So many old friends are still here, sharing their knowledge and awe-inspiring work. You are the true pillars of NPN! Many new names too, who I look forward to getting to know better.
Of course, it goes without saying that I really like how David and Jennifer have remained true to the original mission and have made NPN so much more.
So in many ways, this is a new chapter for me.
Since I stepped away six years ago, I am finishing up a soul-draining professional career in manufacturing management and will be retiring from full time employment next March when I turn 71. Donna and I now have two more grandchildren (three total), and all are doing well. My health is reasonably good, though I had a bout with cancer this year that required surgery - so far I am prevailing and adjusting to the new post-surgery realities.
We just completed a move from New Hampshire back to Long Island. Not what we had planned but due to family considerations it was the right thing to do. We really miss NH…
The “new chapter” of retirement and relocation includes getting back into photography and participating as a NPN member (thanks to David for giving me the green light). There is certainly more than enough inspiration here to get me excited about that!
After dusting off the old gear, I decided that the circa-2008 Canon 50D was due for retirement as well. I took advantage of the Black Friday deals at B&H and have an EOS R6II inbound. I’ll also be leveraging the Dell Black Friday deals, so be prepared for my endless questions on post-shutter processing in this age of extremely-capable mirror-less cameras and cloud-based Adobe.
Enough of my gratuitous ramble, only to say how honored and humbled I am to see the NPN torch burning brighter and better than ever. Thank-you to all who have made that possible!
Hi Jim, just saw this posted but had sent a direct PM to you off your recent comment on a image. As for retirement I can say it works fine for me with a once a week photo outing to date. I was lucky to get out at a decent age, although, it was after having worked for 40+ years too.
Hope all is going well and I too had the cancer hit me back in 2016. Annual readings to date are always good now.
Best to you and your family on your recent relocation. I lived on L.I. as a kid in Green-Lawn near North Port.
Welcome back Jim! I’m happy to hear that you’ve finally retired and getting back into photography. I am the one who is humbled to carry on the torch and keep the flame burning!
Jim, this is all great news. Because of your vision, NPN has been a source of inspiration, comraderie, learning and growth for all of us - thanks to you and Donna - and now with David - plus, of course, all our great Moderators over the years. About 99% of what I have learned came directly from my 20++ years here. I’m very grateful.
I’m looking forward to your images and participation - enjoy the new camera and hardware, and try to be patient with all the new software around now. It can be overwhelming - but it’s completely do-able.
Thank you for starting this special internet place called NPN. When all other social media platforms devolved NPN evolved into the best photography platform because it was founded on helping each other become better photographers through honest critique rather than ego stroking and photo-shaming others into oblivion.
Thank you David for keeping NPN a reality and for bringing it into the modern internet form that it is in. It’s wonderful being a part of this community.
Thanks to those who participate here as well for the constructive feedback you have given me as well as the opportunity to help all of you which helps me in critiquing my own work.
Congratulations, Jim, and welcome back! You built an amazing community resource which continues to inspire to this day. David and team have done a great job bringing it into the 2020’s.
I’m not active on the forums today but have written a couple of articles for Nature Visions magazine. I hope to see you around your old stomping grounds!
It’s really great to see you here @Jim_Erhardt ! I first joined NPN back in 2003 (I think) and to this day I still believe that it is the best site on the internet for nature photography. I can’t imagine my photography journey without it.