When I was 16 I got my first camera, a mouldy ( really green with mould) Argus C3. This was in 1957. I fixed it, cleaned it, took it apart, rebuilt it and along the way, built an enlarger (to do mural sized images) from old bellows cameras from the 20s. I obtained the print paper army surplus which was cheap albeit requiring rather some arcane post processing to prevent fogging. Why do I mention all of this antiquated tech? Because what I really wanted was to be able to create images like a painter and not merely shoot some snaps and be done with it. My dreams were to create something that did not exist, could never exist. It was not possible to do what I wanted...until now. Mr. Myers' article on post processing hits the mark in all respects and those that are willing to give up instant gratification and wish to make a mark in this world with their images need to learn as an artist learns, delving deeply into whatever modalities they chose, be they film or digital, computer manipulations...whatever. I, too, have chosen the path of using computers to enhance, create, modify and so forth and it is through this wonderful new medium of computer enhanced image making, my dream of childhood is finally coming true. As a professional artist ( sculpture and photography) for nearly half a century one can always grow with new ideas and if those ideas require tech, it is for the taking. Learn your tools but do not let them dictate their terms...dictate your own and make it happen. One can take fine pictures even with a pinhole, after all, and one can take garbage with a Canon 1DS mk2. It is all in the eye of the artist and her or his mind. The main thing is to work and work, paint and paint photograph and paint whatever be it on canvas or camera or on computer. It is all the same thing. Be honest to yourself and get critiques from others who you respect. Learn from your successes and your mistakes. Don't be offended by comments that do not reaffirm your images but try to understand that just maybe this critique points out ways to get better. Think openly about what you are trying to do and see if those ideas are being communicated as well as they can be. I think that Mr. Myers says that it is not the particular technique that is significant but that the artist is determined no matter to make the image count and be as wonderful as he can make it. That is what an artist must do and if it takes weeks and weeks to do it, so be it. Life without the pursuit of a passion is not a life at all. Good for Peter Myers for being honest about his. Professor Neil Fiertel, Dept of Art and Design, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada