I'm back on list - sure I missed much commentary on the GFM weekend - dashed off a quick note to my traveling companions earlier just to know I arrived home safely.
Though what I WANT to do right now is curl up with my totally filled 1 gig card download stuff delete stuff and make a little photo portfolio to share Other stuff imposes on my time. This morning I got glimpses of others' posts on the weekend and a very strong "ditto" re looking at stunning prints of Ken's, Mark's and Frank's - Ken's were new to me, I'd seen a bunch of Mark's stuff and Frank's before. The ones I brought were more about "this is the kind of stuff I do" than this is the way I print.... I mainly brought dups and work prints - partly out of not having fancy ones and partly out of fearing I'd lose them (see Tom Reese's post:) ) Since I didn't enter the contest or do the seminars I spent a lot of time just doing what was fun which included hunting the elusive lady slipper, cooking, gabbing, and napping. Did go to the contest presentation - Mark and Doug play off each other well and tossed in a few PDML in-jokes which sounded like normal critiques to the masses. I can't remember when I've had a better time being on a hell-bent for heaven road trip than with Mark, Frank and Dave... I had no idea what to expect riding in a pick-up truck - well, not true I had the WRONG idea about riding in a pick-up truck. - it was like a luxury vehicle compared to what I thought it would be and Dave is a super driver. Thursday night was chilly and wet - I had considered, since at that time I was the only camper of the female persuasion there, sleeping in the clean and warm woman's bathroom but I got my camping legs back on this trip and found the tent Frank brought for me cozy as all get out. The rain and fog and mist were certainly the photogs friend and I did a lot of grab shots from the passenger side of the truck and car on the way down and back... maybe nothing memorable but lots of fun - though I frequently was heard to complain that i missed my LX - especially when shutter lag on the dark side killed one of my "i nailed it" shots. (Dave had to listen to me grumble about that for a while!) On the personality side I especially enjoyed pussy-cat Wheatfield, who I had known "virtually" for over five years but had never met. Was surprised by the accent and tenor of his voice - a little touch of a Scot's brogue there. Ken Waller was taller and much more soft spoken than I had imagined and I especially enjoyed chatting with French, his wife - sorry they were not camping with us. Felt very comfortable with Dave Brooks, who is the most uncomplaining and easy going guy you could imagine. However, my tent was next to Knarf's and Dave's and let me tell you they are NOT KIDDING about the snore thing. The broad range and variety of knowledge of our entire group was fascinating, too. Great to see old friends and acquaintances again... and noone tortured me too much about my dark-side camera :) :) Did I say I had stuff to do and no time to write? Ack... the laundry calls - and I've got to dig out summer clothes... unlike the cool mountain, New York is sweltering... Wish I were still on the road annsan
