bittermonkMT's photostream  

*August 1st, 2011: 70,000 views to date. Thank you very much.
*August 22, 2011: 75,000+ views. I am indebted to you all.
*Sept. 8th, 2011: 80,000+ views. Thank you!
*October 31, 2011: 90, 808 views. Mucho gracias!
*December 14th, 2011: 100,000 views! Thanks everyone!!

I am in my early 60's, and reside in the Bitterroot Valley in SW Montana. I have been a photographer for approx. the past 20 years, during which time I have been a feature contributor to Northwest magazines, providing both text and images for various articles. Currently I am the Associate Photographer for a regional publication located here in Montana. I have also worked as an instructor at a technical college in WA. state, where I taught Digital Photography, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Powerpoint skills in the Media Design and Production department. That having been noted, I must be clear: with every new shot I am a beginner at photography...

I have entered various competitions and acquired a few honors for my photography. At this point in time, I am focused primarily on HDR work, and secondarily on monotones and selective color renditions. Recurrent subjects of mine include Forest Service Fire Lookouts, abandoned structures and/or cars, vintage vehicles, classic vehicles, restored vehicles, landscapes, rivers, lakes, flora, macro shots, and nature's reclamation (of manmade artifacts), to name a few.

I invite comments on my photography, but I will not tolerate rude or derogatory remarks, and will immediately delete any such comments, and BLOCK the respondent permanently from interacting with my Flickr account. As my wise Mother used to say: " If you can't find something good to say, then it is better to say nothing at all..."
Addendum October 9th, 2011:
I have come to the conclusion that I HATE "Awards" (especially the 'animated' ones!), and would greatly prefer that no one who views my images post any of those icons to my Photostream comments pages. I am in the process of removing myself from ALL groups who utilize 'Sweepers' and make mandatory posting their group awards. I vastly prefer individual comments, however brief, and question the basis for implementing a mandatory "awards" system: I became an adult and a free thinker long ago, and do not care for these arbitrary boundaries. I prefer to use what time I have to post Comments in commenting upon my 'Contacts' photostreams, since it is among my frequent contacts I feel the most "community" here.

It seems to me nothing more than a means to base punitive actions upon members for various 'Group Admins' to enforce participation,---an antedated, autocratic, fascist 'reward and punishment' continuum which I do not care to be associated with. PLEASE DO NOT POST YOUR GROUP AWARDS ON MY PHOTOSTREAM,---unless you also append some personal comment, any personal comment actually, to let me know you are a living being.
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**Generally speaking, everything in this Photostream is best viewed with the black background, and/or viewing the Sets as a slideshow.