Hello Mother, Hello Father. Here I am at, camp GFM.
(Apologies to Allan Gins berg)
Well I�m sure to be one of the last to get back from GFM this year. Arrived in
Stouffville
(the
Panama City of Ontario )around 12:30 this morning. Quick sleep then it was off
to help
Erin with
schooling the nag (the horse not Liz. LOL)
Downloading 180 PEF�s from USB 1 is a drag. The 1 Gig card took close to an
hour. Gott�a
up grade
soon, especially if the contest is digital next season.
It was great to meet everyone and chat, attempt to finagle advice, and see the
mountain
and chill,
litterly. Nasty wet weather from Wednesday till Friday night (see Cotty you
should have
come. You
would have felt right at home <vbg>)
First off I have to say our hosts Bill & Phyllis Owens at PDML Central, were
fantastic.
Thanks all
for the place to meet and the awning to stand under. Also a great Saturday
breakfast.
Whodathunk sausage was round. <vbg>
Also Don Nelson our event planner and all round photographer herder. Don, great
to meet
you and you
do a super job. Sorry we did not get much time to speak, but hopefully in 2006.
Southern hospitality is defined by the above folk, AFAIC.
It was a pleasure to meet Bill Robb (I can call him that now.). But so many
people were
convinced he
sent his nicer brother, that we�re not sure what to think. Thanks for the
darkroom talk.
Oh and if Norm�s there next year, just bring some Manitoba wheat, he�ll never
know.:-)
What can I say about Frank ... If he is going to continue to own LX�s he should
buy
straps. More on
that, later.
First time meeting Ann Sanfedele, and boy she has stories. Thanks for the meals
and
keeping me awake
on the way to W/S.
Cesar Matamoros, Cesar Matamoros, Cesar Matamoros. Thanks for making sure we
all got
through the
gate in time for the�� oh wait that wasn�t you was it.<vbg>
I would have liked a chance to brag, er, talk about horse shows more with you.
Next time.
Seriously, super to meet with you and I hope you�ll like the 200 f4 you'll be
buying
soon.:-)
Thanks to Doug Brewer, whom I have wanted to meet since I read the PDML rules
page. Now
that�s my
kind�a humuor.:-)
Also, thanks to Doug for showing the world were to put bar codes on magazines.
<vbg> Those
who were
at the final showing will get that one.J
My next horse, will, be from Kentucky, that means you have to put up with me at
least once
more. <vbg>
I have to give a HUGE thanks to Mark Roberts. Led us not only to Winston/Salem,
GFM, but
to, and
places beyond. Frank and I used his name to convince the US immigration to let
us through.
As soon
as we mentioned him, their ears pricked up a lot. <vbg>
Actually, unless Frank has posted on this, it�s a story in it self. :-)
Mark did the rainy night hike up to the peak of GFM, as I hear he does upon
arrival every
year. He
asked if I could pick him up at 7:30 Friday morning. I arrived and no Mark,
just some
lurker taking
pictures in the fog. He convinced me to go have breakfast and come back later,
so I did
and, so did,
Mark. Apparently when Mark does this, it rains that night.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this needs to be discussed, and soon.:-)
Tom Reese and Susan had a great weekend, even if she does shoot the dark
side<g>. Tom had,
IIRC, an
honorable mention and a placing with his Cougar shot(not sure about this, sorry
Tom). I
enjoyed our
chat�s and his beer is not to bad.
Meeting Ken Waller and Frenchie (and Bro�in law Bob) was fun to. This goes hand
in hand
with Tom, as
Ken received an honorable mention with a cougar shot with the 600 and i think a
"dis
honerable
mention. Now I must hate more long glass shooters. Kens picture with this lens
was tak
sharp and now
I must work on the SO. This might take some time.<g>
I did not have to much time to chat with Bob and Lynn Sullivan, but they are
both class
people and
glad they had a chance to join us. The drive for them is, I�m sure, close to
mine, time
wise. Hope
you made it allright.
Almost thought that, Norm Baugher, might not make it, but there he was, just as
we added
more ice to
the beer, Saturday night. <g> What timing.
Frank and I have to thank Norm for the lesson on pouring gravy on the biscuits.
Man, are
we rookies. <g>
Charles Braswell gave me the excuse not to enter the contest for years to come.
Your stuff
is
absolutely fantastic. My only hope next year is that you hate your Canon Rebel.
<super vbg
here>
Seriously, your photos that you entered are inspiring, and you deserve every
award.
Congrat�s.
I have to apologize to Nico, I think I interrupted your Friday morning photo
shoot on the
bridge.
Barring that, thanks for the gifts and the chance to look over your shoulder at
your shots
on the
laptop.
Had a chance to look at several portfolios. Thank God I forgot to bring mine.:-)
I really loved Ken�s, Ann�s and Marks work. Truly stuff to inspire.
Ken, if you get bored with the 600, give me a shout.:-) Mark, the Pano shots
are truly
magnificent.
Keep it up.
Tom (GreyWolf) it was a pleasure to meet with you Sir, and thanks for bringing
1940�s
version of the
Polaroid. That�s a super camera .
Last but not least, I had a chance to quickly meet with Ed Tyler. I was hoping
to chat
with Ed re my
D2H problems, but did not get a chance.
So Ed if you read this, please drop me a line if you would.
So in closing, thanks to those that let me play on the mountain for a few days.
I'v worked
in the
rain before so this was no biggy. I truly enjoyed a 360 transition on my normal
photo
weekend, and
if the big fellw upstairs allows one motre trip, i'll be there. Besides how can
i pass up
a chance
to see film boy go digital.<vbg>
Dave
BTW slow PC but i have several shots i think are keepers that wil show up asap.
Dave again
