30,000 Posts :)

[Arthur Morris]

• Adobe Photoshop CS3 Windows

I was around when BPN was hatched. There were five of us: James Shadle, Al Forns, Jim Neiger, another I prefer not to mention, and me. The formative meeting was in the living room at my home in Indian Lake Estates, FL. I funded BPN then and have continued to do so ever since. Some left as friends, some left with. some degree of animosity. A few years ago it was down to Froggy (Captain James Shadle) and me. James bowed out for personal reasons and bestowed his half of BPN to me. As I did not have a clue about the behind the scenes admin stuff, I enlisted my good friend and BIRDS AS ART webmaster Peter Kes to help out. I then bestowed half of BPN to Peter.

Over the past twelve years here I have participated a bit, and then gone missing, sometimes for months at a time. But I always return and find the time to do a fair number of critiques. I have helped a lot of folks here and I too have learned a ton. My life, in general, has been a truly blessed one as I have traveled the world doing what I best love to do. All while making a fine living. And at least in part supporting two other families: my older daughter, Jennifer has worked for me full- and now part-time since 1998, and my right-hand man Jim Litzenburg has been with me for more than a decade.

I greatly enjoy participating here and plan to do so at least until they nail the box shut. Now is a fine time to thank all of our great Mods, so Thanks guys and gals!

with love, artie

ps: the GBH photo was on film and pretty much helped to put me on the map in 1998 when it appeared on the cover of the original The Art of Bird Photography II. I thought that posting it here was a good way to celebrate 30,000 posts.

 

[gail bisson]

Huge congrats on this milestone!
So glad that BPN was started as I enjoy it a lot and have learned lots.
Have also met and made some really good friends because of BPN and that is priceless.
I have always liked this GBH shot- and all the more impressive considering this was before digital.

 

[annmpacheco]

A heartfelt congratulations to you Artie for another milestone and truly being the pioneer in the field and art of bird photography. BPN is a valuable resource and I am thankful to learn and contribute here. I would say Artie that you also have hatched many many bird photographers who got their wings here and some fledged and some stay close to the nest. No matter where i go, there is always a thought of you when i am in the field; "WWAD?" What would Artie do, I ask myself. Thanks for all you do as well as all the others who nurture BPN. Love this GBH couple BTW, it is ageless...

 

[Arthur Morris]

Huge congrats on this milestone!
So glad that BPN was started as I enjoy it a lot and have learned lots.
Have also met and made some really good friends because of BPN and that is priceless.
I have always liked this GBH shot- and all the more impressive considering this was before digital.

Thanks Gail. Though the photo was a film image this one has was digitally optimized when I had the book reprinted. Amphoto printed and sold 35,000 and then quit printing them. I fixed the male's eye, restored lots of WHITE detail, and lost a few branches. I printed 10,000 on my own

with love, artie

 

[Krishna Prasad kotti]

Congratulations Artie. Thank you for all the help and info.

I learned a lot from joining BPN

 

[arash_hazeghi]

It is quite a milestone, a decade has passed and BPN is still the sole resource for honest critiques offered gently.

this image remains one of my all-time favorites, especially given that it was taken with a film camera.

Here is to another decade of BPN :cheers:

 

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks, Arash. I'll drink to another decade of me

with love, a

 

[Joseph Przybyla]

Congratulation my friend, quite a milestone. I know that image, taken at the Venice rookery and cover of your first book The Art Of Bird Photography. Thanks for all the help and knowledge you shared with me. My best, Artie.

 

[Daniel Cadieux]

I signed up on January 1st, 2008...became a paying member the same week...then a moderator a few months after that. It's been quite a ride, ups and downs, but all well worth it!! Like Gail, I've met a lot of fine people thanks to BPN.

A classic image from a book I still pull off the bookshelf from time to time. Thank you for all your shared knowledge and helpful critiques

 

[Colin Driscoll]

Artie, thanks for your dedication and commitment. Between BPN and the 'how to' pieces that are published through Birds As Art I have learned so much. When the site went down recently I was a bit lost, this is a true community.

 

[Doug Brown]

• Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 Macintosh

Congrats on 30,000 Artie! That's an impressive number! And thanks for being the driving force behind BPN! You were my inspiration for getting into bird photography and I treasure my autographed copy of The Art of Bird Photography that I purchased from you at Bosque del Apache way back when. Here's a scan of the cover.

 

[Randy Stout]

Hey Artie:

What a ride it has been for you, and those who have followed along. As many others have said, you have been inspirational!
Keep it rolling.

Randy

 

[William Dickson]

I must thank you Artie, and all involved with BPN. I would never be where I am now with Bird Photography if I never joined BPN...I didn't have a clue when I first joined, and just about 100% of what I know now, I learned on here, or from friends I have met on here.

Thanks guys

Will

 

[John Mack]

Congratgulations on this milestone. This forum has been a tremendous resource for me. I have learned tons and enjoy the great images posted here. I can now say i kinda know what i am doing, not to the level of you and the others here though. I actually purcahsed this book at my local friends of the Thompkins libaray sale this spring and it only cost me a dime. Worth every cent. Love this image nice to see both eyes of the left bird and the pose of the right bird with the nesting material is spot on. Keep up the great work.

 

[dankearl]

A nice throw back..Hope to see your work for years to come.

 

[Tim Foltz]

A big Congratulations Artie, can't wait for the next 30K.

-Tim

 

[Debapratim Saha]

Congrats on the milestone Artie!

 

[Geoffrey Montagu]

Congratulations on the benchmark, Artie! What a gem of a resource BPN is, and thanks to everyone who helped hatch BPN.


Geoffrey




http://500px.com/geoffreymontagu

 

[David Salem]

Almost missed this post!! A big congrats from me on this milestone!! You are the innovator and the reason many people have taken up bird photography. I mentioned it to you before but when you invited me to the museum exhibit in San Diego, I was more than impressed with your lives work!!
It was awesome and I gained a new respect for what you have been doing all these years. Well done old man and look forward to many more posts!!

 

[Mike Poole]

Congratulations Artie, thanks for everything you've done, both on here and in person to make me a better photographer. Looking forward to shooting together sometime - either side off the pond will do for me!

Mike