My neighbour Liam, ~hunter336, has lent me his Canon Powershot s3!! I can't even describe how excited I am to have something different from my teeny Canon IXUS 70 camera (which doesn't have alot of options either).
I feel I can grow as a photographer with this camera, though I am still saving for my own. Nevertheless, this is such a kind thoughtfulness of Liam, and I'm very thankful and excited to be able to use it.
It'd be also very much appreciated if you guys could have a look through his gallery and leave some comments


Yes I have judged your entries, and let me say - it was very tough. It took me ages of reading over and over to decide. They were very close.
The winner is =synconi!!!
"What makes my stay worthwhile?

The deviants, definitely. I have met so many amazing people, artists and just awesome people, who constantly open my mind to new things, always teaching me something new. (Like you just did. )

I get to talk to people on the other side of the world, learn more about different places as well as other types of art. I get inspiration and encouragement from dA.

dA has helped me to grow."

Runners up are:
*Kendra21
"As for the quick competition-- one great thing that keeps me at dA is the people. I love the diverse cultures, I have learned so much about everyone and everything since I joined. Some of these people I know have changed my life for the better. All of my friends here give me confidence to do art. Seeing what people have to offer art-wise is neat too, because I get to open my mind about it."

=The-Silver-Doe
"What makes dA so worthwhile for me is maybe the obvious reason: browsing the art! I love how each person expresses themselves differently, the concepts they come up with and just how they behold beauty through their eyes. My sphere of interests is quite diverse, I like seeing anything from digital paintings, traditional art vexel art and my most fav, photography! So I enjoy the fact that dA caters to all my needs! lol"

Congratulations to these three, and everyone else who entered.
=synconi wins a personalized icon made by myself, of either a flower (macro or not) or a droplet. <3
The runners up receive a deviation dedicated to them.


There's a few things that need to be discussed for you, firstly ripping. I read `tracie76's latest journal "Tineye, a must have tool". I visited tineye, and signed up for an account there. The tineye website basically lets you upload your artwork, and it searches the internet for your artwork on any other website (if someone has stolen your picture, the search will show it). It does the search by your image, not by the text "waterfall.jpg" for example.
I did a search on my three most popular deviations, and low and behold, a couple of sites came up for my "Sweet Dreamer" picture.
My point is, if you're a serious artist, please go and sign up on tineye. It takes 8 hours for them to approve you, but it really is worth it if you want to find sites that rip your work.

I highly suggest to watermark your works. I don't do watermarks on everything, just my photography that is my highest standard, or my digital artwork.
I have found some information for you to make your stay on deviantART a little bit safer.
- Making Watermarks, by `cmptrwhz
- What to do when someone steals your content
- Plagarism Today article: What can dA do?
- Find personal information about the website owner.

I hope that helps in some small way. Remember that this is the internet, and anyone that right clicks "save as" can take your pictures, so please be wary.

Love Sarah

P.S If you would like a comment on your newest deviation, note me with the link to that newest deviation. It can only be the first newest though. It can be anyone, whether I watch you or not.

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

A huge thank you to everyone who comments in my journals, deviations, etc. It means a lot to me, even if I don't get the chance to reply back.