Robbie7 Loc: Northampton. England

Hello Magnetoman :-) I agree with what you have said, there are arrogant and rude people on this site but you get this on all sites. I think it will be a shame if Gregory or any other worthwhile members were to leave this site for these reasons alone..I have like you, found the majority of members very helpful and knowledgeable also..regards

Pop0904 Loc: Jacksonville, Fl

Douglass never said the pictures were bad. All he is trying to do is to explain what a "true macro" is.

Is it fair for someone to go on thinking that macro and closeup are the same, when technically they are not?

I am grateful that Douglass shares his professional knowledge with us.

I thought the dragon fly pictures were great.

Now, go back out and show Nikonian what you can do !!

cbdigital Loc: Stony Point, N.Y. 10980

Dragonflies are amazing. One of my fav things to ( try) to photograph. It's a challenge. I collect jewely anything with dragonflies on them. They are like little good luck faeries.

bogeyeliot Loc: Signal Hill, CA

Shaka, please elaborate on "various reasons". This implies more than one reason. Several posters here have reached the conclusion that you're leaving because of Nikonian 72's comment re your close-up vs macro shots. Will you please clarify? My opinion is that Nikonian's comment to you was in no way offensive...you and I have exchanged some pleasantries on this forum in the past, and in a perfect world all exchanges would be good ones....hopefully you will shed a bit more light on what you meant by "various reasons", and if Nikonian's comment was part of your decision, you should really reconsider that one.

Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast

Lovely shots!

sailorsmom Loc: Souderton, PA

Nice shots Shaka! Beautifully clear and full of detail.
Sue

Shaka Loc: Brisbane, Australia

Hi Robbie7, I think that we should clear up a few things mentioned in your message.

1) I understood that this is photography site, that is the reason that I joined, but the primary reason was to learn from those with more skill/s than I have.
2) I did not join thinking that this is a 'social chat club'. My photography is too important to me.
3) I consider myself a serious photographer. With each photograph that I posted I provided as much information that I could so that members will appreciate what I've done and why.
4) I respect Nikonian72 for the knowledge that he has, and I've mentioned that several times on this site not in a 'social chatty' way, but seriously in as few words as I could. I am not in a position to challenge Nikonian72 with what he has to say about macro photography, and that, my friend, has never been my intention. If Nikonian72 looks back he will see that I've never challenged him but I respectfully went back with the advice that he gave me at the time, to stretch myself further. In fact, I have told many members in the past to join the Macro Forum to further enhance their skills. Brian

Shaka Loc: Brisbane, Australia

Thank you Jimbo9948 your shots are pretty cool, for a Nikon, LOL. Thank you for having a look. Brian

Shaka Loc: Brisbane, Australia

Hello magnetoman, I need to defend myself here: I did not join UHH or the Macro Forum to enable me to post my pictures. That shallow I'm not. I've been a member since June 2012 and have posted 53 serious topics, in that time, with a lot of wonderful feedback since then. But you have only been a member since November 2012 and you will not know what my contribution has been. I respect Nikonian72 for his mentoring photographers, like me, who want to get into macro photography. Nikonian72 can verify this. I've followed his advice all the time without challenging his point of view as to how to take macro photos. So, I think that you stating the I am a Trojan horse, who joined the macro forum to simply to be able to post my dragonfly photo is totally erroneous. Maybe you need to check your facts before making such allegations. Brian

Shaka Loc: Brisbane, Australia

Thank you photophile for looking in the first place and the lovely compliment re my photos, it is sincerely appreciated. Brian

Shaka Loc: Brisbane, Australia

I for one agree with you that it will be a shame and a travesty should Gregory were to leave this forum to which he has given so much. I have had many meaningful interactions with Gregory whom I respect immensely for his integrity, photographic skills and foremost I respect him for the upstanding person that he his. Brian

C.Ashbeck1 Loc: Wisconsin

Great shots like them all

Shaka Loc: Brisbane, Australia

It is not true that all Douglass / Nikonian72 explaining what a true macro is in his first email to me.

This is what he said, verbatim:"While this are nice close-up photographs, none are macro-photographs. Your APS-C sensor is only 22.3-mm wide (< 1-inch), and each of these dragonflies is at least 75-mm long (3-inches). A true macro image would capture just 1/3 of each insect."

"Please re-post these close-up photos to the Main Photography Section."

As you will see there is no explanation as to how to achieve a macro photo - he did that in a later email when replying to another members question about what does he need to do to take a true macro photo. Brian

Shaka Loc: Brisbane, Australia

Hi cddigital, I agree that dragonflies are amazing. Thank you for looking at my post and providing your comments. They are sincerely appreciated. Brian

Shaka Loc: Brisbane, Australia

Thank you Dixiegirl I appreciate that you took the time to look and comment. Brian