FocalWorld's 2nd Anniversary

[JimFox]

Happy Anniversary!

It's been 2 years since the bytes started flowing here at FocalWorld!

So many awesome people have joined our friendly and fun community here. A safe haven on the internet where meanness is not allowed, and where people can be nice again.

It's been so great to see how everyone has continued to grow and expand in their photography, I know I certainly have. I have been inspired by so many here to try different types of photography.

For this next year, I want to encourage everyone to do the following:

1. Go to 3 new places to photograph this next year.
2. Try a totally different type of photography. (ie. Street Photography, City, Astro, etc..)

To Celebrate our 2nd Anniversary, we are asking you to do any or all of the following.

1. Post a few photos from this last year that you have already posted on FocalWorld that are among your favorites.

2. Share a favorite Thread or Post (Link it) from here at FocalWorld that inspired you or was meaningful.

3. Take a moment and share what it is you enjoy about FocalWorld. Maybe something you have learned and appreciated.

Thanks again everyone here, from your daily photos and comments, to inviting your friends to join us here.

And I want to thank those who are helping behind the scenes so much to help keep FocalWorld going. Alan, Ben, Doug, Eric, Ken, Kyle and Mike, thanks so very much for your help both publicly and privately.

It's our community that makes us different, and each of you are that community.

Jim

 

[JimFox]

I will start with this one, it's from Sky Pond in the Rocky Mountain National Park. The hike to here is rated Difficult for a reason, but the reward is well worth having to climb up through a waterfall to get there.

I am going to have to think more about a favorite thread, I know I have some.

I really appreciate everyone's dedication to helping others to grow by sharing and encouraging. It's really great to see a helping community of people!

To pick out just one person, (and I could pick out each of you) Ben is a great encouragement. To see his dedication and love for photography is inspiring. It was awesome to meet him finally a couple of times in the last year. He is really fun to be around!

 

[Ben Egbert]

Hey Jim, happy anniversary to you and us. It was also great meeting you and I would say the Focal World meet ups were a major highlight of my year. I look forward to many more this coming year.

That's an awesome favorite image you have here. This one is mine.

190607-10458-5DS R A CROP Copy

• Ben Egbert
• Jun 21, 2019

 

[AlanLichty]

I definitely had a good year that included a fun meetup to shoot the Tetons last fall with Ben, Rick, and Jim along with a number of other trips that were highly productive. My favorite shooting session was from late last fall near Florence Oregon on a day I considered a complete write-off given very heavy smoke from wildfires in California along with red flag health warnings. I went up to Sweet Creek to see if maybe I could shoot some close in shots that wouldn't be impacted as much by the smoke and got treated to a golden sunlight filter that turned the fall leaves into a magical photo venue.

Sweet Creek

• AlanLichty
• Nov 14, 2018

A colorful fall scene along Sweet Creek in the Siuslaw National Forest.

 

[JimFox]

Hey Jim, happy anniversary to you and us. It was also great meeting you and I would say the Focal World meet ups were a major highlight of my year. I look forward to many more this coming year.

That's an awesome favorite image you have here. This one is mine.

190607-10458-5DS R A CROP Copy

• Ben Egbert
• Jun 21, 2019

An awesome image Ben!

Yep, we should be getting together soon again in Colorado for Fall Colors. Hopefully we will get a few new people meeting us too, and maybe we can talk Alan into driving down that far too.

 

[JimFox]

I definitely had a good year that included a fun meetup to shoot the Tetons last fall with Ben, Rick, and Jim along with a number of other trips that were highly productive. My favorite shooting session was from late last fall near Florence Oregon on a day I considered a complete write-off given very heavy smoke from wildfires in California along with red flag health warnings. I went up to Sweet Creek to see if maybe I could shoot some close in shots that wouldn't be impacted as much by the smoke and got treated to a golden sunlight filter that turned the fall leaves into a magical photo venue.

Sweet Creek

• AlanLichty
• Nov 14, 2018

A colorful fall scene along Sweet Creek in the Siuslaw National Forest.

This one is sure awesome Alan! It has a very painterly feel which is often the best compliment a photo can be given.

 

[Kyle Jones]

I've definitely been blessed to have had the chance to visit some bucket-list spots in the last year, encouraged in part by the community here. I truly appreciate the time everyone here has invested in looking at images, writing some kind words, and providing some thoughtful critique that has helped improve my work.

I also look forward every week to the waterfall Wednesday, winged Wednesday, and Friday focus threads. I enjoy seeing everyone's work and make it a point to participate even when I am on the road.

I want to especially call out the efforts by Alan, Ben and Jim. Somehow they find the time to comment on virtually every post in a meaningful way. Hopefully this site grows enough in the next year that they'll no longer be able to keep up! I will be taking up Jim's challenge and heading to new places this year, starting with my first trip to Glacier next month.

So here are a few from my bucket list this year:

1) Petra

2) The Wave

3) Brooks Falls

 

[Anatoly]

Hi Jim, happy anniversary to you and us!
It was also great to find this community and I would say the Focal World is a very nice group of photo enthusiasts!

I can't choose just one shot from the last year, so there a few!


Some odd structure on a sea beach near Tel-Aviv, Israel:

Kids at the Re-enactment of the Battle of Stoney Creek, 2019:

At a rural car show:

Lake Erie @ Port Dover, ON:

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Congratulations Jim and the rest of the FW staff for a well run operation. Its fun to visit often, enjoy the work of many gifted photographers and learn a few things from everyone. Keep up the good work.

The past year has been pretty dry for me as life's other priorities take precedence. Hopefully the coming year will allow more opportunities.

Meanwhile here are a few from the recent past.

 

[JimFox]

Hi Jim, happy anniversary to you and us!
It was also great to find this community and I would say the Focal World is a very nice group of photo enthusiasts!

I can't choose just one shot from the last year, so there a few!


Some odd structure on a sea beach near Tel-Aviv, Israel:

Kids at the Re-enactment of the Battle of Stoney Creek, 2019:

At a rural car show:

Lake Erie @ Port Dover, ON:

Those are great Anatoly! It’s really awesome having you here, I am glad you found our community as I enjoy the variety of your photography.

 

[Amy Nelson]

First off thank you so much for inviting me to your site Jim and Happy Anniversary! I've been on here for a year now and have enjoyed it immensely, the Let's Play's have been a blast, the Recipe's have given me a lot of insight, the conversations have given me a lot of information and entertaining at times , and the people...well they have all been great (grateful for meeting the few I have and hope to meet a lot more in the future). Due to life events over the year my time frames on here have been sporadic, hopefully now my activity on this site will be more regular.

Like others, it's hard to condense the year down to one favorite photo, so here are a few: (from 3 different forums)

And I would like to post a special mention from Craig Kirk "Guardians of the Waterways", this photograph has turned my photographic world upside down and has touched my soul deeply (and has forged a great friendship):

Thanks again for creating a fantastic community of gifted photographers!

 

[JimFox]

Congratulations Jim and the rest of the FW staff for a well run operation. Its fun to visit often, enjoy the work of many gifted photographers and learn a few things from everyone. Keep up the good work.

The past year has been pretty dry for me as life's other priorities take precedence. Hopefully the coming year will allow more opportunities.

Meanwhile here are a few from the recent past.

View attachment 20712

View attachment 20709

View attachment 20710

View attachment 20711

These are awesome Jameel!

You have been here almost since day 1. You have been a part of the foundation that helps make FocalWorld special from other forums. Thanks so much and I am hoping that you are able to get out and photograph more this next year.

 

[Ben Egbert]

The most influential post by Jeffrey

This link will take you to an image taken by Jeffrey at Skyline overlook. I was there and did not even know I had the same image after a bunch of cropping. I was blown away by Jeffrey’s image, and worked mine in an effort to come close to Jeffrey’s Vision. You may note that my personal favorite image posted further up this thread is the same scene. If I were selecting from all images rather than just my own, Jeffrey’s version would get the nod.

This was my second time shooting with Jeffrey and it is instructive to simple watch him work. I will never have his patience in working the scene, but I have changed my habits as a result. He has shown me what is possible.

https://www.focalworld.com/index.php?threads/skyline-glow.8926/

@Jeffrey

 

[Jim Dockery]

Thanks for asking me to join Jim, and for your work on the site. I would say that seeing many of your wonderful night photos, which so skillfully include perfectly lit earth elements, are the highlight for me on the site that have inspired me to get out and do more night photos, although I haven't done much of that lately.

Photographically the last year for me has been about learning to use my drone and the new perspective on the world that it affords. The most fun I've had was using it to shoot video of skiing, which adds another challenge to a day in the back-country.

These are screen grabs from 4k video on Vesper Pk.

Me on the summit

Lenny skis off the top

Sunrise pano of Mt. Pilchuck

 

[Ken Rennie]

Here are a couple of my favourite images posted here. The first a winter scene from a few hundred yards from home and the other from Skye in Scotland.

_DSC5172-1 1600 Sharp

• Ken Rennie
• Dec 17, 2018
• 1

 

[Ben Egbert]

Great photo partners.

1. Rick Knepper. My long time photo partner. He and I are very well suited in temperament and energy and taste, including food.

2. Jim. Watching his boundless energy and sense of humor. He is like a mountain goat and will go wherever required to get the image. He taught me a ton about night shooting too.

3. Jeffrey is another who I have spent a few days with finding places to photograph and allowing me the opportunity to watch and learn.

4. Alan, mellow Alan, a great person to be with and he is also another patient and great photographer.

5. Craig, the elusive Craig. I only met him for one night but would love to go out with him again some day.

6. Alisa. We met at the Tetons where I found her to be a fun photographer to be around.


@JimFox
@Jeffrey
@AlanLichty
@ckcarr
@Alisa
@rfkiii

 

[Eric Gofreed]

Happy Anniversary!

It's been 2 years since the bytes started flowing here at FocalWorld!

So many awesome people have joined our friendly and fun community here. A safe haven on the internet where meanness is not allowed, and where people can be nice again.

It's been so great to see how everyone has continued to grow and expand in their photography, I know I certainly have. I have been inspired by so many here to try different types of photography.

For this next year, I want to encourage everyone to do the following:

1. Go to 3 new places to photograph this next year.
2. Try a totally different type of photography. (ie. Street Photography, City, Astro, etc..)

To Celebrate our 2nd Anniversary, we are asking you to do any or all of the following.

1. Post a few photos from this last year that you have already posted on FocalWorld that are among your favorites.

2. Share a favorite Thread or Post (Link it) from here at FocalWorld that inspired you or was meaningful.

3. Take a moment and share what it is you enjoy about FocalWorld. Maybe something you have learned and appreciated.

Thanks again everyone here, from your daily photos and comments, to inviting your friends to join us here.

And I want to thank those who are helping behind the scenes so much to help keep FocalWorld going. Alan, Ben, Doug, Eric, Ken, Kyle and Mike, thanks so very much for your help both publicly and privately.

It's our community that makes us different, and each of you are that community.

Jim

As a new comer, I am totally enjoying focal World so far.

 

[JimFox]

Thanks for asking me to join Jim, and for your work on the site. I would say that seeing many of your wonderful night photos, which so skillfully include perfectly lit earth elements, are the highlight for me on the site that have inspired me to get out and do more night photos, although I haven't done much of that lately.

Photographically the last year for me has been about learning to use my drone and the new perspective on the world that it affords. The most fun I've had was using it to shoot video of skiing, which adds another challenge to a day in the back-country.

These are screen grabs from 4k video on Vesper Pk.
View attachment 20730
Me on the summit

View attachment 20729
Lenny skis off the top

View attachment 20731
Sunrise pano of Mt. Pilchuck

Thanks for those kind words Jim! It's great that we each can inspire each other.

Those drone images are fantastic, they are always a joy to view.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Influential posters

Just a short list of posters in no particular order. Sorry if I missed somebody, but I did not want the list to get too big.

Kyle. Who consistently posts high quality images, is Jims stand in when he is away and hosts the recipe series.

Eric, the master of bird photography and host of winged Wednesday.

Ken, who shows us Scotland and the British Isle in a different but very engaging style.

Jim Dockery, the daredevil mountain climber and photographer par excellence.

Douglas, a general all around nature buff with fantastic knowledge of the landscape floral and fauna.

Jameel. The perennial winner of let’s play, which is ultimately a contest of post processing skills including color, tone and composition.

Vieri our very own professional who always shows outstanding images.

Alan, who starts our weekly waterfalls and is the master of PNW photography and no slouch at other venues.

Jim and Jeffrey and Alicia have been mentioned in another reply.

Amy. Who shows how good IR can be.

Monica. The Colorado expert.

Darcy, who I consider an on line friend.

@Kyle Jones
@Eric Gofreed
@Ken Rennie
@Jim Dockery
@Douglas Sherman
@Jameel Hyder
@Vieri
@Amy Nelson
@Monica
@Darcy Grizzle

 

[Mike Lewis]

Well, it is finally nice to to see that guy, what's his name? Oh yeah, Jim Fox I think it is - nice to see him get a Featured Post - seems like he has had other work posted here that was deserving but he never seems to get picked for some reason

Seriouisly though Jim, many thanks for creating this wonderful resource for those of us who are excited about photography and wanted to find a friendly, fun, and nurturing place to be able to get online and share our feedback and passion with others who feel the same way. FW has been a wonderful resource for that over the last 2 years - hard to believe it has been that long, although I did not discover it right away either.

Lots of tremendous images here by many folks so far no doubt. Love the variety of images posted here.

I would be remiss if I did not put out a shout out to a few of the folks who have been inspirational to me on this forum too:

1) Jim - maybe goes without saying, but I do think Jim's commitment to making FW such a wonderful place shows through in all he does. I really enjoyed getting to meet you face to face Jim, and hope some day to go out shooting with you. Your consistently constructive feedback on images is always seemingly spot on and you own postings are very inspirational.

2) Alan - Well, hard to know what to say, as I think this 'person' must just be a netbot - no actual person could possibly put in the time required to post such thoughtful feedback on virtually EVERY post made to FW - I mean really, does this guy actually exist?
Alan thanks for always noticing any post I make on FW (and more importantly doing the same for just about everyone it seems) - don't know how you manage to find the time for your own wonderfully crafted images!

3) Ben - I have always loved and admired your work, and your critical view of your own images helped me to try to look at my own results with a more critical eye early on when I was starting out. I must be drawn to the same type of subjects as you as I almost always feel a connection to the images you post.

4) Kyle - Your work is always impressive, inspiring, and pretty much a tour-de-force on where to go and what to do once there. So many wonderful images form so many inspiring locations. But you also have managed to present yourself in a very approachable way to those of us who strive to be able to emulate the same level of quality of composition and capture that you consistently display here on FW. Thanks for being there, I always look forward to your postings and critique.

5) Amy - You have really helped me start to see the world better in IR - I hope to continue in that endeavor going forward and I know I can always count on you for inspiration and feedback.

6) Ken - your wonderful imagery combined with your understated way of presenting it makes for a very special presence here on FW. I love to see images for places outside of the USA, especially when taken by photographers local to the area they are shooting. You have that ability to go out and 'see' an image where many of us might not, proving that seeing is at least as important a skill as any of the rest that a photographer can have. I truly enjoy all your postings on FW.

7) Craig - you have been a true inspiration with your IR images - your work was an absolute revelation when I first saw it. I never realized that IR images did not have to look like IR images, and also that just like with normal light photography, a good IR image needs to be a strong composition, not just captured with a different filter, to be impactful.

That really does not cover everyone here I could mention - but of course that is what makes FW so special as it is not just one or 2 special folks but a whole community.

Here are 3 of my favorites posted here on FW since I have been a member:

This image that I captured standing in my socks on the balcony of The Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park was the one that convinced me I might just be able to get some results that matched my passion for scenic shooting, back in 2009 when I was still really just figuring out how to shoot.

LRCC_SwiftcurrentLakeMistyDawn_VC2_FW_IMG_1230_1_3deHDR_irf

• Mike Lewis
• Dec 1, 2018

The sun pokes through the clouds momentarily right at dawn, as my camera and I take it all in...

There are myriads of images for Antelope Canyon, but this one for me was the type of image I was hoping for, and justified the expense photo tour taken to get it

LRCC_FW_UpperAntelopeCanyon1_TAP31792_3_4_5_6

• Mike Lewis
• Dec 31, 2018

Upper Antelope Canyon Abstract

Astrophotography remains a large passion of mine, even though this past year has been a complete bust for collecting new images. This image, my first narrowband capture under dark skies with a new cooled mono astro camera, was a real thrill, as was the post processing, watching what came out of all that data captured under different filters

LagoonNebula_FW_LRCC2_MIXSHO_AIP_SynthLum1_stretch4_PSCC2_MT_HPF

• Mike Lewis
• Nov 23, 2018
• 1

The Lagoon Nebula (M8) shot in narrowband bicolor from dark skies in New Mexico, USA.

ML