Hi all. I've been looking at the site for a couple months now, and I just decided to join. I have a couple questions.

All the work on this site is amazing, and I'm wondering if I have to be good? I'm not a serious photographer or anything, I just like to play around. All I have is a regular digital camera. Nothing fancy. I have a couple pictures that I like to think are cool, but I don't know if they really are.

Also, I'm just curious how people go about making all these cool digital pieces of art. Where do you start? What computer programs do you use?

I'll leave it at this for now, though I have lots more questions. You all amaze me, and I'm constantly putting new wallpapers on my computer because of you! Have a good one.

K.L.

If you genuinely believe you have something to contribute, go ahead and upload it. Noone is going to mind and if there is some way your images can be improved, it's the only way to get some critical feedback. As for what programs people use, check "Other stuff" in the FAQ's. There are several discussions in this forum on the same topic also.

All I have is a simple inexpensive digital camera, and some programs I got from the listings in this forum and the FAQ's.. All of which are free.. Check some of the images you like.. Sometimes people list the programs they use to make them.. Put them in your search and find out more about them.. Good luck..

Good morning Kari
Welcome to Caedes. Follow up Sam's and Morwyn's suggestions, and as well, here are some links to other pages on Caedes regarding software:
Suggested Software
Free and Open Source Softwares
Me, I have what I call an expensive box camera - a Fujifilm S3000, a quite basic and quite limited camera - and use basically Irfinview32 for viewing, resizing and cropping, and Gimp for any needed editing; both these programs are freeware, and both retain the EXIF data attached to the photo.
No, you don't have to be good. Actually, if you are not good it gives you an opportunity to listen and learn from the huge pool of talent that is here because it gives that pool of talent a chance to provide constructive feedback <grinning>. If you think you have an image that will make a nice desktop, upload it. Be prepared for critique. You don't necessarily have to listen to the critical comments that people say in response, and some you won't like, but as a general rule you will find if you do listen it will help you to constantly improve.
One small hint - never ever ever work on (edit) an original image. Make a copy and work on that; if you stuff it, you can always get another copy from the original.
Enjoy your day
Romane

what is good? what may seem to be great through one persons eyes does not necessarily be seen in the same light by another person. my advice is to post your pics and have a go... you may be surprised by the encouragement and advice offered in here ... besides what have you got to lose ... a little time perhaps, and what benifit could you expect to gain ... a sense of satisfaction and some advice from the many talented people here ... post your images, you wont be sorry.
check out the tutorials section they are great.
Russell

I can't encourage you enough! and if everything peeps have mentioned already still isn't enough, i can babble on about my own caedes experience for a bit too!
i had never really got my work into the public domain, or really worked on digital art work, before i joined up with Caedes! i have learnt to use Adobe PhotoShop more or less from scratch druing my time here! looking at other's members images and learning from thier efforts!
If you veiw my gallery sorted by date you can see how over time my ambition and ablitities have been gradually improving! but i doubt i would have thought about making images like i do now, when i first joined up! i started off very simply with just the odd layer and filter, posting my work into the creative bubbling pot of the abstract gallery!
Most of my early work is now long gone from the site, but i learnt a lot from the constructive comments and encrouagement i recieved on them all! its the sites great patrons that have encouraged me into becoming the mad manipulator you see before you today!

Thanks everyone for your input. I have one more question right now. If I have a photo that has a good part, but the rest of it is not at cool/important, but I don't know what to do to fix it, can I post the photo and get comments about what to do with it? Or are only more complete photos supposed to be posted? I have a couple from NYC that have parts I like a lot (reflections, shadows, etc.), but the rest of the photo is sort of busy and not important. I was playing with one in Photoshop a bit, but couldn't figure anything out.

Thanks again for all your comments so far!
Kari

I would say post it, and then see if you get some comments. If you get something useful, edit it and then upload the new one, and if the old one is bad enough you don't think it needs to stay delete it. Don't be afirad to leave it and let it delete itself though. You never know, someone might love it and it might stay for ever.

Listen to MiLo, you niver know what will excite people..

hey everyone look at that, someone spelled my name right. Most of the time people don't capatilze the L :P And yes, it is true. One of my highest rated pictures i wasn't going to bother posting because i didn't like it very much.

also, you could allow another artist to work on the piece and repost it as a collaboration.

When I started on Caedes, I felt just the same way you do now. I'm not saying I'm good yet - I have a ways to go still (and probably always will), but I'm better than when I started. There've been some great suggestions here for you, so I won't repeat them. Just thought I'd let you know you aren't the only one who's felt that way. Have a great day!

You all seem really cool!! Thanks for all your comments so far. I am really excited about posting now!

Hi, Kari...I'm from Minnesota also and, for the first couple of months after I found Caedes, I just LOOKED and was hestitant to upload anything. Then I decided to upload a photo of my dog to introduce myself and, over the next couple of months, I got bolder and bolder, uploading many more images. The people here have been great in pointing me in the direction of good computer art programs and in helping me figure out how to use them. I have a long way to go, but I sure am glad I took the risk and began to upload stuff here! Nice to meet you!
Wen

I'm a little late to this discussion...but maybe my words will be of some use,as I think I'm one of the newest people here.

Never be afraid to submit something. If you get nervous about something,try and talk it out with other people. If you have a good family life,maybe they could help. Personally, my family isn't supportive to say the least,which is a huge reason I've embraced Caedes. You will NOT find a finer group of talented and supportive people in the world.

Never be upset with criticism...and be glad that it's highly unlikely that someone here will set you off in the wrong direction,and they would never do that intentially.

And ah, by the way, Morwyn is amazingly supportive:) I owe her alot.

Good luck,and I can't wait to see works from you in the future.