Greg, I know your feelings. There can be a lot of money tied up in what we do, and it is not always justifiable. But only when you question it's surface appearance. I own about $6000 in telescope and astronomy equipment in addition to my photography gear. Yet, six months out of the year the astronomy gear does not see use. There is no astronomy in the NW. Every year I think I should sell the astronomy gear, I get depressed looking at all of that money that could benefit others just collecting dust in my studio. Yet, there is a purpose to all of this, to your efforts at creating images and spending the money necessary to achieve that goal. As a member of this universe, you are here, not as some say to fulfill a destiny, but to achieve the highest level of quality of mind in a tiny flash of time. Photography is one of the greatest inventions in history. Without it, our history, our achievements, the world we live in, all of the greatness and the evils we have become as humans, would be reduced to mere words. Black letters on white backgrounds. Every time you frame an instant, you are creating imagination, suggestion, interpretation and connection to all other things on this planet. You can feel it, remember it and preserve it all with a snap of your finger. You and all the members of this list have given the world a taste of what we are, have been and will be. That's the greatest gift we can offer to the future. A record of our times, framed and singled out in moments to be studied by everyone or anyone. Treat it with dignity. Allow it to nurture your spirit, when the spirit needs it, and the other times, you can be a part of someone else's moment. Take care, Gregory david Stempel FIREFRAMEi m a g i n g
