For years, I have gone back and forth between film and digital. Recently my digital camera died. I began looking at the prospect of selling my film cameras to buy a new digital one. At the same time, I found myself wishing I had some sort of definite sign giving me direction in my photography. As I thought about it, I realized something. I have pretty much paid full retail price for every piece of digital equipment I have purchased. The same for various pieces of software that I use. Now I realize the film cameras and darkroom equipment generally comes cheaply on the used market these days, but over the last 10 years of so I have been given 3 Nikon film cameras with lenses. I have also been given a dry mount press - an expensive near-necessity for finishing fiber based darkroom prints. I got a great deal on a print washer on ebay, and an incredible deal on an enlarger that I have wanted for years and that in fact is still available new for about $1400 - I got mine for well under $100, and it was close enough to pick up on an out-of-town business trip. I even got a good deal on my Contax G1 and lenses that I bought used about 9 years ago for a price that isn't much more than they are selling on ebay these days. It occurred to me that I have already received my sign. This, my new Flick site, will for now feature film based, darkroom printed pictures.

One of my favorite things to do when I was new to flickr was to watch a slideshow of my faves. However, over time, my faves grew to almost 2000 pictures. In reviewing those, I realized I had many "faves" that, in fact, weren't really faves, and that has kept me from watching slide shows of those that I truly find outstanding. So I will be faving less. And joining fewer groups. And will probably have fewer contacts as well. In short, I will be more selective. Hopefully, no one will take offense at any of this - I just need to simplify, and hopefully that will allow me to be more supportive of my actual friends I have made here. And everyone will know that if I fave a picture, I really think it is extraordinary (and don't expect a fave in return), and if I join a group, I really think it is a worthwhile group.

If you have made it this far, thanks for reading so much! My old photostream is at www.flickr.com/photos/jeffdamron/

Peace.

Jeff