[DannyRaphael]

I just noticed my last post was #4,999, making this one #5000. This seemed like a good opportunity, then, to reflect on the past five plus years of being a regular here at RetouchPRO.

In a nutshell it's be a great ride. The number of times I have been technically enlightened and artistically inspired are countless.

More important than the high honor of being moderator of the Photo-based Art subformum, a position of high salary, use of a private jet, unlimited gourmet food, free trips and countless other privileges , (seriously) I've been blessed to have developed relationships with many talented and sharing people.

I'm grateful to Doug Nelson, owner/webmaster of RetouchPRO, for starting this site and for the countless hours he spends behind the scenes keeping it running and enhancing it, and especially for establishing a safe and supportive environment where ethics and "doing what's right" take precident over practices that skirt or in some cases violate the law.

I would like to salute my moderator colleagues for their dilligence and for "watching my back" when I frequently have to be away.

Finally, many, many thanks to everyone who contributes to this site by participating in discussion threads, asking questions, uploading images to work on, posting artistic interpretations, crafting tutorials or sharing methods, and especially the newbies who take the plunge to join in.

Here's to 5,000 more posts down the road. Hopefully most of them will be useful.

[Peter S]

Danny
Happy Anniversary and many more to come I hope.
Thank you for all your hard work keeping us going.

Peter

[lkroll]

Wow Danny; congrats for sure. Really enjoyed your advice and your work as well. Can't wait to see what happens by your 10,000th submission.

[Kraellin]

danny, umm, you forgot to put the jet back in the hanger. sheesh!

my RetouchPRO history is a little fuzzy, but didnt you also start the art forum? at any rate, we're glad you're here, 5,000, 10,000, or 50

[palms1]

In your 5,000 posts (and dont forget countless emails)
There has been
Welcomes
Encouragement
Help
Inspiration
To name a just a few things

I say
roll on the next 5,000

Palms

[Swampy]

Congrats, Danny! Thank you for all your contributions to making this the most informative site. I've learned so much from you.

[Bob Mc]

Bravo Danny!!!

I've learned a ton from you and the other active users.

It's a great place to wander around. Certainly as good as a Hardware Store or a Bookstore or even a Nursery - (I'm not allowed in any of those places with a wallet or a credit card.)

Best Regards and Thanks

Bob Mc

[CJ Swartz]

Way to go, Danny!

You showed me that Photo art could be part of editing too. Thanks!

[Gary Richardson]

Your forum and enthusiasm were what "converted" me to Photo Art Danny.

Granted I'm still hopelessly inept at the subject, but I've been tempted to "have a go" on several occasions, and I've always been fascinated, inspired and impressed by much of the work I've seen there.

I'm but one of many who has been helped, directly or indirectly by the vast knowledge and love of the subject that you project.

Congratulations on your 5000 posts, I look forward immensely to seeing what the next 5000 will bring.

[sharynideas]

Danny,
I'm one of the newbies who took the plunge. I wouldn't have done it without your encouragement. Thanks for the online responses and the emails that encouraged me to not give up. I love learning new things and I learn every day on this forum. Your patience with us novices is endless. Thanks.
Shari

[Janet Petty]

I'm late to the party because I've been out of pocket for a few days. I hope it isn't too late to join with the others in shouting kudos, praises, and best wishes to you Danny. You are truly an inspiration to RetouchPRO.

Janet

[summerz]

Congrats and thanks for all you do.

[DannyRaphael]

A belated, but heartfelt thanks to each of you for taking time to reply and for your kind words. They are very much appreciated. It’s helpful and kind folks like you who make RetouchPRO what it is: a classy and fun place to participate and hang out.

Originally Posted by Kraellin

my RetouchPRO history is a little fuzzy, but didn’t you also start the art forum?

I’m not sure if Doug created a separate forum because he saw the future in terms of how popular this area of photo manipulation would become or in response to the many who privately complained that photo-art posts should not be mixed among the retouching / restoration threads. (It was probably somewhere in between.) In any event before there was an art forum I was among a rabid few who keep posting arty interpretations. Doug took notice of my enthusiasm, offered me this high paying job and the rest is happy history.

Originally Posted by CJ Swartz

… You showed me that Photo art could be part of editing too. Thanks!

Very true, CJ... I've found that many of the skills I've picked up while tinkering with arty effects are applicable to almost any direction one wants to go in Photoshop, for example things like masking, selections, channel manipulations, Photoshop actions, blend modes (layer and when using tools), cloning, healing, etc., etc.

Originally Posted by Gary Richardson

Your forum and enthusiasm were what "converted" me to Photo Art Danny. Granted I'm still hopelessly inept at the subject, but I've been tempted to "have a go" on several occasions, and I've always been fascinated, inspired and impressed by much of the work I've seen there.

People as technicallly astute as you are, Gary, need to "unplug" and have a little unrestricted fun once in awhile. I'm glad you took the leap. Hopefully others might think this art thing is not a cool thing to do will be inspired by you and follow in your footsteps.


Speaking of inspiration, I'm inspired almost daily by the amazing creations people craft and post.

Originally Posted by Bob Mc

…It's a great place to wander around. Certainly as good as a Hardware Store or a Bookstore or even a Nursery - (I'm not allowed in any of those places with a wallet or a credit card.)

The amount of money I have spent on software and plugins e.g. multiple versions of Photoshop, Corel Painter, Buzz, Virtual Painter, Snap Art, etc., books and tutorials (too many to mention), etc. I’ve learned about at RetouchPRO would feed a small army, but definitely less than what I would have spent at places like Home Depot, Lowes or Costco (popular U.S. stores where it is very easy to spend a LOT of money without trying).

Originally Posted by sharynideas

I'm one of the newbies who took the plunge. I wouldn't have done it without your encouragement…your patience with us novices is endless. Thanks.

You’re welcome and I'm delighted to see how much you've grown skill-wise in such a short time. You're a shining example of someone who took the plunge, hit the ground running and "There's no stopping you now."

===============

FWIW: It took me a few years but I'm now totally over my self-imposed "guilt" for "can barely draw stick figures" by means of traditional drawing/painting skills. Using digital tools like actions, plugins, filters, etc. to create digital art are as valid as a wet brush, pencil or piece of charcoal. Hey, if someone can create art from a log with a chainsaw or "sculpt" a block of ice with a blowtorch, anything goes.

Bottom line: If you, your family and/or YOUR CUSTOMERS like your work, that's what counts.

Isn't the freedom to create with tools of choice a wonderful thing?

===============

As I've stated many times before...

"Keep having fun."

[Flora]

Just being my usual "tail-end Charlie"...

Congratulations Danny!!!