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Scooby777

Sheri
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I wanted to share with all of you that I have booked a trip to New Zealand in October and I will be there fifteen days. This a a bucket list location for me and not just for photography, I decided it was time to go. I have it all planned out and I will be driving myself from Auckland to Queenstown. I will also be crossing zip-lines off my bucket list while there, too. The driving on the other side of the road has me a bit nervous, if I am being honest. But, I am so excited l can hardly stand it. October cannot get here soon enough.

I will post photos as soon as can after returning. It will take a lot of time to get through the thousands of photos you know I will be taking. I cant wait show you.

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Your thoughts?

2 min read

Last month marks my twelfth year on DA. Back then, I had become stagnant in my photography and DA became a life preserver in 2011. I found my creativity again with the help of my new peer group. DA pushed my boundaries and I was growing again and it has been awesome. Sadly after the death of my mentor (who brought me to DA) right before Covid and another beloved mentor just this last year, I had trouble finding a reason to be here. But, then I found a reason again, maintaining a group I had been admin for since 2011. I just resigned from it in June after cleaning it up and then maintaining it for the last year and a half alone. It had become too much for just me to run when it has/had almost five thousand members. More than that, I found myself defending our groups decision to not accept AI generated work on a daily basis. AI is artificial intelligence, an algorithm that eliminates the need for human creativity. It goes against everything the group stood for. Some argued that I edit my photography, so what difference is there? The difference is, regardless of my use of film or digital. I chose my exposure, FStop, ISO and I chose to use Lightroom software. I’m still the one making the decisions; adding my signature, deciding to crop or remove dust, etc., I make the decision to edit or not edit. That is part of being an artist whether it is photography, traditional art or any medium. I am the artist, I am not allowing a program to choose, change or create my work, no matter how beautiful it can make it. AI can make mediocre artwork brilliant or create it all on its own. Where is the human element in that? Where is the joy of creating? If you allow an algorithm to generate, change, enhance or create the work? Are we to become veal, eating sleeping and procreating, with no goals or creativity? For me this sounds like the start of a bad movie, or an old one. Anyone ever see Logan’s Run or Blade Runner?


I appreciate the feedback on this one, all of it.

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Thoughts

5 min read

Hello dear friends. I know I have been absent a lot lately. Being in isolation for 5 month's gives one a lot to think about. But, now that we are all trying to re-emerge and figure out what our new normal in our now bizarre world. I have learned I can only take responsibility for myself and I choose to take the high road. I am being unselfish and conscientious of my fellow humans by wearing a mask and keeping my distance. I will not engage in what I call the insanity that has shown the ugly side of humanity during our world pandemic. It saddens me to see people just lose it, screaming and throwing things and going on about their first amendment rights being violated here in the U.S. When all it is about is showing respect for your fellow man and taking that extra step to protect each other, just in case. I choose not to indulge in watching endless YouTube videos showing humans behaving badly between the pandemic and those taking advantage of the Black Lives Matter peaceful protests, just to loot and destroy. It is all just too depressing for me.


This year started sadly enough with the passing of my dear friend David (Okavanga), who I miss everyday. I miss his kindness and the time he made for not just me. He never made a negative comment to anyone. He would always be constructive, logical and supportive in his assessing anything that stirred up strong emotion. Above all else, he was a good man and an amazing human being, something we all should strive for. I am grateful for the time that I knew him and honored that I could call him my friend. In some ways I am glad he isn't here to see our changed world.


It was odd how it started, we all started hearing little things here and there coming out of China. It was at first so far away and we felt separated from it...safe. But, then it started moving like a thief in the night, trickling into our societies and then it just exploded across every continent with our leaders down playing the severity of the situation even when it was directly in front of them banging on their doors. But, oddly, people all over were and still are in denial, ignoring it like it will go away, like it isn't real. It is hard for me to fathom those who still believe there is no pandemic, that it is all a sham...as people die all around us. My friend Irene would beg to differ with anyone who believes that it is fake. Her mother who had no under lying health conditions, battled and lost the fight. Irene couldn't even get on a plane to the U.K. to be there for her mother as she died alone in a London hospital. My friend Jake would argue the point as he struggled with the virus and survived losing 60 pounds from his 210 pound 6' 1" frame and now he looks like a shell of his former self. Do these people who do not believe have to have it drop in their lap to believe? How sad would that be. I would not be one to be rude and say "told you so." But, is that what it will take? For me, I am just grateful it has not directly impacted my family yet and of my friends, only one has contracted the virus. If I could have any wish come true, I would wish that it never happened, that it never killed anyone or left any children without their parents or parents without their children. Because I can tell you their world is forever changed and you won't have to ask them it they believe.


Now more than ever, we need to come together (one mind) as humans. There are no colors that make us different. We all bleed red and if anyone knows their DNA ancestry as I do, we all are more than the color of our skin. It doesn't matter where we came from, more ties us together than separates us and in the words of the late Chadwick Boseman from the end of the Black Panther, "We must find a way to look after one another, as if we were one single tribe." Yes, it may be from a movie, but in this one statement, there is no lie...there is only truth.


Take care of one another and be safe my friends.

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I am so excited! I ordered my new Nikon D5300 and it will be here any day now. I know I am a bit behind, but I don’t need the newest of everything, just the one with the features and mp’s I like and that is all that matters, right! But, I also have a used D3400 coming with very low shutter count. I know what you are thinking, Why on earth would I buy two! Long story short, I got a heck of a deal on both but, I found the D3400 first and then I found the D5300 new for a price I just could not pass up. So now the D3400 will be my back up camera and the D5300 will be my primary camera. 

I hope everyone is okay out there We will get through this together with 6 feet of separation. This is a time when we all need to contact friends and loved ones via zoom or whatever you have and make sure they know we love them. Life is fragile and there is no time like now to make sure and do it!

Stay safe, Everyone!!!


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Day 12 of shutdown (in my State)
.
I am simply amazed at how many people are ignoring the severity of this situation. My own neighbors have had two large parties the last two Fridays and their family (very large) have been coming and going like life is normal. Plus, in Vegas (8 hours south) several businesses had to have their licenses revoked to get them to adhere to our govenor’s shutdown order. I am dumb founded by this total disregard of the enormity of our world situation. Is it ignorance, I think partly maybe, but I also think they are not taking it seriously. I have provided two links below. I think it best if you don’t spend too much time looking at them, but I also think it is important to stay informed on the severity of the situation.

coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

www.worldometers.info/coronavi…


Original Journal message below:

Be Kind to One Another!

In these turbulent times of uncertainty caused by the pandemic COVID-19. We must not forget our humanity and come together as a neighborhood, a country and a world. There are no more boundaries, we are together in this and we need to take care of each other and our elderly neighbors. Leave a note asking, "do you need anything? Call and I will go get it for you" or share with what you have.  

This past weekend I was applaud at the behavior of people at the grocery stores, pushing and fighting. A friend of mine was at the store with her daughter and a woman walked up to her cart and took items from her cart and walked away daring her to do anything about it.  I am saddened by this behavior by so many.

Please, this is a time for all of us to come together. To unite and help each other and we can do that and still maintain social distance by calling or leaving a note. Don't lose your empathy or forget common decency. Otherwise we might as well be back in the stone age.  

Wash your hands often, wipe down your cars and door handles after going to the store. Absolutely protect yourself and your family, but don't forget you are not in this alone and look out for each other and we will get through this.

Hugs! 



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Featured

New Camera Body on the way! by Scooby777, journal

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