank you for understanding.

And thank you for dropping by to learn more about me.