Value of NPN

Here's a fall look along the Lamar River in Yellowstone that illustrates one of the things that I've learned in my 7 years and an NPN member.  If you compare this view with the view posted below, you'll notice some significant changes in both brightness and in contrast in particular areas of the view (best seen in the larger version).  These are done by burning and dodging through luminosity masks, which I've learned from NPN member Tony Kuyper.  With conventional burning/dodging, you're only changing the brightness, which is often makes the adjustments clearly visible.  Although it's not illustrated here, the broad views of what's interesting in nature that NPN members routinely display has also effected my ability to "see", leading to some images that I would probably not have noticed prior to joining NPN.

I would like to take this opportunity to strongly encourage all members to comment regularly because it's the comments that create the sense of community and provide the details that allow all members to continue to grow.  If you're good enough to post, you know enough to comment effectively.