I am brand new, both to the message board and to GIMP itself. I am a photographer of sorts, and have done photos primarily in three genres: Modeling portfolios, including many male and female bodybuilders; flowers; and people of West Africa.

I just turned 72. I live in Oakland, California with my wife and four dogs. I have done a variety of things in my life, ranging from owning and operating a company that arranged expeditions to remote areas in the South Pacific; owning and operating a health club; working in sales for a telephone company; and a few other things. In truth, my resume reads like a parody.

I have used Photoshop for seven or eight years but was attracted to GIMP because I had also heard great things about this program

I have also written several books, one a ghost-written job about Soviet bloc sports training, two about Samoan anthropology, and science fiction. My writing is so obscure that you have never heard of anything I have written.

These days I am trying to get three books together, two of them photo books (my best modeling shots; and people in West Africa). The third book is a rewrite of one published years ago about Samoan anthropology.

I figure I may have about ten more years left, so I am trying to get things organized so that I may leave something worthwhile behind.

It will be nice to meet you all.

Welcome aboard, from one photographer to another!!

Hello Richard94611.May i call you Richard?
That is one impressive resume you have there!

There are many good people here that will help you with any thing you need, including myself.
As well I am sure you have much to offer everyone else.There is much wisdom in those years I am sure. =)

Welcome to the family.

Welcome to Gimp Chat

Thanks very much for the welcome. I know I am going to learn a great deal here.

to Gimp Chat, Richard.

You have accomplished a lot and have your goals clearly in mind. Anything we can do to help we'll do.

Thanks for becoming one of us!

to the discussion.

You have a diverse and interesting background, Rich. Can you give us more insight into your Sci-Fi work? Have you published?

While I haven't read much Sci-Fi lately, I am a big fan of Larry Niven and Keith Laumer. Of course, I also enjoy reading the classics from Wells, Clarke and Asimov, all true visionaries.

My one published science fiction effort, "Brain Bank," was published at least 40 years ago. It was one of five nominated by the science fiction writers of america for the title of "Best Short Novel" of the year, though it did not win. I reread it a few years back and shuddered at my writing ineptitude.

I have one or two works of similar length that I think I am going to send around soon, or publish as a Kindle book. I am also working on a medical science fiction thriller based on a great deal of solid but obscure science that I learned a few years back while working for a medical testing lab.

Believe me, I am no great science fiction writer.