GrahamNfk

As the title, really; what's the catch? I've been a member of camera clubs and they're clique-ridden hell holes I've been a member of photography forums and they're deep, dark pits of polemics and argument I once saw someone 'flamed' into leaving a forum for buying a particular camera that the others considered beneath them (I won't name the forum). Similarly I once found all my posts in a bicycling forum 'trolled' to the point I had to leave for the seemingly criminal act of declaring cyclists without lights to be idiots. But you're all thoroughly nice, decent, friendly people. Is this just the "demo" version??? I'm not seeing any of the usual "why are you using that lens? It's cr*p and only an idiot would buy it." I'm not seeing any "margue-ists". I'm not seeing anyone being berated. It's all very odd. I'm not complaining, of course. I'm thrilled. After 40-odd years looking, I've finally found somewhere it's all about the image, the people and the enjoyment. So really what I'm saying is "thankyou" and "congratulations". You've achieved the seemingly impossible and I still can't believe my luck in finding you all. After just a few days I've been met with warmth, encouragement, helpful critique offered in a friendly way, and generally made to feel very welcome. Thankyou, well done, thankyou, congratulations. You're all awesome Here's to a wonderful 2014 to you all

Your wish is my command. I've put some in the Image Critique section

I've never been made to feel so welcome anywhere on t'internet I was really worried that photography internet forums were like camera clubs. The last club I joined (in 1982) were a bit, well, sniffy and I never got acceptance by any of the cliques within the club (the "medium format" clique, the "Nikon" clique, the "Kodachrome" clique and so on). But you've put a spring in my step in my very first thread and I'm left feeling warm and fuzzy - a bit like my photos Lots of appreciators of Norfolk too, though as a now-insider that doesn't surprise me. I moved here twelve years ago and now I don't want to live anywhere else. It's a lovely place with lovely people, and entirely conducive to a jolly good bike ride (my other hobby - vintage bicycles). I suppose I should go and put my camera where my eye is then

I feel at ease already, thankyou

Hello folks, Just popping my head round the door to say 'ow do. I'm a second-hand dealer for a 'nearly' living having fallen foul of the economy a few years back, now spending my working week on ebay scratching away to pay the bills. Many many years ago I was a darkroom technician, but if you're sitting there stroking a digital SLR you'll already know how that worked out in the end So having been a decidedly average amateur photographer for most of my life, I now find myself with a little bit more time to devote to it, and there's nothing like immersing yourself with folk that already do it well to raise the game. So hopefully with you lot gathered together at one end of the yardstick I might gradually inch my way towards you, given enough time It has to be said I'm something of a 'bottom feeder' when it comes to the equipment, and luxuries like dSLRs are well out of reach at the moment. But by grabbing the odd bit of unsold stock from my little shoplette on t'internet, I can at least make images of some form (currently semi-functioning old Kodak digital, bereft of anything approaching dynamic range or enough of those 'Minky Pixies' to produce a decent print) but it's better than a bit of paper and a pen - just So that's me in a brief nutshell, and I look forward to making some acquaintances and embarrassing myself endlessly with p...p...p...pretty poor images, at first anyway Graham Norfolk, UK