Hello -

It is me again. I am sincerely grateful for all the pageviews I have accumulated since I picked up my first digital camera in August of 2009. Photography has been in my family for a while, but I have never ventured out to discover how much I love it until recently. Everyone who has given me a favorite, or a comment, or especially a watch, has given me the inspiration to continue to place my work here on deviantart.

Here is a little backstory. I joined deviantart as per the recommendation of 8 years ago. He was a high school friend who ended up winning the deviantart logo contest. If you check his gallery, you will see the DA logo above as his entry, most likely 9 years ago or so.

I sat idle here for 8 years. I watched many illustrators, thinking I should join them, as I originally signed on here for drawing purposes. I put a few sketches up. Nothing was inspirational or felt right. Then, one day, I decided to go out and purchase a camera, on a whim. I had always wanted one I could learn the manual settings on.

Now I am here. I went from 200 pageviews in 8 years of inactivity to almost 6,000 pageviews in 3 months. My first photo was put on here around August 9th of this year (2009).

It has been an incredible journey - one filled with a LOT of learning. I always watched wondering how he rounded up so many models willing to take their clothes off. Heh. No - seriously - he brings a unique talent to deviantart. It is a talent that even his exploration of the raw beauty of nudity can be transferred to any other sort of subject, be it nature, architecture, or anything. I continued to seek out fashion photographers, any models I could find, and all you lovely people I currently watch (but may or may not return the watch back).

Long story semi-short, if you're still with me, I am thankful to all the inspiration all you wonderful artists bring to this community. I am equally thankful to be included among you - to be worthy enough to have artwork that you want to comment on, favorite, and to also be an artist you'd like to watch - whatever corner of the world you are in.

Therefore, for my 6,000 pageview feature I would like to feature any artist who comments on this journal with photography or artistic advice I can pass along to future viewers. I will feature your icon, three of your works, and a brief blurb about what you've learned since joining deviantart, or pursuing your passion.

If I don't receive any comments, I will simply do a feature of my own preference when I hit the mark.

Love you all - no matter where you are when you read this. The world is beautiful - keep capturing it, keep sharing it.

Your friend,
Charles Hildreth