TheDamnМushroom's photostream  

I take pictures.
Photographic pictures.

I like old buildings' wall writing, the occasional tombstone, the female form in its many forms, utilitarian mushroom kitch, Christmas clutter, and laughing at the world around me. I also laugh at people who leave their Christmas lights up year 'round, rediculous online fraud schemes (and most of them are), and the stupid faces and poses people constantly post. If you enjoy any of the above, you may like me. I haven't taken very many portraits, it's not a style I've engaged in. I'm a male who remembers the 1980's well; my life-philosophy is Reality Avoidance Therapy, and the best parts of me laugh at mirrors.

I also collect found photographs and lost memories, and have a website for displaying them with amusing captions. For samples see my 'Spackle' set.

Six things you need to know.
• First: It's okay if you don't agree with my worldview, my images, or what's listed on this profile page under Contacts or Groups, but you can keep that disagreement to yourself and move along to another stream. I'm me, I'm unashamed, that's final.
• Next: You're welcome to criticize my photos in any way you see fit, but don't criticize other people who comment on my photos. Those folks have Flickrmail, and if the photo was in a group the group has a Discussion forum, if you have something to say about them. No grandstanding or self-promotion allowed, either; this ain't YouTube.
• Then: There may be adult groups in my list, but there is no nakedidity in my stream. Flickr rated my stream Safe because it is, even if you might not agree by your benchmarks. Again, if this bothers you (as happens with some contacts or groups which expect skin), that's not my crisis.
• Additionally: I may be "straight but not narrow" and get along with everyone of any stripe, but really, I own a twig and berries, I don't care to see yours as the main focus of your stream. Especially if you see fit to put foreign objects into your various orifices. (That goes for women too, by the way.) I've been made a contact by quite a few people who missed the fact that there's nothing in my stream or profile to imply any such interests in raunchy sex or menfolk, and I have no idea how I wound up on that subsection of humanity's good side so consider this fair warning that if that's what you're about you've got the wrong cat.
• Also: Personal criticism will be taken with the following grain of salt... Have we met? How do you know? I don't go flaming you on your stream, and hope you will give me the same respect. Even if we do know each other... not in public, thanks.
• Finally: I have a great sense of humor, and appreciate that quality in others. Simply put, I can't take you seriously if you take yourself too seriously. I decided to add this point because of the number of Flickr members who need to loosen up. It's wild how you can be disliked FOR having grown-up interests displayed and for NOT having grown-up interests displayed, or ignored FOR being all artistic and for NOT being totally artsy. The middle is where it's at, and that's where I live... join me there.

And as a matter of fact, yes, I do spell it "rediculous" just to mess with your head.

And since the cliché questions come up:
- I'm a hobbyist, not a professional. I'm a photographer, not an artist.
- I shoot what I see with few adjustments. Standard edits are made with IrfanView.
- I won't add this photo to your juried competition or "award" group. Comments with image pasties associated with groups will be shot on sight in most cases because those are stupid... I am fully aware where I posted my pics, and a simple "you should add this to ___ group" invite will suffice.
- If I know you in real life, or I like what you say or photograph, I will probably make you a contact -- if I don't know anything about you or don't particularly want to it's not going to happen, and skin in your stream will not convince me 99% of the time.
- I'm flattered by the 5 or so porn-lovin' people a week who add me as a contact but see the previous sentence and bullet point #3 of 6 above; you're not getting added and I don't have what you're really looking for.
- I've opted out of allowing my pics to be in Galleries. Not that I don't want to share, but within 24 hours of the feature's appearance I had three pictures put into galleries -- one made sense, one was a duplicate of a group's offerings so pointless, and one was obviously for commercial purposes promoting their business. Apologies if you wanted to add my pictures, I am flattered though. Galleries is a fad. Similar can be said about tagging people in images... I've disallowed that, too; it's worked sooo well on Facebook so of course it had to come to Flickr. Again, thanks but I purposely make it tough to find me.
- My political leanings are moderately to the left, which isn't a major theme to my stream and I have no objection to thought-out discusions with factual basis, but I reserve the right to block you if your stream or your words are outstandingly far-right because we're just not going to be able to play nicely.
- I do answer all my F-mail promptly, I practically live here.

Say something cryptic, then leave snickering.