Posted by Jim Erhardt on February 17, 2010 at 7:06 AM
The April edition of Nature Photographers Online Magazine will be a very special one - it will mark our 10th anniversary of being online!
So, how should we celebrate this milestone? As always, your thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.
Posted by David Bostedo on February 17, 2010 at 8:35 AM
...how should we celebrate this milestone?
Free cameras for everyone! (I can dream can't I?)
Congratulations Jim and Donna, and all the moderators and editors that have been involved.
Posted by Wayne Jones on February 17, 2010 at 9:12 AM
CONGRATULATIONS!
Celebration? A few ideas:
Give Jim and Donna a day off!
But first... As much as I hate to suggest extra work... How about a short article by somebody who has been here since the beginning, to give readers a bit of history. How did NPN start? (Obviously interviews with Jim and Donna are in order.) And Look where we are now!
And/or perhaps the staff would like to pick a few favorite images from each of the years, for a "Decade of NPN" gallery. That should include those moderator shots that were not eligible for weekly picks, or at least give the staff a chance to post some all-time favorites from the past decade in the Staff Showcase.
And most of all, how about a thread in NPN discussion in April, where we thank Jim, Donna and the Staff for all they have done, and show them how much a difference they have made to us over the years!
Posted by Bill Chambers on February 17, 2010 at 9:52 AM
Hey - congratulations guys. I think Wayne has a great idea - I would love to read the history of NPN. I know how thankful and appreciative I am of NPN, and I also know many others that feel the same way.
Posted by Jorne de Bruin on February 17, 2010 at 10:03 AM
Congratulations are definitly in order, this is such a fantastic website and a great resource for all photographers! i agree with Wyane you two should take a day off
I'll say that it's a milestone! Has the internet been around that long?
In that span photo sites have come and gone, but NPN has matured and grown under your guiding hands. Take a bow!
Posted by Bertl Menegoni on February 17, 2010 at 1:01 PM
Hello friends, congratulations
NPN has become a true companion of my daily life
Bertl
Posted by Carol Hyman on February 17, 2010 at 1:18 PM
I say Congratulations, not only to Jim and Donna, the Moderators, and the Editors, but to all of the NPN members.
I'm sure there is no one person who totally agrees with every comment or posting that is made on this site; however, I'm sure that we can all agree that 99 44/100s % of the time, what is presented is in good taste, frequently with a sense of humor, and always with an eye to assisting another photographer.
So here's a special nod of thanks to Jim and Donna for setting the tone, and to all of the NPN members for creating a very special web site.
A Galley to celebrate a decade of NPN is a great idea.
And I would like to suggest that from time to time, a word of thanks is in order, not only to Jim and Donna but also to anyone who makes a contribution to your life and your photography.
A to all of us.
Carol
Posted by Brad Mangas on February 17, 2010 at 1:29 PM
Thank you Jim and Donna, and for all who have made this the best online photography site going.
Now, for those free camera!
Keep up the wonderful work!
Posted by Carl Donohue on February 17, 2010 at 2:56 PM
Hey Jim,
Wow, 10 years! Awesome. NPN has been an enormous benefit to the learning curve of my photography, and I'm sure of many others as well.
How best to celebrate 10 years? I'd say a nice dinner by the fireplace. :)
I think a decade of NPN photos would be awesome.
Cheers
Carl
Posted by Nathan Buck on February 17, 2010 at 3:33 PM
How about articles written by NPN members about what NPN has done for them? I know personally that I remember *EXACTLY* the moment that I saw a composition based on my experiences at NPN. I would be glad to write such an article if you would be interested.
I still have my original NPN membership card that Jim sent in the mail...in 2002. Since then, I have watched NPN grow and evolve into the finest nature photography site I know of. This growth and evolution is due to the herculean efforts of Jim and Donna, the programmers, and all the members past and present.
Many thanks to you all!
I agree that a 'celebration' gallery would be great!
--P
Posted by Bruce Palla on February 17, 2010 at 4:52 PM
CONGRATULATIONS!! And a huge THANK YOU!!! 10 years ago, I was still shooting film and only using the pc at work. I agree with others' thoughts on the history of the site as well as a gallery of sorts(Sounds like more work for Jim and Donna). I thank all who have commented and critiqued for these are the best of teachers.
I hope to see another 10 years of continued excellence!
Bruce
Posted by James Hersey on February 17, 2010 at 6:15 PM
Congratulations! I was later than I thought logging in if I remember I signed in 10/31/2000.
Hope you have as many more as you wish.
Posted by Erik Stensland on February 17, 2010 at 7:52 PM
How about if we have a place where everyone can post their best image from the last 10 years and any special memories about their involvement with NPN? This might also be a good time to work on getting some greater publicity for the site. Everyone could post about it in their blogs on that day and perhaps a press-release could be sent to some of the larger media. The free camera idea sounds great too! Thanks for making this such a great community!
Posted by Bret Edge on February 18, 2010 at 12:39 AM
Congratulations Jim, Donna and all NPN members on achieving this milestone. NPN has long been one of my favorite places to virtually hang out. I've learned a lot and made several good friends here.
Preston: Funny, I still have my original membership card from 2002, too!
Posted by Jim Erhardt on February 18, 2010 at 6:02 AM
Thanks for these suggestions!
There will be an article entitled "10 Years of NPN" which will give a brief history of the site but more importantly, invite members to post their experience with the site in the comments section that follows. You will be free to post any thing from a short sentence to an entire article-length comment!
I also like the idea of a special gallery. Post one photo and descibe how NPN was an influence in capturing the photo.
Finally, I will need to create a form for each member to request their new camera.
Great ideas - please keep them coming!
Posted by Carol Nichols on February 18, 2010 at 9:32 AM
Jim, your list above sounds great. Either in the special gallery or the 10 Years of NPN section, I'd love to hear what is the most important thing a person has learned from NPN. For me, I've learned that composition is the most important aspect of a photo, but for others it may be something else and I/we could learn from what others think is most important.
As far as the new camera request form, will you have a list of different cameras for us to choose from? If so, I'm really wanting a 5DII, so please make sure it's one of the choices
Oh, and thanks for everything you and Donna do for NPN
Posted by Toni Lankerd on February 18, 2010 at 9:43 AM
Congratulations, Jim and Donna!
I remember Jim asking me to join the site back in 2000. Then I left after a couple years, but came back because this is simply the best nature site! Thank you for all you have done for this site and for helping me become a better photographer!
Posted by Jim Greenwood on February 18, 2010 at 11:35 PM
Congratulations Jim and Donna on this upcoming milestone! And congratulations as well to everyone else who has contributed to this great community over the past ten years.
I am proud to have been a founding contributor to NPN, at Jim's invitation. When I look back at my ... average ... photograph in that modest article in the April 2000 edition, I am instantly reminded of just how much my photography has improved since then, due in no small part to all that I have learned here at NPN.
Here's to a decade of great success! My only real suggestion to everyone is to continue to keep up the effort that has made NPN the unparalleled resource that it is today.
Posted by beth summer on February 19, 2010 at 4:09 PM
I remember exactly when I joined NPN back in '03 That long ago...wow...congrats, Jim and Donna for 10 years. How awesome! I'll definitely contribute as well! Looking forward to the "pat on the back" articles, images etc!
Posted by Buck Ward on February 19, 2010 at 5:31 PM
Happy anniversary, Jim.
I think I discovered NPN in early 2001. It's changed a lot since then. Some big changes, but mostly evolutionary. NPN is my favorite website.
Posted by Bill Fach on February 21, 2010 at 6:47 PM
Jim & Donna
1: Sony A900, but I'll settle for an A850
2. Ten year gallery
3. History article
Marvelous ideas. My official register date is 11/1/03 but as I recall there was some kind of software catastrophe and the system reset all members registered prior to that date. Looking back on my eight or nine years at NPN I can think of no other factor that comes close to developing my photography as participating here. Congrats on a terrific milestone.
Posted by Morris McClung on February 26, 2010 at 10:53 AM
All the great ideas have been taken. So many good suggestions, and I can't wait to help celebrate what a wonderful place this is. Looking forward to the next decade, and I can't even imagine what that will bring. Congratulations Jim and Donna, and to all the moderators past and present, as well as members who have made this forum a true gem.
"My official register date is 11/1/03 but as I recall there was some kind of software catastrophe and the system reset all members registered prior to that date."
Bill, if IIRC the registration dates were reset when the forum/gallery software was redesigned and built.
April is a tad over two weeks away, then it's...Party Time!
Wow, ten years how time flies. I still have original membership card, still have the NPN patch and sticker. I've come and gone over the years and haven't been active for a long time.... actually been building my wedding and portrait business, but when ever I had thought about my nature photography this is the first website I have revisited.
Well done Jim and Donna, this mus have been a long road to get it all up originally and well done for keeping it expanding and growing
10 years, doesn't time fly when you are having fun.
agree with Erik Stensland
"The best of..." as I bet it's outstanding
T
Posted by Randy Beacham on March 25, 2010 at 11:01 PM
Gee has it really been that long! I think I have an NPN patch from way back when somewhere in my house---guess I better dig it out and dust it off for a ten year anniversary Congratulations Jim & Donna, I haven't been around for a long while but I'm glad to see you still have a great site--I was around several photo sites before and NPN has always been head and shoulders the best for us members as far as I'm concerned and that's a tribute to the work Jim, Donna & all of the moderators over the yeas have put into the site P.S. I'm glad to see the Bill Silliker achives are still here!
Posted by Lon Overacker on March 27, 2010 at 2:42 AM
Congrats Jim, Donna and to all the original and new NPN members for making this my photography home on the web.
Photography aside, consider how young the "Internet" is and how being "online" for 10 years is such a tremendous accomplishment. Anyone around computers or the IT industry remember the dotcom bust? Billions of dollars lost from companies who didn't make it on the web (plenty who did of course....eBay, Google to name the obvious.) Anyway, I remember the AOL and Compuserve days in the early 90's... bulletin boards and dialup (ok, sorry, some of you still have modems?)
Technology certainly continues to expand seemingly daily, but in the end what hasn't changed and hopefully never changes.... are the people. The desire to communicate, help others and pursue your own passions is what keeps places like NPN alive. NPN harbors that part of the internet that hopefully will never be packaged in an "app" or a "gui."
Thanks folks!
Lon
Posted by Dan Borzynski on April 27, 2010 at 12:36 AM
Jim - do you still have the frog cover shot from day 1 (I think it was a frog )?
I've been here since almost day 1 - actually, about 2 weeks in. Lurked for a couple of months and began thinking "I can do that!' Then actually bought a camera and discovered I couldn't do that! Now I run a nature photography business.
It's really been 10 years????
Thanks for all of the work both of you have done and getting through some of the rough times in the history of this site. We appreciate it far more than we ever tell you.
Discussion
31 repliesSo, how should we celebrate this milestone? As always, your thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.
Free cameras for everyone! (I can dream can't I?)
Congratulations Jim and Donna, and all the moderators and editors that have been involved.
Celebration? A few ideas:
Give Jim and Donna a day off!
But first... As much as I hate to suggest extra work... How about a short article by somebody who has been here since the beginning, to give readers a bit of history. How did NPN start? (Obviously interviews with Jim and Donna are in order.) And Look where we are now!
And/or perhaps the staff would like to pick a few favorite images from each of the years, for a "Decade of NPN" gallery. That should include those moderator shots that were not eligible for weekly picks, or at least give the staff a chance to post some all-time favorites from the past decade in the Staff Showcase.
And most of all, how about a thread in NPN discussion in April, where we thank Jim, Donna and the Staff for all they have done, and show them how much a difference they have made to us over the years!
In that span photo sites have come and gone, but NPN has matured and grown under your guiding hands. Take a bow!
NPN has become a true companion of my daily life
Bertl
I'm sure there is no one person who totally agrees with every comment or posting that is made on this site; however, I'm sure that we can all agree that 99 44/100s % of the time, what is presented is in good taste, frequently with a sense of humor, and always with an eye to assisting another photographer.
So here's a special nod of thanks to Jim and Donna for setting the tone, and to all of the NPN members for creating a very special web site.
A Galley to celebrate a decade of NPN is a great idea.
And I would like to suggest that from time to time, a word of thanks is in order, not only to Jim and Donna but also to anyone who makes a contribution to your life and your photography.
A
Carol
Now, for those free camera!
Keep up the wonderful work!
Wow, 10 years! Awesome. NPN has been an enormous benefit to the learning curve of my photography, and I'm sure of many others as well.
How best to celebrate 10 years? I'd say a nice dinner by the fireplace. :)
I think a decade of NPN photos would be awesome.
Cheers
Carl
Nathan
Many thanks to you all!
I agree that a 'celebration' gallery would be great!
--P
I hope to see another 10 years of continued excellence!
Bruce
Hope you have as many more as you wish.
Preston: Funny, I still have my original membership card from 2002, too!
There will be an article entitled "10 Years of NPN" which will give a brief history of the site but more importantly, invite members to post their experience with the site in the comments section that follows. You will be free to post any thing from a short sentence to an entire article-length comment!
I also like the idea of a special gallery. Post one photo and descibe how NPN was an influence in capturing the photo.
Finally, I will need to create a form for each member to request their new camera.
Great ideas - please keep them coming!
As far as the new camera request form, will you have a list of different cameras for us to choose from? If so, I'm really wanting a 5DII, so please make sure it's one of the choices
Oh, and thanks for everything you and Donna do for NPN
I remember Jim asking me to join the site back in 2000. Then I left after a couple years, but came back because this is simply the best nature site! Thank you for all you have done for this site and for helping me become a better photographer!
I am proud to have been a founding contributor to NPN, at Jim's invitation. When I look back at my ... average ... photograph in that modest article in the April 2000 edition, I am instantly reminded of just how much my photography has improved since then, due in no small part to all that I have learned here at NPN.
Here's to a decade of great success! My only real suggestion to everyone is to continue to keep up the effort that has made NPN the unparalleled resource that it is today.
I think I discovered NPN in early 2001. It's changed a lot since then. Some big changes, but mostly evolutionary. NPN is my favorite website.
1: Sony A900, but I'll settle for an A850
2. Ten year gallery
3. History article
Marvelous ideas. My official register date is 11/1/03 but as I recall there was some kind of software catastrophe and the system reset all members registered prior to that date. Looking back on my eight or nine years at NPN I can think of no other factor that comes close to developing my photography as participating here. Congrats on a terrific milestone.
Members are the key to survival.
Pete D.
Pat
Bill, if IIRC the registration dates were reset when the forum/gallery software was redesigned and built.
April is a tad over two weeks away, then it's...Party Time!
--P
Well done Jim and Donna, this mus have been a long road to get it all up originally and well done for keeping it expanding and growing
agree with Erik Stensland
"The best of..." as I bet it's outstanding
T
Photography aside, consider how young the "Internet" is and how being "online" for 10 years is such a tremendous accomplishment. Anyone around computers or the IT industry remember the dotcom bust? Billions of dollars lost from companies who didn't make it on the web (plenty who did of course....eBay, Google to name the obvious.) Anyway, I remember the AOL and Compuserve days in the early 90's... bulletin boards and dialup (ok, sorry, some of you still have modems?)
Technology certainly continues to expand seemingly daily, but in the end what hasn't changed and hopefully never changes.... are the people. The desire to communicate, help others and pursue your own passions is what keeps places like NPN alive. NPN harbors that part of the internet that hopefully will never be packaged in an "app" or a "gui."
Thanks folks!
Lon
I've been here since almost day 1 - actually, about 2 weeks in. Lurked for a couple of months and began thinking "I can do that!' Then actually bought a camera and discovered I couldn't do that! Now I run a nature photography business.
It's really been 10 years????
Thanks for all of the work both of you have done and getting through some of the rough times in the history of this site. We appreciate it far more than we ever tell you.