To whom are you replying? Use the "Quote Reply" function, that way we know.

I have the Oly too...works well! Tried to get the Nikon but it wasn't available when I was shopping (tested a red dot made for guns and after determining the *system* is good, needed to upgrade for ease of use).

Although I'm primarily a matte guy, on rare occasions I've printed on RR Metallic. Like a former poster opined, with the right image the results will be very cool. It's up to the OP what image(s) will look good, but if it looks good to *him* that's all that counts. Since my RR experience, I wanted to try a luster metallic and
found a variety made by Inkpress that fits my parameters...it's called "Metallic Satin" and I think it's the bomb! Not too pricey, either...

I do exactly the same with the cheap hardboard. I also save styrofoam pieces and cut them to form a border around the piece. I cut the paneling 1.5 inches larger and insert the styrofoam strips (cut at 3/4")
around the perimeter of the piece, then use packing tape to firm-up around the edge, making it brick-solid. Then wrap from there. I've shipped all over the US no problema. AFA single prints, the Bay Photo idea works well!

...well, I owned a D500 out of the gate and was very happy with it. But now I'm mirrorless and own a Z9...same focusing system as the Z8. There is absolutely NO comparison between the D500 and the Z8 focusing-wise, and, even though I don't own one, I want to say on ANY level.
If it's all you have the D500 is excellent, but if you own a Z8 too that old body becomes a door stop.

...me too. Dumbfounded.

Yes, judging in general is very personal. I judge visual arts for a pageantry circuit locally so am in tune with how *we* do it, and those individuals involved with adjudication. We are experts in our field, and I would expect no less from a contest ran by a reputable organization in our visual medium. Criteria is key, and any contest on the up-and-up would have such for the judges to use
as a base for their commentary. But, realistically, judges are human and subject to their experience when looking at *anything* much less ranking something esoteric like photos. I like to think most, if not all, adjudicators have a sense of responsibility toward their task and are serious about their judgment(s)...and I think that's all you can ask for. But an advantage would be to know what the criteria is any given event, neh? In our marching band shows tailoring our shows to the judges criteria (AKA "writing to the sheets") is bottom line...if you don't it becomes even more of a dice shoot.

Haha...I don't think *anyone* would put Frank in the pop music catagory.

Cool...and patient!!!

Haha...I'm on my Mac laptop (the last of the Intels and loaded) right now (BTW, hate the keyboard), I use it for email, travel, and reading my morning "paper." The rest of the time I'm on my one of my three PCs that also inhabit the room (one of them is my primary photo machine and is loaded). I've survived the earlier PC shortcomings and love what I have. <shrug>

I really like my Z 40 f2...

I sold mine to move to mirrorless, but I loved it!

I've seen the film...that was amazing. Worst down here in SoCal that I've experienced was the Sylmar quate in '94...at 4am, and "only"6.9. We're still waiting for our 8.0! For the unaware; each tenth on the Richter scale is 10 times strength. i'll still take my chances with a quake
as opposed to hurricanes or living in tornado alley, you gotta be pretty unlucky not to survive quakes around here. Apparently you're willing to risk it, too, lol...

Really! Haha, 4.8 is just a shake...now 6.8 will getcha an E ticket.

You either roll with the times or not. I happen to use the hell out of my cell phone...and attached camera...and many apps, especially pertaining to driving, weather or photography. Life in the foodchain, folks. <shrug>I think it's unfair (and supremely unaware) to accuse those who may sit down at an art gallery to text a friend how cool the show is, or answer a text from a loved one, or whatever, of being some kind of sub-human. You take advantage of and use tools or not...the benefits are there to be had.