The Herald: July 2008 Edition

[The Herald]

Alright, it's time for a little bit of honesty here. The Herald is on time, it's still the first. However, it's taken me this long into the day just because I have no desire to really compile the magazine every single month and deal with the struggles life has been throwing at me. Don't fret, I'll still be editor, and still be doing what I at one point loved to do. From now on, Eternity will be helping out every other month of taking the weight off my shoulders by compiling it. I'll still be writing, and editing, and whatnot, I just can't do it every month anymore.

With that said, this is possibly one of the shortest Herald's by far in a long time. With many obstacles getting in the way for numerous writers, we fell short yet again. I have faith in my writers though, and I believe next month's edition will be a lot more fulfilling, and genuinely a lot better. The articles in this edition are still pretty interesting, so don't pre-judge by this rant.

I didn't do a SSD General News article, but there have been many changes around the forum as of lately. Change of administrators, many new staff members, and plenty new things amongst other parts of the forum. There are a few new interviews, a contest for writers and designers to pair up with, and the Art Group is working on a new collection I think that will definitely draw some attention to their wonderful work.

I really want every member to embrace the new changes around the forum. I've stated it before, and I'll say it again. SSD will never return to the old glory it once grovelled in. Instead, we're aiming for a new glory, new things will be coming amongst the forums, and yes, that includes a new version. It is in the works, although I know many won't believe until they see it. All in due time.

For now, enjoy the Herald. I thank all my writers for giving what they could this month.

Toodles,
Kay

[The Herald]

Ewww, it's an old headliner, but I'll live.

This month it's been very hard to really nail down someone I thought could sport the member of the month title. However, I realized that one person has been overlooked. They've made it onto staff, but has never been praised for their contributions. So for this month, Saknika earns the title. Showing great contribution to the photography board, she's really taken it upon herself to extend her knowledge and love for the art. She's been a part of the community for quite some time now and can always be found getting along with nearly everyone. Great maturity, and great knowledge earns you a handful of respect. That's exactly what she does, and she's a model member of the month.



With the website being down due to an upgrade problem I'll take this month's article as an opportunity to ask for more submissions.

As you may have noticed the boards for posting tutorials (both coding and design oriented) and resources have been removed. This is mostly because they weren't being used and it looked untidy but also because it isn't difficult to add content to the website yourselves.

To add your tutorials and resources register for an account on the website and follow these instructions:

Adding Tutorials

[/url] and login (if you aren't already).

2) On the left hand side there is a box named "My Options", under that a link saying "Submit Content". Click on that.

3) There is a nice list of things you can add, for now, click on "Tutorial".

4) You'll be presented with some or all of the following areas (this is obviously dependant upon your moderation permissions):

• Title - The title of your tutorial, what people will see first when they open up a tutorial category.
  
• Creator - Your name (please do not upload tutorials made by others).
  
• Parent - This is the category your tutorial falls under. Try and focus on what the tutorial is about, and don't just place it in miscellaneous. For example, a tutorial about making a blood splatter would fall under effects. If the category you require is not here, or you're not sure where to put it, please pm me.
  
• Description - A quick paragraph on what the aim of your tutorial is.
  
• Tutorial - The content itself. This needs to be at least 25 words.
  
• Input format - If you use a lot of HTML in your tutorial (HTML that needs to be displayed, not in a code tag) change the setting to Full HTML. If you use UBBC, change the setting to UBBC. There is also an option for PHP code which adds colour to PHP tags for ease of reading.
  
• Weight
  
• Log Message
  
• Comment Settings
  
• URL Path Settings
  
• File Attachments - Any extra files such as a learning PSD or resources you need for the tutorial (if these aren't yours, please do not upload them - provide a link where they can be found instead).
  
• Menu Settings
  
• Authoring Information
  
• Publishing Options

The things I've crossed out you don't need to bother with and will either get removed or serve no purpose in how the tutorials are displayed.

5) Fill in the items listed above to the best of your ability. If uploading an image tutorial it is best to keep it under 500 pixels wide. I'll also try to rehost tutorials where I can to spare your bandwidth but this won't happen instantly.

If you really want to spare it, best just pm me with it and I'll add it myself.

6) Click preview if you want to check things over or submit to process the tutorial. It will then go into the queue to be looked at. You will be notified by email if it has been accepted or rejected.[/ul]

Adding Pre-Mades

[/url] and login (if you aren't already).

2) On the left hand side there is a box named "My Options", under that a link saying "Submit Content". Click on that.

3) There is a nice list of things you can add, for now, click on "Download".

4) You'll be presented with some or all of the following areas (this is obviously dependant upon your moderation permissions):

• Title - The title of your resource, what people will see first when they open up a resource category.
  
• Creator - Your name (please do not upload resources made by others).
  
• Preview box - Upload a preview image for your resource (it will be automatically resized if over our maximum dimensions)
  
• Downloads - This is where you select the categories ctrl+left click each category. So, if your resource belongs in the V3 UBBC category you'd select all of the following:
  
  
  • Forum
    
  • Icons
    
  • UBBC Tags
    
  • V3 UBBC
  
  
• News Items
  
• Extra Info - Any optional information you want to add such as a description, if there are any usage restrictions, extra previews etc
  
• Log Message
  
• Comment Settings
  
• URL Path Settings
  
• File Attachments - Where you add the .zip/.rar file containing your resource.
  
• Menu Settings
  
• Authoring Information
  
• Publishing Options

5) Click preview if you want to check things over or submit to process the resource. It will then go into the queue to be looked at. You will be notified by email if it has been accepted or rejected.[/ul]



First off I'd like to thank Kay, Kai, and Eternity for getting the Literature back to its old glory. I'm sure if Barbie was still here on SSD she'd be very proud of your hard work and dedication, and of course no thanks would be complete without thanking the contributors, you are the ones that make this board what it is today-It is an honor and a privilege to be able to read and critique your work, one and all, and nothing warms my heart more than a good poem. So without further a due I present this month's Literature of the Month!

Please give an enormous hand to Maggie for her contribution!

You Can Never See Yourself on the Other Side.

Far away from every stop sign in America and dipping our feet in the steel traps [car crash headache best for nothing nobody ever got you like this, bent like that, ice in your lungs, you will always remember this like it was the only day you ever knew anything about living].

Summer drains me more than anything, and it's getting there. Oppression breeds intellect. Not just your big words but your big mouth and the dimple in your cheek when you lick your bottom lip. It's that you never even warm up with water, and the time I looked up you looked away. One for the money, two for the show. Three never got me shit anyway.

And, oh, the poets come to life:: sunlight's facepaint.

Sometimes I miss when we were just kids and we would put oranges in our mouths and pretend as if they were our real gaping smiles.

This was the best I've read all day. I am very happy with this, the subtlety and the feel that I get from it. It is a very relaxed and content feel, not exactly lazy but reminiscent, if you know what I mean. Though aside from quips like the brackets and the double colons, I'm very proud of your work and congratulate you for a job well done.

Congratulations to you and everyone who contributed this month to the Literature board and please continue to do so in the future!




This month there is quite a number of photographs posted in the board. It took me quite a while to choose, but finally I narrowed it down to a selected few.

After further elimination, my choice boils down to....

I Think I'll Name Her Bell

The composition, the slightly soft focusing and the bokeh are just nice, in my opinions. The slightly faded colors are pretty good too! But what did it for me in the end was the gentleness of the flower. The flower felt like a graceful dancer, dancing elegantly along with the wind. And that was why I decided that this photo should be awarded the Photograph of the Month.

Well done, Mitch!



Bravo, peeps, I'm glad to see that we have more images being posted up this month. I was beginning to think you didn't care any more *cries*

But I have to say, I'm a sucker for vector. And that's why this month our winner is s|i|m|a|n|o|v for his vector piece entitled Midnight Smoke!

_{^for full size image, click the picture^}

This just blows my mind. I'm a vector whore, I know it. I looked at all three you posted, and this stood out the most. The tentacles on the squid/octopus/thingy really does it for me, they really seem to pop, you know? I hope you do more work and post it up <3

Our first runner up this month is our newest member, Scott1707, with his piece, Fear of The Unknown!

_{^for full size image, click the picture^}

This is a very impressive image, and I'm sure you worked hard on it. The lighting in this is killer, just perfect. In some places, the sharpness of the render seemed a little much, but it was good nonetheless. I hope to see more work like this from you in the future, tres bien!


Our second runner up is coming out of the dark in her first submission since July of the double oh seven!

Congratulations to Zilla for War-Let us wage it!

_{^for full size image, click the picture^}

This was a great submission, the text was great. This is a good concept to me, and I do believe that I detect a hint of vector at the bottom? If so, that makes it instantly good in my eyes!

Congratulations to all three of you, you deserved it! Tune in next month.

[The Herald]

Artos wrote:
Haven't we already established that my ego is shield against reality? It has to be huge, otherwise I'm nothing more than a scared, mewling kitten.

urban.cinderella wrote:
could you at least be a puppy?
it's a bit more lovable.

Artos wrote:
No.

---

urban.cinderella wrote:
lots of fun insulting each other
In a PG rated way.

Criminal Mastermind wrote:
I smell impossibility....

---

Sir Knighty wrote:
God, someone kill this thread already it makes my head ache.

Artos wrote:
It was only a matter of time before you would adhere to my way of thinking. Yes.

---

Epic wrote:
*still plays with his legos*

*has the perfect excuse*

*has a little brother*

Dalton wrote:
*Still plays with Legos*

*Has no excuse*

*Damnit...*



Well a visit to Bryanic to find out a couple of his favorite quotes transformed this month's Famous Quotes OTM.

Avoid the world, it's just a lot of dust and drag and means nothing in the end.
Jack Kerouac

A man's got to take a lot of punishment to write a really funny book.
Ernest Hemingway

Buy the ticket, take the ride.
Hunter S. Thompson

I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me.
Hunter S. Thompson

I had nothing to offer anybody except my own confusion.
Jack Kerouac

Chaos is the score upon which reality is written.
Henry Miller

Develop an interest in life as you see it; the people, things, literature, music - the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself.
Henry Miller

Imagination is the voice of daring. If there is anything Godlike about God it is that. He dared to imagine everything.
Henry Miller

A man's work is nothing but this slow trek to rediscover, through the detours of art, those two or three great and simple images in whose presence his heart first opened.
Albert Camus

A first sign of the beginning of understanding is the wish to die.
FranzKafka

This month, I chose an animated comedy as our Movie of the Month. Kung Fu Panda, if you do not already know, is another production by DreamWorks Animation, the creators of Shrek, Shark Tale, Madagascar, Over the Hedge, Bee Movie and others.

I like the movie; it is whimsical and filled with tasty sarcasm here and there (I mean, check out the Panda's dad!). Despite its children-appeal, it does tell of a moral that I deem applicable to people of all ages: Have faith and confidence in yourself.

Indeed, as I follow the panda on his journey throughout the movie, I found myself rooting for the underdog. He himself did not believe he would be the chosen one, but it turned out pretty much so. He fulfilled his destiny and lived up to the name of the chosen one.

I wouldn't reveal much here, since I think it is definitely much better for you to uncover the film by yourself. That said, if you have a weekend to spare, drop by your nearby theater and catch this show. Get ready to be both tickled and touched by it.

"The Furious Five! You look a lot bigger than your action figures! Except you, Mantis. You're about the same."



I had a bit of a struggle choosing this month's avatar and signature of the month. More people need to dig into their creativity and really show their work. Remember, they're chosen randomly from browsing around the forum. So make sure you're wearing a signature or avatar if you want to be shown some recognition.

Avatar of the Month



adam gets recognition this time around. With his never-ending love for hockey, he shows himself in gear playing the sport he loves. However, the effects surrounding himself is what drew in my attention. Very subtle, it's not overly done.


Signature of the Month



Scott1707 is among our newer members, and has proven to be a pretty decent designer. His signature that he's wearing around the forum sports that wonderfully. With the colors working wonders together, the subtle text with just the right placement, the signature catches your eye every time.

July is the seventh month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. It is, on average, the warmest month within most of the Northern hemisphere, and the coldest month within much of the Southern hemisphere. (Taken from Wikipedia)

A warm happy birthday to those born on this month if you're in the Northern hemisphere, and chilled happy birthday to those in the Southern.

• Zephix ™ on the 2nd.
  
• Virtuoso on the 2nd too!
  
• Chantry (Me) on the 14th.
  
• Scott1707 on the 17th.
  
• Nexxia on the 22nd.
  
• Obsidian on the 27th.
  

[The Herald]

Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code is number three in a series of soon to be six books by Eoin Colfer. This outstanding bestseller continues the tale of young Artemis and his thrilling adventures with the Elf Holly Short of the Lower Elements Police (LEP), his bodyguard Butler, and Mulch Diggums, the kleptomaniac dwarf fugitive.

This time, they embark on a journey to America to steal back Artemis' "C-Cube", a revolutionary device made from pirated fairy technology from American businessman Jon Spiro.

Once more this quartet of allies must rely on Artemis' genius to lead them to the cube, and they can't let anything stand in their way, be it dead bodyguards, long distances, or budget cuts.

I definitely recommend this book if you have read the first two, and if you haven't, I recommend them as well! Visit the Artemis Fowl official website at: artemisfowl.com !

Books in series in order from first to last:

Artemis Fowl
Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident
Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code
Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception
Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony
And coming this July:
Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox!

Good Reading!

[The Herald]

Basic Information
Episodes- 26
Genre- Occult and Action
Rating- 4/5

Background Information and Summary
Claymore follows the tale of women who have combined their human bodies with that of yoma (demon) flesh in order to become half yoma, and be on level to fight them. In this medieval styled world, yoma roam the lands devouring the guts of humans to stay alive. As they grow more powerful, they are able to assume a human form, and thus only those who can sense yoki (demonic energy) can find and destroy them. That is what the Claymore are for. While they do not call themselves Claymore, these women are deadly assassins that all humans seem to fear, with few exceptions. However, even Claymore are susceptible to becoming yoma should they use too much power, which is why our heroines can become the enemy in a matter of moments.

The anime keeps you on edge as you follow the path of Clare, the lowest ranked warrior among all the Claymore. Following her journey leads the viewer through the ins and outs of the organization, and the life of a Claymore.

While there are some incredibly cliché moments, the plot is fairly unique. Granted, the demon -vs- human story line is highly overdone. Claymore has a unique appeal to it in that it’s not all black and white. And unlike anime such as YuYu Hakusho, even the good guys die. Far too often in a plot like this you see only the bad guys dying, but not in Claymore. In Claymore, the power levels and abilities are kept fairly constant, so it’s a nice change to see the limits placed on the heroes of the story.

It does not receive a perfect score, however, because some of the animation is weak. The story also has its weak points, but overall it’s a wonderful watch that I’d recommend to anyone over the age of 13. Any younger and it can be a bit more difficult to understand.

As of right now, Claymore is only available in Japanese, with English subtitles. So far there are 26 episodes to a first season, and rumor has it that a second season is coming out. Considering the cliff hanger at the end, this seems like a rumor that could be true. With how wonderful Claymore is, I can certainly see this becoming the next hit in America as soon as it has been translated and put on the market. And unlike Naruto and Inuyasha, it doesn’t have a hundred or more episodes that you are inclined to watch because of addiction, making it a much more reasonable anime.

If you want a sneak peak before the anime hits the shelves in America, but cannot stand to watch it subbed, then the manga is out at your local bookstore. I recommend it with two thumbs up, either way!

[The Herald]

Background Information.
Unless you have been hiding in a cave for the past ten years you know all about the series. If you have been in that cave, let’s have a little refresher. The series began with Grand Theft Auto set in London around the 60’s. Grand Theft Auto 2 came out in 1999 set in a not so distant future. Until this point a few people began to notice the series. Grand Theft Auto III, set in a New York like city, hit the shelves: the fireworks began. Bringing the series into the 3D world triggered more press than you could imagine. Improving in just about every area, Rockstar released Grand Theft Auto: Vice City in 2002. Vice City is considered a favorite out of the series. With a large map to explore, more vehicles than the previous titles, and just a more memorable experience with the subject of 80’s Florida. 2004 brings Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Though it expanded the series to a new level many people still had a more enjoyable experience in Vice City. Grand Theft Auto IV is the latest title in the series. After a 4 year hiatus the Rockstar group brings the most realistic experience to a GTA game. Set in Liberty City, a close resemblance to New York, you play as Niko Bellic, a Russian immigrant trying to start anew.

Graphics and Audio [5/5]
Graphics are a big step up from the previous titles, yet not as good as most games out there. This does both help and hinder the game. Sure it keeps it at a state of cartoon-ishness but with all the coding into the game such as driving physics and environmental interaction you need some high def graphics to pull through. The audio is just as good. Not perfect, but still top notch. People’s conversations are more in depth, the different sirens that play when you wreck a cop car to a certain extent. All this plays into a great visual and perceptual feeling.

Game Play [4/5]
Single Player: Rinse and repeat… nothing really different than what we have come to see from a GTA title. Get a phone call, drive to a destination, kill some people, drive to a save point. That’s really the main point of the game. Sure the story line and the voice acting is great but the game play has been done before far too many times. Less vehicles, less “stuff” to do in the city that we have come to enjoy from past titles really hold this title back. After all it is called grand theft auto, where are my auto’s?

Multi-player: The multi-player element saves this game by far. Without it, it’s just a rental. 15 modes of online multi-player and a “lobby mode” which is basically free for all in the giant city of Liberty City.

Replay Value [4/5]
Sure you can replay it for the achievements but that’s just about every game on the 360. Some plot twists give you two options that may or may not change the story down the road. May be one of the games you play twice but end up leaving it on the counter to collect dust.

Sure, it was more anticipated than any of the other GTA games. Sure it was improved upon in almost every field. Still doesn’t shake the fact that this is the 6th game in the series. It’s all been done before. If it wasn’t for the multi-player I would say rent this one. But if you have a Xbox Live account. This one may not be too bad.

[The Herald]

Resident Evil 5 is the latest installment of the Resident Evil series, due to be released on the Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360. The gameplay and controls will be similar to that of Resident Evil 4 and this time around the main character is Chris Redfield.

New features include dodging and taking cover during live action rather than simply running out of the way. Another new addition is environmental effects. For example, if you move from dark areas to bright areas, Redfield's eyes will have to adjust, causing a brief loss of visual surroundings. The enemies will once again be very agile and will be able to carry melee weapons.

_{Chris Redfield fighting enemies in Resident Evil 5.}

Very few details about the story have been released, but it has been stated that the game will be set in Africa and will have a similar feel to the film Black Hawk Down, and from watching the trailer you can see why. In some areas Redfield seems to be absolutely surrounded by enemies, and the only option left is to shoot your way through the horde. If this game bares any resemblance to the massive firefights and overwhelming odds of Black Hawk Down, then I am definitely going to want to play this game.

The Mercenaries mini game featured in Resident Evil 3 and Resident Evil 4 will also be making a comeback, so expect some unlockable characters to go shooting with. There will also be some online features, including a two player online co-operative mode for the main story. I would like to see an online Mercenaries mode, where a team of players can battle against an insurmountable army of enemies. That would be the definition of awesome.

Unfortunately, Resident Evil 5 isn't going to be released until early 2009. Let the waiting commence.

Resident Evil 5 Trailer

[The Herald]

Name: Scott
Age: 18
Sex: Male

"Stick with it and experiment."


Where is it that you live?
Northern Ireland

Are you married?
Nope

Do you have any talents other than designing? (writing, programming, singing, etc.)
I don't really have any other talents, although I do enjoy playing football and computer games.

I've looked through your deviantArt account and must say I'm impressed. When did you start designing?
I started off about 2 years ago, however have taken a large break in between that time due to losing interest in digital art. Recently became interested again, probably because summer is coming up and I have been off for study leave leaving me plenty of time to experiment.

How did you start?
Initially a friend referred me to a General topics forum that he was a member at. I got really involved with the community and decided I wanted to try creating my own forum. So I searched for free forum providers and Proboards was one that was referred to me.

Once I created my first forum, I tweaked with the colours, but compared to the designs of other forums, I was never satisfied and this led me to request graphics for my forum.

As a result, I didn't think it was fair always requesting graphics so decided to try to learn how to design and in turn got myself a copy of Photoshop 7. Then basically just learned from other designers and tutorials, etc. to develop my skills to where I am today.

What motivates you?
The satisfaction when I complete a piece is probably the main motivation and then to receive some comments and critique to enable me to see what I am doing effectively and what I need to improve on.

Where do you draw your inspiration?
Music, Inspiring artists - which in turn makes me want to try to achieve the same level of talent as them.

-------------Personal--------------------

What is your . . .

• Favorite color?

Blue
[/li][li]Favorite Food?[/b] Chicken Curry Fried Rice
[/li][li]Favorite book?[/b] Harry Potter Series
[/li][li]Favorite movie genre?[/b] Comedy
[/li][li]Favorite type of music?[/b] I listen to anything but mainly Rock/indie
[/li][/ul]

How did you find SSD?
When I started off on Proboards, SSD was always the first name that everyone mentioned due to its professionalism and also its large array of resources, topped off by an active community. However I was always put off by the size of the community and never felt I would fit in, as a result I never became active.

What do you think of the forum?
Very professional, seems to be an active community which everyone seems to be happy to be part of.

Is this a community you are happy to be a part of?
Yes, definitely ... for the reasons in my answer to the previous question.

Finally, is there any interesting things that you'd like to add?
Just for other designers: If you want to improve your talent at designing, stick with it and experiment. If you don't experiment, you won't find a particular style you like or styles you were never aware of.

[The Herald]

Human facts

• If you mouth the word "colorful" to someone, it looks like you are saying "I love you".
  
  
• There is enough iron in a human being to make one small nail.
  
  
• It is impossible to die from holding your breath. You would just faint from a lack of oxygen, then resume breathing again.
  
  
• Your femur (thigh bone) is stronger than concrete.
  
  
• The space between your eyebrows is called the Glabella.

Historical facts

• Astronaut Neil Armstrong first stepped on the moon with his left foot.
  
  
• The military salute is a motion that evolved from medieval times, when knights in armor raised their visors to reveal their identity.
  
  
• In ancient Rome, it was considered a sign of leadership to be born with a crooked nose.
  
  
• It took Leo Tolstoy six years to write "War & Peace".
  
  
• It took 214 crates to transport the Statue of Liberty from France to New York in 1885.

Animal facts

• A lion's roar can be heard from five miles away.
  
  
• The Penguin is the only bird that can swim, but not fly. It is also the only bird that walks upright.
  
  
• Elephants can smell water from as far as three miles away.
  
  
• A cat's jaw cannot move sideways.
  
  
• Pigs can become alcoholics.

[The Herald]

Q. When you drink coffee does it make you poop?
A. That’s hard to say, I don’t drink coffee. Tastes bad and I’m short enough as it is!!!

Q. If every gay female in the world was going to be given a penis would you kill yourself?
A. Nope! My secret goal in life always was to be a hermaphrodite, so I’d look at it like a welcome opportunity. Besides, it’d save on costs for the bedroom!

Q. Why am I so cool?
A. Well, if you’d move out of the freezer and start living in the real world like the rest of us, you might warm up a bit.

Q. If a car, made out of the hardest substance ever created and is impossible to destroy, ran into a wall made out of the same material going the speed of light, what would happen?
A. Both the car and the wall would implode in a ball of dust and smoke, causing a black hole that is a tear in the time-space continuum to form, and we would be sucked back to the sixties where crazy hippies on drugs would maul us thinking we were an acid trip, and we would thus explain how LSD really works.

Q. What one person would you most like to photograph if you could?
A. Hmm… that’s a good question. I suppose George Carlin, but sadly he died the other day so that’s out. Unless we have a good necromancer nearby who will revive him for me. Any takers?

Q. What is the one place on Earth you would like to visit more than all the others? And why? What about the LAST place and why?
A. I’ve always wanted to go to New Zealand the most (that’s right, NOT Japan ) because it’s the one place on Earth that has all the climates of the world in one area. It was where they filmed Lord of the Rings, and it’s just beautiful. I would love to go there, and photograph it, and just plain see it with my own eyes. As for the last place… your house. No, I kid. It would be most places in Africa (Egypt being my only exception) because I am not a person that enjoys the heat at all.

Q. Do the dancing Kirbys make you happy?
A. It’s Kirby, and he’s dancing. Of course that makes me happy! It’s always great fun to watch pink balls of air dance and jiggle!

Q. Why do things get darker when they get wet even though water is clear?
A. It’s an optical illusion of the brain. You only think things are getting darker.

Q. Can blind people see their dreams?
A. Sure, why not? They gotta make something up.

Q. Why does glue not stick to the inside of the bottle?
A. I don’t know about you, but my glue does. I can never get all of it to come out, and that irritates me. It’s a waste of extra glue!

Q. Why do you build me up [build me up] Buttercup baby just to break me down [break me down] again and again?
A. And worst of all [worst of all] you never call when you say you will [say you will]… Good song, love to karaoke it.

Q. Do you like bubble baths, and if so, how often do you partake in them?
A. Not really, because that’s just a lot more soap to get out of my hair.

Q. If I told you my face is currently mint green, what would you think had happened to me?
A. I’d think you dove face first into a box of mint chip ice cream out of a severe sweet lactose craving.

Q. If I hugged a tree, would you think I am a crazy man?
A. Why would that make you crazy? Is it a shroom tree?

Q. What’s your favorite dessert?
A. You, of course. Seriously… Chocolate fondue with fruit for dipping. <3

Q. If dreams were visions of what happens tomorrow, will tomorrow be a good day?
A. Um… not if they’re my crazy dreams. Although, we’d be able to cure mental illness with celery!

Q. Sesame Street or Barney?
A. Sesame Street, there’s more target practice that way, and from what I’ve heard Big Bird is a nudist.

Q. How does it smell to be orange? No, I didn't mean to say "feel" I meant to say smell so answer it! I'm too funny. . .
A. Hmm… kinda like vinegar. No, wait, that’s just the photo chemicals. ;D

Q. Why are you not in the kitchen, and where did you find socks?
A. I burn water, so I avoided the kitchen to chase after the sock gnomes so I’d have something to wear on my feet besides just my boots that were made for walking.

Q. If you were a hamburger, what would you put on yourself?
A. Hmm… lots of cheese. And other fun stuff. Like thousand island dressing, and horseradish sauce and lettuce and pickles and onions and yum.

Q. If a female Vampire is on her period, doesn't that mean she's vomiting from her vagina?
A. Only if a female vampire fed on her own blood. Besides, vampires are technically dead and don’t bleed monthly, lucky bastards.

Q. Where do you go to college?
A. I was attending the Hallmark Institute of Photography, but that ended on the 20th (I did not graduate—reasons unknown but my parents and I are looking into it). I am looking into attending a local community college for language and business if I have the time though.

Q. What are some of your ideas for future shoots? Or are you more of a spontaneous, let's just see... sort of photographer?
A. I fall into both categories. Sometimes I’m spontaneous in that I suddenly just start calling people to go out and have fun, or start driving, and other times I plot them out. I am planning on shooting uranium glass in the near future (watch for this, it’s going to be AWESOME), and some senior portraits. I also have a wedding booked for October.

Q. I have Pocky and Turtle Chex mix. What could make my life any better?
A. I have a sword next to your neck if you don’t give up that pocky. So I’d say staying alive would make your life better, fork it over. <3

Q. Who let the dogs out?

_{Who who who}
A. I don’t know who let you out of the doghouse, but they’re gonna end up back in it with ya when I find out! <3

Q. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
A. Enough to fill his belly.

Q. Also - What's ya mobile number?
A. TIT-KITZ You figure out the numbers and the area code. xD

Q. Why is everyone quoting songs to you as questions?
A. They were having a lazy moment I guess. xD

[The Herald]

Acceptance
    A great alternative rock band which has since been broken up. They broke up due to their lead singer not wanting to lead a "gypsy rock life" he rather live as a common man, which sucks because he had such great talent. So, the rest of the band went their separate ways joining other bands except for him. He went to work for his dads business. But before any of that happened, the band accomplished a lot. Working their way up to the top. Originating in Seattle, Washington they were a small local band with a debut album selling 5,000 copies. This caught the attention of some bigger record labels and eventually they ended up with Columbia Records where they released their most successful album: Phantoms.
Download This: Take Cover; Different


Everlast
    A one band band similar to Citizen Cope which is also made up of one man. The band features Whitey Ford, his vocals, and his guitar. He is very, very talented to have been as successful as he was with a Grammy under his belt and many guest appearances with top selling artists. He has a sort of southern tone to his songs mixed with a little Hip Hop. If you like rap, definitely check out this guy. His beats are tight. Last, as I was reading up on the history of him I found out that he and Eminem got in a lyrical battle where death threats were exchanged in songs. Intense stuff.
Download This: What It's Like; Blinded By the Sun


The Format
    The Format are an indie rock group with a very unique sound to them. I started listening to them last year and became hooked. They are also very popular amongst the females as they fit the "boy band" stereotype. Sadly, due to the death of a close friend, the band has been on a hiatus with no signs of releasing a new album. A real shame if this band goes.
Download This: Tie the Rope; The First Single, Time Bomb

The Strokes
    I was surprised to hear that none of my friends had heard of this band before Rock Band came out. I've been a sub prime fan for a while as they have many good songs, not just Reptillia. Coming straight out of NYC, they are also an indie rock band but very different from The Format. Their lead singer has a very interesting, deep voice which I think adds great flavor to the band.
Download This: When it Started; Reptillia; What Ever Happened

Guster
    I love the sound of a great acoustic every once in a while. This band happens to feature two great acoustics then has a third member playing various percussion instruments. They have a beautiful soft tone to them. I wouldn't put them in the Easy Listening genre, its not like that. But they are very. . . smooth. Not much to say about them except give them a listen. =D
Download This: Demons; Satellites

[The Herald]

Name: Lawrence Stephan Cozma
Age: 16
Interests: Design, Auto, Hacking
Website/portfolio: www.cozmagfx.com

What style would you say you are best at? Large pieces? Logo? Signatures?
I like large art, mostly logos and templates (web design)

How long have you been designing for? Do you still have areas you can improve in? What are some of those areas?
I've been designing for about 6 years now, improvement.. hmm I dunno.

What's your favorite tool to use in your design program?
Pentool in photoshop ; I can use my imagination .

Where do you draw most of your inspiration from?
Nature and Technology, sometimes my friends.


Have you tried any other forms of art like photography or writing? Did you like any of them?
I tried photography (got pretty good at it), and writing which I also got good at. Plus many other different art forms.

Would you like designing to be apart of your future?
It's a hobby mostly, not really. I just like designing, good stress relief

What piece that you've made are you most proud of?
My Cozma GFX logo

What is your favorite color scheme?
Blue, Orange and black.

Describe to me what you wanted to do exactly with your banner for Cozma GFX. What did you want people to get the impression of when they visited your site?
Give people a “ It takes my breath away” idea.

You seem pretty hardcore. Describe your most bad ass moment you've endured in your life.
Getting away from a crowd of girls

[The Herald]

Name: Ross
Age: 20 or 5 (Leap year child)
Interests: Web Development, Strategy Games
Website: virtualforums.co.uk

Let's start off with your website. With all of the other free forum providers out there, why did you feel you needed to make your own?

It started out as a project for me to learn on. I knew I wanted to be involved in the web development industry and I knew for that to happen I'd need some good experience and a strong portfolio. I chose to build a forum as that was something I was familiar with having used several different forum platforms.
Once I had shown a very basic version of the software to a few people and seen how impressed they were with it, I knew that it had some real potential; particularly in the way I knew I could add regular upgrades and features to it with almost no downtime. It was everyone's reaction which really spurred me on to complete it to the highest possible standards & release it to the public, without that it'd probably still be living on my local host.


What ideas did you have planned to ensure vForums' success?

Unfortunately I no longer feel comfortable sharing ideas with the general public until the feature is ready to either go live or (for the bigger changes) into an open-beta. Anyone who has used a certain other forum provider will know what I am referring to here. So all I'm going to say is that there's going to be a great new feature coming soon which at the moment (as far as I'm aware) is not offered by any other hosted forum service.


You've been a coder for quite some time now. When did you first enter the field and what sparked your interest into it?

I really started getting serious about it all just after the PBv4 upgrade. At the time there were a lot of people wanting codes which there weren't enough people to make. So I started learning JavaScript and helping those I could.


Will programming be a big part of your future?

It is a big part of everything at the moment, and I don't see that changing. Coding is something I do as a hobby as well as a big part of my day job.


How long did it take you to develop and code vForums?

Unfortunately I've got no record of the total hours spent developing it. I started it back in mid 2006 when I was still getting into PHP and wanted a project to try things out on. But after a few months it go put on a back burner while I did some other things. It wasn't until late 2007 that I finished developing it. So the time to develop it was about 18 months but in that time I had othe projects I was working on as well as my day job to do. I think if I sat down and just coded vForums and did nothing else I could of got the original release done within 3 months. But then that's not counting the countless changes and new features which have been added over the past 6 months.


If you knew as much as you could know of every language out there, what language would you choose to code your website in?

I'd probably still pick the tried and tested method of PHP & MySql. It's so portable, easy to use and has some great support resources.


What are some things that frustrate you with coding? How do you overcome those obstacles?

I suppose one of the frustrating things I come across quite often is me knowing in my head what I want to do but not knowing how to describe it or how to exactly do it. This results in a lot of searching on various sites to try and find someone who has had a similar problem, but not knowing how to describe what I want to do makes it hard to find the information I need.
Not sure if this is relevant but big companies annoy me a lot of the time too. As part of my web development job there are times when you have to speak to companies who don't know what they're doing. As an example of what I mean lets use BT. I was developing an interface for an online shop where users would be able to order BT broadband. Obviously the data would need to be transmitted over a secure connection. But every method I tried failed to validate on BTs system, after endless phone calls and emails with the customer and BT, BT finally realized that the system they were providing wasn't finished and that's the reason it wasn't working - something I had been telling them all the time.


What script are you most proud of? Is it a feature for vForums? A system program you wrote a while back?

I suppose it is vForums as a whole which I'm most proud of. A lot of work has been put into it and I'm over the moon with the result. If I had to pick just one favorite feature which I'm proud of it'd probably be the Private Conversations system which includes AJAX elements and makes the whole idea of private messaging much more manageable.
Outside of vForums the one I'm most proud of would be the Money Hack v3. I know Peter had already done the basis of it with v1 & v2 but it was very satisfying to stop seeing loads of people asking for help with it. I remember how before I rewrote it there was probably a thread a day from someone having trouble getting it to work.


What advice can you offer for people interested in getting involved with coding?

My advise would be to try things. Experiment with what works well and what doesn't. That's what I did and found it really helps build up your own style and helps improve your own problem solving skills. Too many times I see potentially good coders asking for help with everything, and see no evidence of them having tried to work it out themselves. What's the worse that can happen if you try a few things and they don't work out?
Another thing I would say would be to start small and work your way up. I know that counters and guest books may be boring to make but starting to build a CMS with no prior knowledge is asking for failure.


If you had the opportunity to take over any site on the net, which site would you choose? google.com? ross.com?

I'm happy with my current sites. I don't think I'd want to own something like Google. I suppose www.ross.com would be a cool one to own.

[The Herald]

INSPIRATION. What the hell? Who has that? This month is all about getting you inspired to write and techniques involving getting those gears grinding. Also, we have SSD's very own favorite Bryanic in an exclusive interview about what inspires him and what you can do to inspire yourself.

Inspiration is a wondrous thing that really helps us create and generate new ideas, without it we basically have nothing more than paper, and the words just won't write themselves. A common form of lack-motivation is called writer's block, where the writer can't really think of anything to write about and spends their time contemplating on what to do about it.

A few tips to getting over writer's block is:

• Take a break from your writing. Go outside, take a nap, get some fresh air, anything that helps you open up in your mind.
  
  
• Read other works that you've made or other people have made. Usually other pieces help others open up.
  
  
• Eat. You wouldn't believe how much more you can think when you aren't hungry.

But these just aren't the only things that can be used to solve it,
SSD's very own retired member Bryanic has his own style to stop potential writer's block. He agreed to an interview about his views on writer's block, and this Literature legend will blow your mind on opinion.

_____________________________

Q: Thanks for agreeing to be interviewed, I know you haven't really spoken to the SSD community in quite a while. First and foremost, is there anything you'd like to say to us at SSD at all?

A: Huh? Um Not really, well I've said f*ck you to everyone I wanted to

Q: Well, moving on, what do you think you would classify as writer's block?

A: It's different for everyone, but I'd guess that's pretty straight forward-it means not being able to write.

Q: Indeed. Have you ever experienced it yourself?

A: Eh yeah, but I try to avoid it by not working until I drop and not go looking for inspiration-John Belushi is the f*cking man...

Q: Right. So if you don't look for inspiration what strategy do you use to overcome potential writer's block?

A: Speedballs, cocaine and heroin, killed john belushi. and river phenoix-
Eh well like I said I try to avoid it, but if you are having trouble writing, stop trying
go walking
if you have a deadline
hope what you write is worth reading in the morning

Q: Very inspiring. Now you were telling me earlier about Hemmingway? What was that about?

A: I learned never to empty the well of my writing, but always to stop when there was still something there in the deep part of the well, and let it refill at night from the springs that fed it.
Ernest Hemingway

I found that the most inspiring with anyone has said about writers block. It's not much different from what I said-- if you have a good idea, don't run it to the ground, leave some spark over, so you can blow on it.

Q: Very true. Well, I thank you for letting me interview you today. Anything you'd like to say as a goodbye or whatnot?

A: Something witty
________________________________

Well, there you have it, folks! An interview with SSD's drunkest patron! And that does it for this month's portion of the Herald's Literature Tip! Please, if you have any suggestions about next month's topic, I am open. Just pm me and I'll get right on it.

[The Herald]

Something very important when it comes to portrait photography are model releases, which allow you to use the image that is the likeness of a person in your portfolio. With how the internet can be dangerous and just plain the way the world has gone, there are many people out there who do not want their face to be seen by the public. They prefer that the images you take of them are seen only by the eyes of who they want, and who processes them. Showing their image around could be something they don’t want, and even though it does belong to you, it is still an invasion of privacy.

That is why a model release is handy. There are a few different kinds, for different situations, and it gives the model a choice.

The first one is for general portfolio use. This means that you can use their image for your own promotion, but that you cannot and will not sell it to a third party. It would mean you’re not allowed to post it to a stock website, and that you can’t decide later on down the line to sell it to an advertising agency that really likes it.

The second one is for promotional use. This one would enable you to submit their images to a third party, and profit off of them that way.

There is also the property release, for the use of images that contain a person’s pet, home, or other object/animal that they own. This one can also be for either portfolio or promotional use.

What you also have to keep in mind, is that the age of the person comes into play. A minor cannot legally sign this paper, so if you’re trying to use the portrait of someone who is below the age of majority, you have to have one for their parents to sign. This means that you would need a release for both an adult, and for a minor. The total number of releases you would have by these standards is six.

You should always try to carry the model releases with you as well, anytime that you think you might be taking photos. Even if you’re not planning on getting any of people, it’s still a good idea to have a few with you just in case. As photographers, we know that anything could happen. It’s not unusual for people to ask to have their photo taken if they see you taking pictures.

The only time you do not need a model release, is when the images are for a documentary purpose. This means if you are a photojournalist, you do not need to get a release for the images. Those who take images for the local newspaper, or do war and political coverage will never ask for a model release because they don’t need to. The imagery that’s being used for documentation is the only exception to the rights of privacy. This is probably because it’s a record of time, and not something that is posed or done in a manner that the subjects are actively aware of.

So remember, when you’re doing portraits, be sure to have the model release with you. It could save your butt from lawsuits in the future of people who suddenly change their mind. The model release is a legally binding contract that will force them to keep their word and not use it as some sort of blackmail against you later. People are finicky, so it’s always best to protect yourself.

[The Herald]

Meet our local shutterbugs, who have begun populating and beautifying the photography forum lately. We see many new faces as of recent, and of course many old ones as well that are still hanging around. All are a wonderful contribution, and after a bit of investigation, each has a story to tell.

All of these forum photographers were asked the same three questions, and from all of them came different answers, though one thing remained constant: that general love and passion of photography.

Each one was asked the following questions:
First off, what got you into photography?
I'm also curious as to how many years you've been shooting.
And finally, do you intend to pursue it as a career, or is it just a hobby?

Here are the responses they gave. Some did it question-by-question, while others chose a paragraph format. Either way, each has a story to tell, and all are worth a listen… well, read in this case. Photographs tell a story, and it’s often the story of the photographer.

Epic
I've been shooting for close to 7 years.

It was first set on me by my families traveling; I would take photos of everything when we went some where. The more and more I shot, the more and more I got in to it. Finally I started buying professional grade equipment, started taking classes and looked at possibly pursuing it as a life career.

Adam
First off, what got you into photography?
Deviantart... then I took pictures of my friends playing hockey one day and I’ve done it since.
I'm also curious as to how many years you've been shooting.
Probably like half a year, not long. haha
And finally, do you intend to pursue it as a career, or is it just a hobby?
I dunno... if anything, I’d go into sports photography, but its uber competitive :x I guess I'll see. I will have to get better (and a better camera ) for that anyways. Those lenses are huge.

Kai
First off, what got you into photography?
I have no idea actually. I've always had an interest in photography, but it never progressed to anything more than snapshots. I guess it was because I like to chronicle time? I've always found the notion of being able to stop time and create an art-piece instantaneously very tempting.

I'm also curious as to how many years you've been shooting.
Actually I've only started taking photography at February last year. I've had the interest in photography since young, but it was only when I decided to enroll in the design faculty of the college that I really started experimenting, learning more about the technicalities and etc.

And finally, do you intend to pursue it as a career, or is it just a hobby?
Yes I do plan to pursue it as a career. Not full-time of course, but part of my skills.

Wrighty

Well I got into photography in probably the most risky way one could. I saw some friends taking pictures and some of them coming out ok. I picked up his camera shot a few - and amazingly, they didn't suck - and one was better than his. So, that sparked an interest. When I was turning 18 I decided, hell - buy a camera! So I did, an Olympus (Shut up, it's sexy! ^_^) E510. (With both lenses!)
It's risky because it was an expensive camera for something I'd done once or twice before.

Years? No. Months? Yes.
I turned 18 on April 21st. So by doing the math (and by the time this is out), it would be 2 months. I guess just having the ability to click thousands of times to get used to the settings is an added bonus

To pursue it as a career, I'd have to find someone to work for, or if freelancing, I'd have to get business. Which is too much hassle. I'll definitely be pursuing it as a hobby though. Perhaps make it into a hobby that pays. Not many hobbies pay for themselves!!

Nexxia
First off, what got you into photography?
My family is pretty photography oriented, starting with my dad, who bought the point-and-shoot digital camera I use occasionally back in 02 when it was somewhat cutting edge. He later bought a Canon EOS 20D I believe, which got me and my sister interested in photography more. She got a SLR, and last Christmas I also got one. For me photography is more of a hobby, it's a nice thing to have if I plan on shooting my own stock photos, a little bit of practice in pro photography for fun, and just taking photos with my friends, which is one way I enjoy myself at such gatherings.

I'm also curious as to how many years you've been shooting.
I've been taking digital photos since 04, but didn't get too serious about it until I took a media arts (film photography) class in 9th grade (2005).


And finally, do you intend to pursue it as a career, or is it just a hobby?

Just a hobby. I'd like to pursue a career in other art fields, such as computer art, before I would consider photography. It is definitely an interest, but probably not something I'd do for a living.

Chantry
First off, what got you into photography?

Hmmm ... that's a harder question then you might think.

I believe it all started back when I was into 3-Dimensional rendering with terragen. It was basically a program that rendered huge landscapes and waterscapes, which naturally, was my favourite type of photography when I first started out. While posting my renders on deviantart, I would see photography of all different forms around the website. I loved adding pieces of art to my favourites. I enjoyed a lot of different types of art on deviantart, but the one that always stood out the most to me was photography.

Ever since I was young, I absolutely loved nature. I don't know what it is about it. I just enjoy being in it ... It relaxes me, and it takes my mind off of the petty troubles of life. So, after seeing photography on deviantart for so long, I finally decided that I wanted to pursue it as a hobby. I didn't even go for a lower end camera just to ensure I enjoyed it. For some reason, I already knew I was meant to be a photographer and that I would never regret investing in my 400D.

I'm also curious as to how many years you've been shooting.

About a year now? Actually, a little over. I'm also very busy with track, school, hockey, and other extracurricular activities, so sadly, sometimes photography takes a back seat to other things ...

And finally, do you intend to pursue it as a career, or is it just a hobby?

As of right now, no I do not.

I don't really think it's worth pursuing as a career. I would much rather have a more stable and decently paying job and just do photography in my spare time. That way, I'm not pressured to do anything with my photography other then fulfill my creative needs ... Photography isn't really reasonable as a career to me. I won't really get much into that here though.

Grace

1) I'm not really... into photography. I just enjoy taking photos from time to time and doing it as well as I can. I was inspired by seeing artistic photography on Deviantart etc. and I wanted to try it out myself.

2) Well, I got my Lumix FZ50 around December 2006, and it's what I've been using for everything, so... about a year and a half?

3) Just a hobby. I'm nowhere near imaginative or patient enough to go after a photography career. I'd really like to get my hands on a Holga though; I love the crazy retro style photos they produce. Then who knows? Maybe I could sell prints.

Spooky

What got me into photography?

- Well, I guess it was my girlfriend. She is planning on going to school for photography to further her knowledge and career. I really like some of the things she does, so I guess you could say it motivated me. Being the sucker for art that I am didn't help a bit either.

How many years have I been shooting?

- Still working on my first year. It's really cool how you see your photographs improve so much over time.

Photography as a career or hobby?

- Just a hobby for me, but I think photography is a great career. My better half is planning on making it a career for herself.

Noxes

I feel important . I don't even have that many great photos. But I have been making a secret portfolio thing full of great pictures, that I may or may not keep. I originaly started photography because it sounded so interesting, and I wanted to fit in on SSD. I always loved the whole photography bored here on SSD. I started out using a key chain camera . lol I know not the best choice. Then I got a better camera for Christmas, and sine then I knew I wanted to grow up to be a photographer. I'm starting in on HDR photography now.

Craz

I can remember rummaging through my brothers closet for God knows what and finding an old plastic film camera (It was this aqua green and was quite thin and rectangular). I asked my mom for some film and luckily she had a roll and I meandered outside and snapped a bunch of pictures of her garden and things around the yard. Thats my first memory of anything photography related. I think I was around the age of 10 at the time. Then a few years later I happened upon deviantArt through a friend who was a great anime drawer. I thought I'd try my hand at drawing to show the world what I had to offer so I posted a few things on my account. Then one day, I was bored so I picked up my parents compact digital camera and went outside at night and took some pictures. I seemed to get more of a positive response on my photographs than on my drawings so I thought I'd try taking more pictures instead of drawing more. And from then on I kept taking pictures!

I've been shooting on and off since April 2005!

Whenever I wonder about the future and try to envision what kind of a job I'll have I never see myself as a photographer. I think its because I find it very hard to take art courses in school and to be a successful professional photographer you really need to have some schooling. I think it might also be that I want to do exactly what I want and not have somebody telling me what they think I should do. Photography is and will always be (I hope) a hobby of mine. It'll be an activity where I can escape from the stresses of everyday life and an activity where I can be myself.

Tommy Huynh

When I was in my freshman year of high school, I was on the yearbook/newspaper as web designer. There was an event going on after school and we needed pictures of it. I grabbed one of the Nikon D100 DSLRs to get photos of it. I thought, "Hmm, this is fun." so I kept at it and the rest is history. Now I'm shooting weddings and portraits professionally.

I've been shooting for 3, 4 years now.

Around this time next year, I will be a photojournalist for the United States Department of Defense. After that, who knows?

Sir Knighty

First off, what got you into photography? I don't really know what got me into photography, I just started clicking pictures around the house when my dad got his Nikon camera a few years back. And it's just taken off from there. Also, I'm a big movie-making guy, so I see as any skills I pick up from photography I can use while filming.


I'm also curious as to how many years you've been shooting. It's been about 5 years.

And finally, do you intend to pursue it as a career, or is it just a hobby? Photography will most likely be a hobby for me, but I am debating on whether or not to attend film school after high school, so I might use some photography skills if I choose to pursue that route.

Last but not least, since I am also a shutterbug, I will share my story with you as well.

Saknika

I honestly had no interest in photography as an art form until I took a class in my junior year of high school. To me it started off as an easy grade, and then with the support of my teacher and peers, it developed into a passion. And it was that same teacher that egged me on to make it a career. I’ve been shooting for about three years now, coming up on four this fall, and I couldn’t be happier. Photography is the art form I can best express myself in, and that’s why I love it so much. I am making a career out of it as well, having attended the Hallmark Institute of Photography where I learned the technical and business skills I will need to do so. I made an investment in my future as a photographer, and this is the route I intend to travel.


So there you have it. Many different people, with all different views, who are all chasing the same passion. Some will make a career out of it, some already have, and others see it only as a hobby. But no matter what they are all artists, and you are encouraged to visit the Photography Board here on SSD and watch their work as they learn and improve from their peers here.