Well, I've finally done it. I submitted the official paperwork to form an LLC. My photography business is now official on paper. Now I need to talk with a CPA about how to handle taxes and bank accounts and such. But for now, it's time to start purchasing equipment that I can write off as business expenses.

First off, I'm going to order a Canon EOS 40D kit with an 28-135mm image stabilizing lens. I may also order a wider zoom lens somewhere in the 18mm-80mm range. I guess I should also go for prime lens or two as well. All as money allows, of course.

The holidays are about to start and I still have a lot of work to do. I have yet to shop for my kids, and I have many photos I need to process and make prints of.

I'm still wondering what Christmas present to aim for (for myself)... I could get one of those Samsung 46" LCD 1080P HDTVs (I currently have an old 27" Sony CRT)... That would benefit the family as they'd get to use it... but I'm also a photographer, and I could instead get a Canon EOS 40D camera, upgrading from the Canon 10D I currently use... and that would help my photography business... Aaaaaah!

Wow.. I actually got censored by a deviantART admin. My image entitled "Folds" was deemed in violation of a policy that doesn't exist in their FAQ.

Their official nudity policy FAQ entry is here.

You will note that nowhere in that policy does it restrict the artistic representation of genitalia, as long as it is not in some sort of sexual context.

Part of their note to me:
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"Title: Folds
URL: [link]
Submitted: 2007-07-05 6:38:29 pm

Your 1 deviation may have been judged to be:
1. Racist, or bigoted.
2. Anti-Semitic or other otherwise directly offensive to a philosophy or religion.
3. Directly insulting to an individual or group.

Alternatively it may have featured:
1. Underage nudity.
2. Sexual acts or “adult toys”.
3. The gratuitous display of genitalia.
4. Real life self-mutilation or injury."
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The only thing that applies here is 'The gratuitous display of genitalia." I suppose that's open to interpretation as far as what 'gratuitous' means, but that's not the point I'm concerned about. That policy isn't in the official policy FAQ. If something is restricted, put it in the FAQ so we users know what is allowed and what isn't. Many people put time commenting on the image and I wouldn't have wasted their time had I known the image was in violation of policy. (Which I still don't think it is, since it wasn't sexualized in any way).

I sent a complaint to the admins asking them to clarify their policy. We'll see what happens.

I finally got another insect photo finished. I hadn't taken one in many months. I do still need to get my camera sensor cleaned though. There is way too much dust on it that is coming through in my macro images. I don't like spending a lot of time cloning out dust specs. >_<

I'm pretty new to deviantART, and I don't quite have a feel for how folks are expected to behave in this community. I notice that a lot of deviants reply to virtually all of their comments. Is this something that is expected? So far I haven't really been replying to comments left on my work unless someone is asking a question or I believe I have something to add or clarify.

Also, should one typically post a comment thanking a person for adding you to their favorites list?