Okay then. Been here about half an hour and I think I've already done things out of order. I got all excited and started posting some pictures, then realized that was rude and I'd be better off introducing myself first.
Anyway, I'm Jude (that's me proudly testing some eclipse viewing googles last year). Born and bred British, but having been living in the US for almost a quarter century now. I'm an HR professional for a supportive housing non-profit by day, and a photographer and cat herder by night. I do a variety of photography work, including portraits, products, and a few weddings. I live in a university town, so there are a lot of grip and grin events as well!
Niagara Falls at sunrise
My personal passion for photography always seems to come back to the natural world - trying to capture how I feel, whether it's feeling tiny in the face of Niagara Falls, or zooming in to count the grids on a dragonfly's eyeball. Apparently I like extremes.
In addition to photography, I tend to spend a few months at a time with another hobby going on. At the moment, I'm back on knitting and can probably say that I just - finally - conquered socks this year. So, clearly not a terribly exciting life, but at least I have one skill that might be useful after the apocalypse.
Finally, that's Leeloo. I may as well bring him up now, as he'll probably be posted quite a bit. He's the ultimate rescue (among my gang of 4 rescue cats). He was found in the wall of an abandoned house in Detroit, that was about to be filled with 100,000 flowers (true, but long, story). I took him in at about 3 weeks old, and I really don't know what I'm doing raising kittens, cuz he turned out to be the most insane cat I've ever met. Think the Joker (Heath Ledger, not Jared Leto) trapped in 12lbs of fur and claws. Anyway, he's cost me a lot in home repairs, from windows (three and counting) to toilet flush handles (true, but even longer story).
I think that's probably far too much for an introduction, but in for a penny in for a pound. Lovely to meet you!